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Technology, Culture, Commentary on the Internet Revolution

MySpace and Next Generation Bloggers

by on February 12th, 2006

I came across an interesting theory that “old skool” bloggers are being replaced by a new generation of bloggers, and I would tend to agree. The Age writes:

At Squash, the [alas, at times, somewhat predictably resentful] theory is that while mainstream media sites continue to have the lion’s share of blog traffic, there’s a substantial audience that are interested in things - like where to download the latest episode of The IT Crowd, or MySpace hacks, or the potential creation of a community of comment by Cocomment - that “old farts” like Scoble apparently find less inspiring.

Given that Razor is a somewhat older fart even than Scoble, we were surprised to find Atariboy’s content appealed to us too. Considerably more, we have to say, than a lot of Scoble’s. As we’ve suggested in the past, Scobleizer’s posts are too often directed at, or strongly influenced by, the vulgar pursuit of cash. And the mutual admiration society represented by the so-called A-list bloggers is awfully tiresome.

And from this, I’d like to highlight the reference to MySpace, the notorious social site strong beyond it’s inept capability or infrastructure. More 16-21 year olds use MySpace for blogging (and other activities) than any other platform? Why is that, do you suppose?

I’m a Generation-Xer. I’m among the last GenXers born. While we were notably postmodern and had an aversion ot organized anything, the internet generation has come along and found a way to take the multiplicity of stuff (information, thought process, etc) that marked GenX and have found a way to be notable efficient in the processing of all this stimuli.

The internet plays a major role here. I could not efficiently do homework, watch television, listen to music and talk to friends very well. Usually my homework was what was sacrificed. However, 16-21 year olds (high school and college) find a way everyday to efficiently use their computers, instant message, watch tv and sport the latest iPod. How do they do it? Why do they do it?

I can’t answer that question but MySpace has keyed on this generational tendency by providin a way, not only to blog, but to share those entries with their friends; to share their favorite music with their friends; to make new friends and in some cases find an object of love (and frankly, even sex).

I am no fan of MySpace. As a tech geek looking at Web 2.0, AJAX and web apps, I shudder whenever I visit MySpace. The notorious inability to keep servers online, to get decent working navigation and UI and the godawful profile pages with floating birdies and Britney playing in my browser… when I didn’t want her to… makes me shake my head in disbelief.

But the mantle is being passed and to ignore the concept (if not the implementation) of MySpace is to ignore a whole new generation of bloggers and internet users. Seems my friend Tom (I know he’s my friend because he’s in my MySpace friendlist!) is on to something. Now if someone could teach him how to build a robust webapp, that would be beneficial for the entire internet.

Hat Tip: .roblog for the article.

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POSTED IN: MySpace

21 opinions for MySpace and Next Generation Bloggers

  • Jesse
    Feb 13, 2006 at 11:57 am

    MySpace reminds me very much of web 95-00 with the blinking characters, yellow backgrounds, table-based designs, and blinking gifs.

    Here, I randomly opened a myspace profile, and here’s what I got:

    Music plays upon loading
    Flashy effects
    Funky a hover (crosshair pointer, underline, backgrounds color)
    Japanese cartoons
    table-based layout

    I honestly have yet to find a good looking MySpace profile, but then again, over the course of my life I’ve spent, oh, five minutes on the site

  • Vinnie Garcia
    Feb 15, 2006 at 11:40 am

    “I honestly have yet to find a good looking MySpace profile, but then again, over the course of my life I’ve spent, oh, five minutes on the site ”

    Myspace is as much about good looks as cars are about deep-sea diving.

    It’s the people, not the site. Myspace is successful in spite of its shortcomings because “that’s where all my friends are”.

    However, just as easily as Myspace took the world by storm, I think it will be usurped by something else, or a few other things. The site aims to those with short attention spans and Tom will eventually see the dark side of that when people start going elsewhere.

  • college student
    Feb 24, 2006 at 3:58 am

    Since I joined myspace I have:

    - Gotten several freelance photography gigs. Great $$$.
    - Sold photography prints off my profile (lotta’ traffic!)
    - Reunited w/ friends I haven’t spoke to in years.
    - Made many new friends.
    - Won free tickets to shows/events.
    - Been inspired like crazy (graphic designers & photographers).
    - Discovered independent musicians that have serious talent.
    - Learned html, which later earned a few design jobs.
    - AND OF COURSE, been able to keep in touch with literally EVERYONE I know in real life, at the click of a button.

    Get it?

    You’d be surprised how many intellegent & interesting people are actually on myspace once you stop clicking on the drunk college girls and dumb jocks.

  • Aaron
    Feb 24, 2006 at 7:08 am

    Hmmm… who said anything about drunk college girls? Sounds like maybe you’ve got a guilty conscience or something.

  • Stacie
    Feb 24, 2006 at 2:10 pm

    Very interesting. I have yet to see anything good come of myspace. Personally, it looks like a lite sex ring. So, college student, can we see your myspace portfolio for proof?

  • Aaron
    Feb 24, 2006 at 3:25 pm

    In the radio business they call those punks Seminar Callers. I can smell them a mile away.

  • college student
    Feb 24, 2006 at 3:39 pm

    Yes. You’re absolutely right, lol. I have a guilty conscience because I mentioned “drunk college girls” on a random blog.

    The “Get it?” was completely rhetorical. However, it probably proves to be more applicable than originally intended.

    The end of comment 3 is in response to comments 1 & 2. Not so much your entry. I don’t know who they’re looking at on myspace, but I’ve seen PLENTY of well-designed, interesting myspace profiles. THUS, my reference to drunkies and jocks not being the best place to click if you’re looking for a “nice” profile. But again, you’re right. I have a guilty conscience..

    -.-

  • Aaron
    Feb 24, 2006 at 3:45 pm

    Well put your money where your mouth is. Show us some “well designed” profiles. While you’re at it, define “well designed”, what makes a profile “well designed” and how it benefits me, a non MySpace user?

    Also, you still haven’t clarified to me why you thought I was referring to drunk college girls or jocks? By guilty conscience, I meant that you seem to have made a jump in logic there based on something that was never said… perhaps there is a degree of guilt feelings over drunk college girls because that is actually the biggest complaint about MySpace from non-MySpace users.

    And since you feel that this conversation is about drunk college girls, why don’t I set you straight again by pointing at the point of the article…

    MySpace is replacing standard blogging. Let me also point you in thew direction of another post I made where I gripe about MySpace and another article from someone who is scared to death of MySpace.

  • college student
    Feb 24, 2006 at 6:39 pm

    Woah. Calm down buddy.
    Are you having a bad day or something, lol? Anyways.

    1. Why should I provide links to myspace profiles that I consider interesting or well designed? (AS WELL AS MINE FOR THAT MATTER??? I DON’T KNOW YOU GUYS! F’ THAT.) As heated as you are, I KNOW you’re just going to pick them apart and look for the stupidest, most irrelevant details to complain about anyways.

    2. You want me to define “well designed?” Okay, Professor Aaron. Give me a f’n break dude. Besides, how can one even give a concrete definition to something SO subjective? So let me clarify that any reference I made to a “well designed” myspace profile was purely out of opinion (as well as the 100s of others that comment their profiles).

    3. How does a well designed myspace profile benefit you? Hell, why are you asking me, I don’t know, nor do I care, lol. You’re the one that asking for the links; hypocrite.

    4. I haven’t clarified to you why I thought you were referring to drunk college girls or jocks??? OKAY, once again, I was speaking in regards to the first two COMMENTS, NOT your entry. Hello?

    5. I thought the biggest complaint about myspace by “non-myspace users” (g0d, that term is so cliche, lol) were the rampant rapes and kidnappings of teenagers by stalkers?

    6. For the record, I NEVER claimed that this conversation was about drunk college girls, lol!!! If you’re still failing to understand why I made reference to such, you have illustrated your stubborness in more ways than one. If it makes you feel any better, I can pretend to agree with you that it was. So, thanks for “setting me straight” whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.

    7. You actually think I’m going to take the time to click on your links there? I’ve already wasted FAR too much time here, debating about the most beat-dead-horse topic online right now. If you hate myspace and someone else is scared to death of it, that’s great. So what?

    People are always going to hate on myspace. It’s a fact and that’s fine! Sh*t, I used to be one of those stubborn haters myself! Until I discovered the 1,000’s of other artists/photographers/open-minded thinkers on it. Since then, I’ve stfu and moved on from that “I’m too cool for myspace” pedastal.

    Peace. 0[-_-]0

  • Jesse
    Feb 24, 2006 at 6:49 pm

    the maturity of myspace users has always been a strong point

    /sarcasm

  • Stacie
    Feb 24, 2006 at 6:54 pm

    Wow, there is one of those drunkin college jocks now. College Student, please relax. I am honestly interested in seeing a well designed MySpace blog because I have yet to see one.

    Stacie

  • Sean M. Crawford Sr.
    Feb 24, 2006 at 9:51 pm

    Sounds like ya’ll done pissed college student off up in here. I too have a sight on MYSPACE and it honestly reminds me of BLACKPLANET except it has other nationalities. But in reading college students comments he is the example of what Aaron speaks of.

    Hopefully he will mature as his site does. Did I say that?

  • Eric
    Feb 25, 2006 at 8:32 pm

    You guys do realize that “College Student” is a girl right?

    She’s my girlfriend and suggested that I check this out for a quick laugh. I don’t think she’s pissed, she’s just opinionated and always stands her ground. Especially if you (Aaron) call her out like that, claiming she has a guilty conscience or whatever. But yeah, from my understanding this is about how myspace is taking over independent blogs? Interesting. I suppose that is true.

    But, if you guys are really that bored and curious, I’ll be glad to share some links. Please don’t tell me you guys are lame enough to actually critique these tho, as if anyone really cares, lol.

    Layouts:

    http://myspace.com/ohgodiloveguinness

    http://myspace.com/mr_supreme

    http://myspace.com/ms_dara

    http://www.myspace.com/jasonevil

    http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=9689173&Mytoken=5C94B306-9695-4F9B-FA0413BBFAA04D4042296863

    http://www.myspace.com/escoisback

    http://myspace.com/sketchii

    Artists:

    http://myspace.com/peekaboomonster

    http://myspace.com/johnnycupcakes

    http://myspace.com/mikegallegos

    http://myspace.com/absentrevolution

    http://myspace.com/2liveclothing

    http://myspace.com/moodude_design

    http://myspace.com/aaronkraten

    http://myspace.com/sketchii

    If you like them, good for you.
    If you hate them, good for you.
    Does it matter? Not really.

    Some of you still hate on myspace, hahhaha? I thought that ended in like 04′ when it was still only kids pretending to be “scene” rock stars and/or drunk sluts? It’s come a long way since then and mature members of all types & decent layouts (for a myspace) can be found far and wide. If you haven’t discovered this by now, consider yourself incredibly slow. Which I think is what my girlfriend was trying to say initially w/ the whole ‘don’t click on drunk myspace idiots’ thing, I dunno, since the first 2 commentators here claim that “good looking myspace profiles” don’t exist or something.

    (Stacie) It’s funny that you called my girlfriend a drunken college jock, when she’s the most unathletic Mormon I know, hahah. Your assumptive slander literally made me laugh out loud for a second, ty. It’s also funny that you asked for her myspace link, because just last week at San Diego State University we had a guest speaker discussing the risks and dangers of doing just that. Some shit’s been going down in this area lately that would make any young female weary of curious myspace strangers. Haha, I’m sure that had something to do with why she got defensive about not wanting to give it out so willingly on this random public site. Understandable, yeah? Of course it is.

    (Sean M. Crawford Sr.) Yes, you did say that. And it’s funny that you did, because I just finished looking at your site. No comment.

    Alright guys. Don’t forget that there is a life beyond your computer monitor, so try not to get too offended by my words. Besides, no matter how much you dis’ me or my girl on the internet, we still have more friends and a livelier social life than all of you blog nerds combined. which I’d choose over online-status anyday, lol. I bookmarked this thing, so maybe I’ll check back when I want some more quick shit’s n’ giggles.

    - Eric

  • Aaron
    Feb 26, 2006 at 12:25 pm

    Eric,
    Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Arew you saying something or repeating the party line.

    Every single profile you linked to is exactly like the one before it. So much for individuality, “well designed” etc. What am I suppose to take from those profiles? I mean, there must be something I’m supposed to get about it or you wouldn’t have linked… It just escapes me what I’m supposed to get here. Help me.

    The point of this article is not about how MySpace is taking over independent blogging. Good luck with that one. It’s about how generational blogging and MySpace is. Go back and read it again.

  • Aaron
    Feb 26, 2006 at 12:27 pm

    I will concede that I did not look at the layouts, just osme of the artist profiles. There are some nice visuals there. However, can they be read on a mobile device? Mine can…

  • Jesse
    Feb 26, 2006 at 3:58 pm

    arg.

    crosshairs on link hovers
    strange text-background color combinations
    links go bold on hovering causing the page to go out of wack.
    they’re all heavy with graphics

    whatever happened to pages that looked pretty? I couldn’t care less if the page I’m on has fancy javascript coding, I want something that looks pleasing to the eyes

    Those are just some random blogs I read that all have nice, original designs that are soft on the eyes, original, and not overly graphicy or effecty (is that a word?)

    most people don’t want to read grey text on a black background with a crosshair mouse and music looping constantly

  • Eric
    Feb 26, 2006 at 4:34 pm

    QUOTE: “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Arew you saying something or repeating the party line.

    Every single profile you linked to is exactly like the one before it. So much for individuality, “well designed” etc. What am I suppose to take from those profiles? I mean, there must be something I’m supposed to get about it or you wouldn’t have linked… It just escapes me what I’m supposed to get here. Help me.

    The point of this article is not about how MySpace is taking over independent blogging. Good luck with that one. It’s about how generational blogging and MySpace is. Go back and read it again.

    I will concede that I did not look at the layouts, just osme of the artist profiles. There are some nice visuals there. However, can they be read on a mobile device? Mine can.”

    - Aaron

    Get a life Aaron, lol.

  • Jesse
    Feb 26, 2006 at 4:36 pm

    Get a life Aaron, lol.

    oh the irony

  • Stacie
    Feb 27, 2006 at 8:54 am

    Eric,

    Opinionated is not the word I would use for your girlfriend.

    As a female, I too am reluctant to give out certain information, which is why I try to limit my personal information on a web site. If someone asks, I usually say that I am not comfortable giving out my URL instead of telling everyone to F themselves. Sorry, I guess I am out of the social loop.

    As for the web sites, I have not desire to critique. My first reaction is wow, very nice to see other people than my 19 year old sister and friends throwing up skanky pictures and music and misc images and calling it a web site. It was very nice to see what others could do with the site.

  • Emerging Earth » MySpace Part Deux
    Feb 27, 2006 at 2:55 pm

    […] Here is part two of my ongoing gripe with MySpace. […]

  • Technosailor » Generation Next Battle: Digg vs. MySpace - Technology, Blogging and Politics
    Mar 1, 2006 at 1:04 am

    […] I’ve said alot about MySpace recently and with good reason. It claims to have the largest membership of any other site on the internet with the exception of, I believe, Engadget. Hell, I couldn’t even go see a movie the other night without seeing a girl run up to another girl who was apparently a long lost friend and exclaiming, “So weird to see you here, I just commented on your picture today,” an obvious reference to MySpace’s photo/comment system. It is without a doubt the hottest thing among teens today – well, arguably anyway. […]

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