You've been hearing about both MySpace and Facebook in the news over the last few years, yet you either don't have one, or haven't decided upon one to use. They are both essentially blogs, and social networking sites, but there are many differences. I hope to point out those to you to help you choose the one most beneficial to you.
Facebook, which was started by Harvard grad Mark Zuckerberg, has been up and running since its launch in February 4th 2004. Although until September of 2006 it wasn't made available to the everyday internet browser, but for people in collages with an email address proving they go there. Every profile has a few main components that make up the basic profile. These things include a wall, a picture, contact information you choose to tell them, and a few questions about yourself. The wall is an area for people you've added as a friend to write a message for all to see. If you don't want everybody to see it you can send them a message, similar to email, and they will read it privately. Many other things are available on the site.
You can add top friends, games, music, and thousands of other applications. There are numerous things that make it way more customizable than MySpace. Granted you cannot change the colors of your profile you can do just about anything else. Now to security, the major concern of many people. You can select exactly what groups of people can see what information about you. If you don't want people that aren't your friends looking at your profile you can disallow it. If you want them to see certain things, but not contact information and the wall it can be done. If you have certain friends on your friends list you don't want to allow seeing things on your profile, it can be done by changing what they can view.
MySpace, one of the most common websites you'll hear talked about on the news is the first real successful social networking site. With it being the starting point of a new thriving online activity for younger browsers comes a challenge. The safety of the MySpace users was something they needed, and failed. Currently one in three of my friends have had their profiles phished, although by using precaution this probably won't happen to you, it something to consider.
The pros of MySpace are the customizable layout. You can use html to create a layout truly your own, other than a few things that must remain on the page. You can move the boxes however you like with a recent update though. It has a private messaging system like Facebook, a commenting system like Facebook's wall, and lets you add friends. Other than the few things MySpace supplies you with you must Google the rest of the things you'd like to add, such as music, games, and quizzes. MySpace does have an extensive video area like Youtube that actually does get a decent amount of quality videos submitted weekly. Joining MySpace for the videos alone is worth it.
Facebook's recent lawsuit troubles are nothing to worry about. MySpace lacks the cleanliness of Facebook, and the purity of the site. It is both safer, and filled with more than enough applications to add and make you profile unique. MySpace has fallen behind and recently been forced to try to imitate Facebook's attributes.
