Is MySpace dying?

[kelseyc]

I heard that myspace cut 30% of its work force. I think I'm done using myspace because there so much spam and creepy people. What does everyone else think?

[PolarBearNPR]

Heh - seems like it if even this post hasn't garnered any discussion... yet! I don't use myspace so am not aware of the issues, but it seems like reduction in workforce and increase in spam indicates something is up.

[TheNorthernForest]

I log on everyday, but there is no need to communicate through MySpace anymore since we have other instant messaging services that connect us to each other faster than any social network.

MySpace is barely starting to push their IM client. I remember back in 2005, when IM on MySpace was available, people didn't use it. I think it's a little too late for MySpace to start pushing it out to users by putting it on the bottom of your web browser. It's not even all that great, either, because there is no alert that notifies you, unless you have to turn it on yourself, which should come on by default.

MySpace is dying out, thanks to Twitter and IM. MySpace also sold out when they started adding all the 2.0 layouts (which, btw, are seriously limited) and games. I guess it has the same fate as facebook.

[smileycam]

Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. The distance between them can be long or short.

The previous contributors have asked "It is dying?" well I would have to say "YES". Do I use other Social Networks as much as I used to? I would say no. Do I have time to spend reading all the quizzes that have been done on Facebook? No!

So like Myspace, for me, it is not a place I would be going to every day. Maybe Myspace has its target audience {unknow demongraphics} and we might be getting something better - or worse. This is the main reason I have not yet joined twitter. It does not seem to be what I need right now. I don't have time for Hi5, Tagged, Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Orkut, etc.

Let's just wait and see what the new flavour of the month(s) will be.

What do you think?

[Ven0m]

I couldn't care less if all the major social networking sites died.

[Stigmata]

Out of my group of friends, most people have shifted to facebook because overall its cleaner, slicker and generally better.

I don't know many people who still use myspace. If I'm honest, I hated some people's profiles full of shiny sparkly crap, I wasn't fond of it being acceptable for complete strangers from different countries to add you when using myspace/bebo etc and its nice to see that mindset has changed with facebook.

A lot of people here are talking about IM apps, but really not many people use that anymore. Most use facebook chat if they want to get anything across. WLM etc may be used if they want a file transfered or something?

[Fanatic]

Be sure to check out Social Network Wars. Very funny and pretty accurate view of MySpace, Facebook, et. al.

On a serious note, I wouldn't read too much into them cutting their workforce. The economy the way it is, it makes sense, and they grew very rapidly. It's good to cut out some of the fat and will help make them a little more nimble.

I've heard that MySpace, although slightly edged out by Facebook (mostly because of Facebook's growth outside of North America), is still more profitable than Facebook.

Having said all that, I don't have a MySpace page anymore, but I do have a Facebook page. So there.

[Yahooligan]

That video is hilarious. MySpace is a place for skanks and bands that suck.

Back when Facebook was "exclusive" (you had to have a .edu email from one of the schools they supported), they poached a lot of people from MySpace. Myspace was seen as the thing you did in high school, and once you went to college, you moved onto Facebook. That's less true now -- people just skip myspace entirely.

[kelseyc]

Originally Posted by Yahooligan

Back when Facebook was "exclusive" (you had to have a .edu email from one of the schools they supported), they poached a lot of people from MySpace. Myspace was seen as the thing you did in high school, and once you went to college, you moved onto Facebook. That's less true now -- people just skip myspace entirely.

That's a really good point-- and I totally agree. Do you think Facebook should have opened themselves up to anyone with an email address? Sometimes I don't think they should have, but I guess now that I am graduated from college, I can appreciate still having Facebook, and having my mom and brother on there (who is in high school).

[Ven0m]

I don't see any point to Myspace or Facebook. I don't see the relevance of both with Myspace being noteworthy for keeping track of bands - even though that's what PureVolume and Last.FM are for.

Twitter is another example here. Are we all deprived of attention that we need to "tweet" with everything we do during a day so others know and post comments so we feel personal importance? Seriously? Twitter makes me sick - as do Myspace, Facebook and other social networking sites.

I so admit, however, that I do have a Myspace and Facebook page. I use the Myspace page to befriend bands and keep track of new tracks or albums, but I don't have personal friends on it. My Facebook page is also devoid of "friends" or contacts, I just use its photo albums to upload stuff. I also use Flickr to upload and share my photography and I use Multiply as my personal website and blog - again, both without any contacts or friends. Who needs them anyways?

Serious question, how long do you think this social networking fad will last?