MySpace is even deader than it was 10 minutes ago. You are clinging to a falling rock.

Posted by

Jer Clarke

November 8, 2006

Facebook satisfies the demands of the mbf Looking at my bulletin block in MySpace and seeing a bunch of pornspam generated by a virus on someone’s account I can’t help thinking that MySpace is officially the Windows of social networking. It’s ugly, stupidly designed, full of obnoxious bugs and extremely popular for no good reason at all (which leads it to be targeted by hacker-assholes for their spamming purposes, which I’m sure is made easier by the abominably low coding standards used in its development.)

All that to say that if you want to interract with me online you really should just get a Facebook account. Anyone can get one and the interface is not only sensical and elegant, but actually inspires you to follow the goings on of your friends and communicate with them with various “feed” metaphors. If anything you shouldn’t join because it’s so much more fun than MySpace that you might have problems getting things done. (Not to mention the fact that they released an api for people to write other applications based on the Facebook network, like BillMonk.) Facebook is poised to become the default social network for all kinds of uses, and I won’t mind one bit.

I’ve changed the homepage of the Myspace Beautification Front to reflect the fact that Facebook meets its guidelines and demands in a way that Myspace probably never will. It feels good to be obsolete.

[Note: Jay points out (appropriately, in a myspace comment) that Facebook doesn’t have your favorite band/artist/movie to add as a friend, which is likely to remain true. Facebook focuses on making sure everyone is a real person and accurately guaging relationships, so there’s no profiles for bands and stuff. There’s groups, which have a similar effect, but if you really want that specific interaction with the artists themselves then you now have one (1) reason to stay with MySpace instead of switching (This is basically the Mac user who’s forced to run windows for their favorite game. I’d just find a new game :p ]

Jer Clarke is a web developer based in Mexico City. Jer builds Global Voices with WordPress and loves everything.

Jer is available to work! Read about Jer’s skills and get in touch.

Jer’s pronouns are They/Them.

Comments

7 responses to “MySpace is even deader than it was 10 minutes ago. You are clinging to a falling rock.”

November 8, 2006

jane

because, truly, what i needed was yet another social networking site i never use.

damn you.
November 8, 2006

EricEric

The only good thing about MySpace is the music player.

The thing is, I’m dating a musician who actually uses the music player.

I sent her the MBF link, though. She likes things to be not-ugly, unless they’re deliberately and charmingly ugly.
November 9, 2006

mekkablue

You are so right, MySpace sucks terribly. â€œThe Windows of social networking,â€ thatâ€™s a great way to put it. This reminded me of John Gruberâ€™s article on why there are so many bugs and viruses and worms and what not on Windows, and none of that junk on Mac OS: http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/broken_windows
November 12, 2006

cicatrix

but what are those interactions with the bands anyway? I mean, you get sent a bunch of ‘special offers’ from big label bands that usually end up being scams. Smaller bands you can email but you could totally do the same with a facebook group or whatever. As soon as facebook starts giving an option for mp3s & videos and stops being so much an ‘i’m at a school’ thing. it’s all over.
November 14, 2006

sachi

“All that to say that if you want to interract with me online you really should just get a Facebook account”

you’re funny.
November 16, 2006

Amanda

Right, Jer. I caved in and signed up for a Facebook.

I haven’t done much with it yet, and I doubt I will. Obviously this hasn’t taken off around the world because Melbourne only contains 46 profiles… So unless I start randomly hitting up people that look vaguely familiar through Philemon, I doubt I’m going to enjoy this.
January 23, 2007

forbidmyspacecomments

If they’re not on bulletins, they are in myspace comments. They are definitely annoying, but hey, I use myspace to communicate with my friends who live miles and miles away from me.