These days MySpace is a bit like that older uncle we all have that never managed to grow up. Populated with juvenile Internet plagues like Corey Worthington, MySpace has a relentless image of being teen-friendly while offering the big middle finger for everyone else.
And yet, there’s a lot to admire about what MySpace can do. Users’ pages are highly customisable and the potential to reach a young, vibrant audience is definitely there – unsigned bands use it as a free marketing tool for getting their name out there. Upstart businesses use it as a virtual brochure.
And to say MySpace isn’t trying to reach a broader audience is unfair. It allows apps to be developed for it, in a similar way to Facebook, and while it hasn’t reached the plethora of apps that users can get on Facebook, it is nonetheless a growing list.
MySpace also connects very neatly with a wide range of smartphones, social networking tools and consumer gadgets makes it easy to reach – where my Nintendo DSi struggles with Facebook, it displays MySpace nicely, for instance. All the company needs to do is mature its image when a user wishes, and it will find itself with an even larger potential userbase, thanks to its easy accessibility.
Some would claim that MySpace’s star is fading, and compared to the meteoric rise of Facebook, that would indeed seem the case, but perhaps the pioneer is just coming into its own.
Also check out:
The Social Networking Compendium – Part 1 (Twitter)
The Social Networking Compendium – Part 2 (Facebook)
The Social Networking Compendium – Part 3 (LinkedIn)
MySpace
MySpace app dev platform still a work in progress - MySpace launched its developer program more than a year ago, and the jury is still out on how successful it will end up being.
MySpace's new CEO is former Facebook executive - News Corp chose a former Facebook executive to lead MySpace, a day after announcing that the current CEO would step down.
With MySpace CEO out, it's time to reinvent the company - With MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe stepping down, analysts say it's the perfect time for the social networking pioneer to reinvent itself and try to regain some momentum against rival Facebook.
MySpace partners with Citysearch for local biz directory - MySpace has teamed up with Citysearch to create a directory of small-business profiles on the social-networking site, the vendors announced. Members will be able to review and rate businesses, as well as share content related to these companies in this new directory, called MySpace Local.
Top 10 MySpace apps Down Under - MySpace.com unveils the top 10 apps that Aussies go to for their entertainment fix.
MySpace faces fresh controversy over sex offender issue - Just two weeks after a task force whose formation was spearheaded by MySpace delivered a report saying that social networking sites were safer from sexual predators than many people had assumed, MySpace finds itself dealing with a new inquiry related to registered sex offenders by Connecticut's attorney general.
Myspace comes to TV with Intel, Yahoo - MySpace has developed a MySpace Widget, a mini-application that complements TV watching with MySpace's social-networking offerings, such as e-mail and photo viewing. Using the widgets, TV watchers can exchange messages or browse photos on MySpace by activating a widget sitting at the bottom of the TV screen.
Google, Microsoft, Facebook and MySpace talk platforms - As Web application platforms rise in importance and popularity, Google, Microsoft, MySpace and Facebook executives shared tips for keeping developers happy, disagreed on philosophical issues like standards and articulated wish lists of applications they'd like to see created.
