Can Facebook win the battle over MySpace?
Facebook seems to be a hot topic everywhere I look. Right now, Im sitting at my old school library, and it’s amazing how many people are on facebook when you look around. This is just an observation, but its a trend that I’m seeing more and more! But is it a fad? Will it just fade away…Im guessing that Facebook is here to stay.
Yet, its main competition, MySpace, could prevent Facebook from being the leader! Now, Im not too concerned about number of users or even how much money they bring in compared to MySpace, but instead, what value they add. Are they serving a greater purpose than MySpace? Let’s try to bottle down the key features of both facebook and myspace to see:
Provides a legitimate social networking platform
- MySpace: Yes, but who is part of the network? Probably, friends you met at a party, someone who is in your class, someone you think is cute, or spam.
- Facebook: Yes, and although the network could be any of the above, it also includes colleagues and business professionals. That’s the difference! The network on Facebook is a lot more professional and older. Obviously, MySpace has its own niche, but will this survive the rapid popularity of Facebook?
Provides an opportunity to show one’s personality
- MySpace: Yes, all power is in the hands of the creator. This is something MySpace has mastered! And the younger generation loves it! But, does it get old? Well, I know my sister loves MySpace and so do my parents, but what about my generation? Where do we go? FACEBOOK…but can facebook keep my generation for long?
- Facebook: No, theres not much room for creativity. Of course this is the intention, but is it the right strategy? I know its great for my generation, but will it withstand the generation swings? Can Facebook keep people like me interested?
Web 2.0?
- MySpace: Although, I’d say that MySpace has some good web 2.0 widgets, its just not up to par. Then again, this might not be their strategy. But, this could put them significantly behind competition if they dont keep up because their users are evolving…and they need to be aware of this.
- Facebook: Absolutely! I like the whole idea about the Feeds (although some think its a bit invasive). Plus now you can import flickr photos directly to facebook!
Here to stay?
- MySpace: Yes, but for who? I feel like MySpace is very niche, either you like it or you dont! Can this keep them the top social networking site? Im not too sure
- Facebook: Face it, we are all on it or at least talking about it. Even the Community Evangelist at LinkedIn, Mario Sundar, has a facebook account. AND even Jeremiah, who asked the question if he really needs it since he already has LinkedIn and his blog, signed up and is adding friends.
What does everyone else think?
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I think both of these websites are coming to a point where their size is inhibiting them from being too much more exciting to our generation. I think Facebook definitely has more time on their hands to wow the crowd, especially with their recent upgrades by adding features like network stats, and the ever growing API projects being put out there as you mentioned, but myspace is looking like its on its way down a creepy path, filled with spammers, and pure distrust in the community base it once had… i find myself checking myspace every other day, when i used to have it open on my desktop the whole time! while my facebook tool bar is there, right on my firefox browser, amply used, and i also check the feeds on my blackberry when i just want to know whats going on with my friends…
So, to me, facebook is running strong, and myspace is getting to chunky to keep up.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Hi Kara,
You’ve made some good points, especially about trust. This is something that social media relies heavily on because its about building relationships and communities, which both need trust. Without trust, there’s nothing.
Wow, you can check the facebook feeds from your mobile device! Thats great! Thanks for your comments Kara.
-Chris
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:00 pm
So I like Facebook better - are you saying I’m old?
ok, I’m double your age, but… I agree that MySpace just really is looking like a mess. I have a bunch of friends using Facebook & it’s been fun to join them there.
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Hi Connie,
Of course you are not old! Actually, I use Facebook a lot and same goes for serveral of my colleagues, new grads, and several other people of my generation. So, you’re actually quite young and “hip” for using Facebook!
Thanks for your comments. And to respond to your other comment: http://ebizz.wordpress.com/2006/09/06/facebook-is-using-feeds-now/
Facebook will soon allow RSS feeds to your blog. It’s coming soon, I can feel it.
-Chris
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I personally prefer Facebook to MySpace. In fact, the only reason I really have a MySpace account is because I wanted to look at some pictures on a friend’s account, and was unable to do so without registering an account.
While MySpace is potentially more flexible, and can be personalized, I don’t need that. Nor do I need the blogging feature. I have a “real” blog where I can be creative in the design and post my daily thoughts and articles.
Something about Facebook that I really like is that most people setup accounts under their real name, rather than using a screen name. This makes it much easier to connect with old friends and colleagues, since you can search for them by name, rather than trying to guess what pseudonym they might be using. Combine that with the recent ability to search Facebook for contact in your email address book makes Facebook a much more effective network (at least for me).
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Facebook Feed is how I connect to many of my hundreds of my ‘friends’ who I would not email or call regularly.
Read my description of Facebook and social trends in the under-30 set.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Dear Mr. Salazar, I have been reading a few of your posts. They are exceptional. I was considering using MySpace. Since, your statistics show that my age group (your parents, also) are becoming more and more interested in becoming involved…., I might think about it a little more seriously.
May 24th, 2007 at 6:17 am
[…] WordPress Milestone Posted May 24, 2007 Thanks for everyone who visited my post on Facebook and MySpace, especially Jeremiah who devoted a single post to […]
May 24th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Christopher,
Thanks for the observations. I concur with many of the comments, especially the ones about Facebook as I personally prefer that to MySpace. I guess I’m ‘old’, like Connie
Kara C. mentioned that she can get feeds directly to her Blackberry which is very cool. However, you don’t have to have a high end PDA or Smartphone to be able to access your MySpace, FaceBook (or Twitter for that matter) accounts.
As a matter of fact, just about anyone with a cell phone can access their accounts from anywhere in the world that has a wireless/mobile connection. There is no longer the need to be “tethered” to a computer in order to access your accounts.
Here’s how:
1) Open your cell/mobile phone Internet browser (WAP 1.0 or higher)
2) Enter the cell phone dial pad number ‘equivalent’ of the site you want to access: These numbers can “spell” the equivalent of the respective sites below:
For MySpace, enter 6977223.com
For FaceBook, enter 32232665.com
For Twitter, enter 8948837.com
Press ’send’, ‘enter’, ‘call’, etc. and you will go directly to the site of your choice… ON MOBILE!
It really shouldn’t matter what device you are using; shouldn’t matter who your wireless carrier is; shouldn’t matter where in the world you access the sites from and it shouldn’t matter what your language of origin is… the numbers are the same all around the world.
A few notes. Not every site has yet been configured to be ‘mobile friendly’ so some of the features, graphics etc. may look a bit cludgy and take a bit of time to load.
Give it a try!
Cheers,
Scott