Do we still need MySpace?
I’ll be honest: When I’m looking for stories to include in SmartBrief on Social Media, MySpace almost never crosses my mind. When you’re talking about innovative platforms with a broad reach and a bright future, it no longer makes the list. Instead, it’s joined the ranks of the social media also-rans, consigned to a dusty closet with Bolt, Friendster and Orkut.
Or maybe not. Craig Daitch makes the case in today’s lead story that it’s not too late to turn MySpace around and make it a real competitor again. I don’t know if the network (or its parent company) has the will to do what it takes — but I have to agree with Daitch that the potential is still in the network. Here’s why:
MySpace’s decline has left a vacuum in the social-media universe. Facebook is a great general-interest network. I love it. But it’s not enough. Titans need rivals to push them forward. They might not like to admit it, but Microsoft needs Apple. Coke needs Pepsi. The New York Yankees need the Boston Red Sox. Rivalries make all the difference between good and great organizations.
For now, Buzz and Twitter are managing to keep Facebook from becoming totally soft and pudgy. But you can see the complacency setting in. Privacy issues, wonky redesigns — it is starting to get comfortable. Twitter can’t fill the void. Neither can Foursquare or LinkedIn. They serve different purposes. The only thing that’s going to make Facebook be all it can be is a viable alternative to Facebook.
MySpace was on top once, so everyone’s heard of it. But everyone’s also written it off, so it’s got nothing to lose. That’s exactly the kind of platform that could really do something daring and innovative and shock us all into taking them seriously again. I don’t know if the company (or its parent, News Corp.) has the will to go for broke like this, but I hope they do. Otherwise, there’s always room in the closet.
Can MySpace make a comeback? Does Facebook really need a rival? What would MySpace need to do to get back in the game?
Image credit, ToddSm66, via iStock
Posted by BillMasson on February 26th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Myspace is to narrow a market and they need to reinvent themselves to compete with FB and other popular social networks. When i think of MySpace i think of teenagers and not a place for me personally to have an intelligent conversation.
My recent post A Free Solution for Producing Content and Building Backlinks (UAW Review)
Posted by BillMasson on February 26th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Myspace is to narrow a market and they need to reinvent themselves to compete with FB and other popular social networks. When i think of MySpace i think of teenagers and not a place for me personally to have an intelligent conversation.
My recent post A Free Solution for Producing Content and Building Backlinks (UAW Review)
Posted by uberVU - social comments on February 26th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by sbosm: Do we still need MySpace? http://ow.ly/1bFyz #ireadsbosm…
Posted by Sherry on February 26th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Nothing compares to Myspace for the music scene and that scene is huge! But Myspace, which was difficult to manage and often 'glitchy' has seen better days even though a number of their 'issues' have been updated and the site is better than it used to be.
Myspace needs to think of itself as a 'total music platform. Not only does it need to keep it's great ability for bands and fans to interact but it needs to incorporate Twitter and Facebook, Foursquare and other pertienent social media – all on one platform! Make it easy for struggling musicians to have a one-stop place to get news of their shows out, new songs heard and interact with the fans! Myspace has many good days ahead.
Honestly, they should just hire me and I'll get them on their feet again… I'm not even kidding.
http://www.myspace.com/moosch.music
Sherry
Posted by Getting it out there! « Rubber Tyres –> Smooth Rides on February 27th, 2010 at 6:19 am
[...] Do we still need MySpace? (smartblogs.com) [...]
Posted by Kris Olin on March 1st, 2010 at 3:30 am
My Space was ans still is an important reference social website for Facebook. They were the biggest first and without their influence Facebook would not have got where it is today. Friendster and MySpace, founded in 2002 and 03 respectively served as an importand stepping stone to Facebook which was founded a year later in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. This is the same as with Google. They do need Yahoo and Ming to keep up with the good work.
Kris Olin, MSc (econ.)
Author of the Facebook Advertising Guide
http://facebook-advertising-guide.com
Posted by @KrisOlin on March 1st, 2010 at 4:51 am
My Space was ans still is an important reference social website for Facebook. They were the biggest first and without their influence Facebook would not have got where it is today. Friendster and MySpace, founded in 2002 and 03 respectively served as an importand stepping stone to Facebook which was founded a year later in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. This is the same as with Google. They do need Yahoo and Ming to keep up with the good work.
Kris Olin, MSc (econ.)
Author of the Facebook Advertising Guide
http://facebook-advertising-guide.com
Posted by @micahherstand on March 1st, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Beginning with the removal of network pages, until and including the removal of regional networks, Facebook has continually left the realm of what Mark Zuckerberg once called a "social utility" to become a true "social networking website." Their value came from being a tool with which offline communities could use to get engaged. If MySpace can fill this gap – focus on local communities, while providing global reach – they could pick up where Facebook left off in building social capital for all people (check out my link for a more fleshed out breakdown of this idea).
Posted by @micahherstand on March 1st, 2010 at 12:56 pm
It doesn't look like the "Site URL" actually shows up anywhere. Here's the link: http://himsit.com/musings/facebook
Posted by Do We Really Need MySpace? | Zion Eye Media | Web Design, SEO on March 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 pm
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Posted by Can MySpace make a comeback? | SmartBlog On Social Media on March 10th, 2010 at 7:48 am
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