Hey ESSAY!

Myspace-aged complexities

By Samuel Harrison
S2560989







Sweeping the entire globe to create a personalized, social interaction network, the likes of which have never been seen before, Myspace has become the pinnacle of the internet’s second generation, Web 2.0.

The myspace experience provides an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos internationally.[1](Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)

In the space of four short years, myspace has grown to become the fifth most popular English-language website, the fifth most popular website in any language[2](Alexa Internet's Alexa.com's website rankings system and top 500 global websites. January 25, 2007). Many attribute this runaway success to Myspace’s overall purpose, which is to bring people together. However upon further inspection it is my opinion that myspace rose to popularity over its various competitors (Hi5, Facebook, Friendster etc) due to a mass email (spam) campaign[3](http://www.valleywag.com/tech/myspace/myspace-the-business-of-spam-20-exhaustive-edition-199924.php Lapinski September 11 2006, MySpace: The Business of Spam 2.0). This is particularly interesting to note as spam (unsolicited mass advertising) is bane to many who use myspace, as it threatens to make the service near unusable in many respects.

Myspace has become an internet juggernaught and could be in many ways considered with pinnacle of what is being commonly reffered to as Web 2.0. Loosely defined, the term Web 2.0 is used to label the percieved second generation of internet usage, moving away from simple interaction, to a more user content focussed platform. Using this definition it is clear to see that myspace, being a totally user content provided environment, is the frontrunner in an emerging market and cyber world.

The myspace environment revolves around user created profiles of themselves that may be edited using html code to increase aesthetic, visual appeal. These profiles contain as much or as little personal information as the user desires to make public. The main component of the myspace profile is the “About Me” section, in which users write an often, self indulgent[4] (Sam’s Adventure, www.myspace.com/samsadventure, 2007, Harrison, Samuel) blurb about their personality and character.

In addition to these profiles, photos can be uploaded and posted in user galleries. Photos can be made private or viewable to all, and may be commented on only by “friends”.

Each profile contains a “Friends” section, which allows users to “add” and save each other’s profile location for future ease of access. This is very useful as the majority of the myspace functions are available from a user’s profile.

Other features of the myspace profile include sections in which users can express their personal music, film, literature and sexual preferences. These sections allow visitors to gain and develop a better understanding and familiarity with the owner of the profile.

Another major, feature of the myspace profile is the blog, in which users can post their own personal writing, pictures and sourced articles for redistribution. The blog measures viewing statistics, which proves a useful tool in understanding the sort of traffic that a profile’s blog is receiving.

It is not an uncommon sensation to feel as though you know someone you have never met, just by reading their profile and blog.

Despite revolving around these profiles, the possible uses for myspace are evolving each day. Not limited to simply profile pages, myspace also offers a comprehensive events guide that is accesible depending on your location.

When recently in Los Angeles, I used this feature weekly to find out what events were on Friday and Saturday nights. From obscure fetish orientated “play parties” to rave parties to casting calls for actors, the events section myspace proved versatile and practical.

There is a music section, in which artists may create a profile, with several sample tracks. These sample tracks may also be available for download or added to a profile depending on the artist’s decision. These artist profiles are usually created for promotional purposes and have in recent times proved very successful. Myspace profiles for musicians are different from normal profiles in that artists are allowed to upload up to five MP3 songs.[5] (Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)

Amongst the various criticisms of myspace, perhaps the one with most legal implications would be the licensing of music[6].(JTV Video Article, 2007 http://www.abc.net.au/jtv/video/default.htm?clip=myspace)

There are concerns however, as people posing as artists are also creating “artist profiles” in order to upload illegal mp3’s.[7] (Monas, Steve, Yourspace: A Friend's Guide to Myspace.com BookSurge Publishing (November 28, 2006)


As is explained on another pillar of the web 2.0 community, Wikipedia: Until June 2006, there was a concern amongst musicians, artists, and bands on MySpace such as songwriter Billy Bragg owing to the fine print within the user agreement that read, "You hereby grant to MySpace.com a non-exclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense through unlimited levels of sublicensees) to use, copy, modify, adapt, translate, publicly perform, publicly display, store, reproduce, transmit, and distribute such Content on and through the Services". The fine print brought particular concern as the agreement was being made with Murdoch's News Corporation.[8] (Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)

Views on Myspace are polarized in the general community[9] (Rough Guides (Author) 2007 The Rough Guide to MySpace & Online Communities 1, Rough Guides Publishing). Many feel that as very little is achieved by actually spending time on the site, it is a waste of time and just another fad. Conversely, many hold the opinion that Myspace is a necessary tool in today’s increasingly technologically dependent society.

Not only does it allow the user a comprehensive set of tools to communicate with, meet and maintain “friends”, but it also opens up a wider community of events and arts.

The myspace phenomena has ushered in the next generation of user content provided mega sites. With youtube and several other web 2.0 media sharing sites riding off the back of myspace, it is clear to see that the next generation has arrived, and with it a new set of concerns and possibilities.


(Rough Guides (Author) 2007 The Rough Guide to MySpace & Online Communities 1, Rough Guides Publishing)

(Monas, Steve, Yourspace: A Friend's Guide to Myspace.com BookSurge Publishing (November 28, 2006)

(Jolly Karine, Facebook, MySpace, and Co.: IHEs ponder whether or not to embrace social networking websites.(INTERNET TECHNOLOGY): An article from: University Business [HTML] (Digital), Thomson Gale (April 20, 2007))

REFERENCE LIST

Books

(Rough Guides (Author) 2007 The Rough Guide to MySpace & Online Communities 1, Rough Guides Publishing)

(Monas, Steve, Yourspace: A Friend's Guide to Myspace.com BookSurge Publishing (November 28, 2006)

(Jolly Karine, Facebook, MySpace, and Co.: IHEs ponder whether or not to embrace social networking websites.(INTERNET TECHNOLOGY): An article from: University Business [HTML] (Digital), Thomson Gale (April 20, 2007))

(Monas, Steve, YourSpace 2: Interviews with MySpace Musicians, Filmmakers, Models and Friends, BookSurge Publishing 2007)

(Ryan Hupfer (Author), Mitch Maxson (Author), Ryan Williams, MySpace For Dummies, For Dummies 2007)



Websites

(Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)

Alexa Internet's Alexa.com's website rankings system and top 500 global websites. January 25, 2007

(http://www.valleywag.com/tech/myspace/myspace-the-business-of-spam-20-exhaustive-edition-199924.php Lapinski September 11 2006, MySpace: The Business of Spam 2.0)

(Sam’s Adventure, www.myspace.com/samsadventure, 2007, Harrison, Samuel)

(JTV Video Article, 2007 http://www.abc.net.au/jtv/video/default.htm?clip=myspace)
[1] (Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)
[2] Alexa Internet's Alexa.com's website rankings system and top 500 global websites. January 25, 2007
[3] (http://www.valleywag.com/tech/myspace/myspace-the-business-of-spam-20-exhaustive-edition-199924.php Lapinski September 11 2006, MySpace: The Business of Spam 2.0)

[4] (Sam’s Adventure, www.myspace.com/samsadventure, 2007, Harrison, Samuel)
[5] (Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)
[6] (JTV Video Article, 2007 http://www.abc.net.au/jtv/video/default.htm?clip=myspace)

[7] (Monas, Steve, Yourspace: A Friend's Guide to Myspace.com BookSurge Publishing (November 28, 2006)

[8] (Wikipedia Article Myspace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia 2007)
[9] (Rough Guides (Author) 2007 The Rough Guide to MySpace & Online Communities 1, Rough Guides Publishing)