The recent boom of social networking sites a la Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace sparked multiple discussions about social media in society. Granted less than a decade ago, the aforementioned sites did not exist. Mark Zuckerberg was still attending Phillips Exeter Academy, Twitter had not launched and blogging was hardly an afterthought for most Americans.
We are now fully aware how quickly technology can change. In the midst of our national crackdown on pedophilia it became clear not all social media was created equal. Chris Hansen catapulted himself to national prominance through to To Catch a Predator(TCP). A reality show that taped suspected predators engaging minors into suggestively sexual situations, TCP accomplished two ends. First, it addressed a serious social problem in catching predators. This end's nobility cannot be understated. According to Darkness2light, an organization that monitors sexual abuse, approximately 39 million Americans have been sexually abused. That's more than 1 in 10!
However, TCP and news reports routinely cited Myspace as the medium most successfully used by predators. One could also infer that Myspace was also the most successful at catching perpetrators. Regardless, it was soon apparent that social networking sites were no longer as safe as first assumed.
Facebook's DNA originally links it to Harvard, Zuckerberg's alma mater. Initially, only elite schools were admitted to Facebook's limited audience. Other colleges and universities were allowed to petition for admission into the new digital experiment. This blogger remembers when only top-tier schools, of which mine was one, populated the website.
Effectively, Facebook and Myspace emerged from two different business perspectives. The former developed from, frankly, an organic elitist growth model. Consequently, surpassed Myspace and has effectively cornered the social networking market. Perhaps the most ostensible gesture signaling a powershift was Facebook allowance of users as young as 13 to obtain membership. Previously, vulnerable minors were flocking to Myspace in droves but proved very portable when Myspace was no longer considered safe. Facebook also showed its massive appeal through recently released statistics indicating 70% of its users are outside the United States.
Alternatively, Myspace developed its growth model around a populist appeal. It was the "cool" place to set up your personal page. With stories like high school millionaire Ashley Qualls, Myspace seemed like the perfect business and social platform. American Idol sensation, Ryan Starr, was also discovered on Myspace.
In the fashion of all things boom there tends to be a bust. However Myspace defies this trend. Myspace sits comfortably ahead in terms of its memberships possibly due to an emphasis on promoting various artists and advertising.
The jury is still out on which site is more dominant. Many argue that Facebook, backed by Microsoft, has maintained a public image that will slowly win over social media users. The other camp, ruled by Myspace and Rupert Murdock, suggest its user population- 110 million to Facebook's 60 million- present an insurmountable appeal. As usual time will be the best judge.
Until next time,
M
