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Facebook is the Suburbs; MySpace is the Ghetto
By: Marijean Jaggers | 03/13/2009
My friend Josh Hallett once (or maybe more often) said that "Facebook is the suburbs; MySpace is the ghetto." It's a funny phrase, and when I've repeated it in social media or social networking workshops, sometimes I get A LOOK. You know, the one that says, "I can't believe you're not being politcally correct." But let's examine the definition of ghetto; an isolated group, or an area in which a minority group lives due to social, economic or legal pressure.
According to those definitions, Josh is right. The way social networking tools have evolved have pushed the majority into Facebook; business contacts, people over 40 (and older!), high school friends, politicians, and kids (now adults) I used to babysit for are all there. Extended family members, too -- every day it seems a new part of my extended network appears on Facebook.
MySpace, however, has an unspoken reservation for younger kids, comedians, bands, artists and the dating scene. Are they attracted by the colors, flashing lights and design components of MySpace pages, which are, no doubt, more appealing to those with shorter attention spans? Has social pressure confined this demographic to MySpace? Does the Facebook crowd want the segregation, or are the MySpace members self-selecting?
I have always preferred Facebook. I once registered for a MySpace account, simply so I could see the new baby pictures from a much younger friend who posted them on her MySpace page. Other than that, I've abandoned that account. I guess geographically and on the Web, I'm more comfortable in the suburbs, among my peers and those with whom I want to connect for business, networking and friendship. I appreciate the clean design of Facebook and the uncluttered use of white space. Oh, and of course, it's great for keeping up with the extended family.
What do you think? Do you agree that Facebook is the 'burbs, MySpace is the ghetto?
Posted in Digital Communications
comments
Josh Hallett says:
Fri, March 13, 2009 at 2:13:pm
Ultimately it depends on which audience you’re trying to reach.
At a recent conference I heard a case study from one of the used car publications and a campaign they ran around inexpensive used cars, i.e. less than $1000. They saw tremendous success with MySpace, while little success with Facebook.
Jerry Gennaria says:
Fri, March 13, 2009 at 2:17:pm
Perfect description. This is now one of my two favorite phrases for describing social media concepts. The other is “free as in puppies,” a reference to the idea that it’s easy and cheap to get involved in social media, but the time and attention need to do it right is enormous.
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Maya says:
Fri, March 13, 2009 at 12:16:pm
I think each has its place and serves its purpose… although personally, I have sensory overload when I look at MySpace. You hit it on the head when you talk about MySpace catering to the younger generations and the artistic crowd (musicians, artists, comedians, etc.)