Facebook vs. MySpace: Which Is Cooler?
Brace yourself: This post may raise a bit of controversy.
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have found that there are some noticeable differences between which teens use Facebook and which teens use MySpace. Danah Boyd, the lead researcher for the study, says that more black, Latino and immigrant teens tend to use MySpace, whereas Facebook users tend to be white. But that's only the beginning of the differences.
While many teens use both MySpace and Facebook, they tend to have one that's their favorite or that they use more. The researchers found that teens who do better in school and come from more privileged backgrounds tend to flock to Facebook, while teens who favor MySpace are more likely to get jobs straight out of high school and come from families with less money and status. Plus, the Facebook users are supposedly more popular in high school than the MySpace users.
"MySpace has most of the kids who are socially ostracized at school because they are geeks, freaks or queers," Boyd said in an interview with BBC News.
It seems to me that these are some pretty broad generalizations to make about either social networking site. Plus, no one should be made to feel like an outcast because they prefer MySpace. What do you think? Sound off in the Comments section below.
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Comments
well honestly..i used to think that facebook sucked..but one i actually started to use mine it got better..this is how it is for me. I log onto facebook..check everything there..if there isnt anything really new i just update my status and then check my myspace..and all i do on there is update my status..and thats about it..so..yeah..
I think it depends more on what the people at your school do: for example at my school no one uses facebook and ALL the cool people, whatever race, use myspace. These things may be true in some places and schools, but don’t read too much into it.
I like myspace a lot better, there’s just something about it. Facebook makes me think of like old people who try to act young or something. I don’t know, maybe it’s just by who is using what. I actually kind of agree with the idea of white people using facebook and others using myspace because that’s how it is at my school. i’m white though but i live sorta in the “ghetto” so the way i act really isn’t like, white or whatever
At my college, pretty much no one uses Myspace…I don’t know anyone who DOESN’T have a Facebook. Most of my younger friends, though, have Myspace. I agree with Anna, it has a lot to do with what most the people at your school (or just friends in general) have.
There seems to be a biased outlook on both facebook and myspace. Does it really matter which one you choose? Use both. Now that we have new leadership less young people will feel the need to mimic conservative BS and can freely think as they wish and won’t have to kiss so much rich conservative ass to get better grades or be popular. It will take time but it will shift. This may lead to more open minded outlook when choosing myspace vs facebook or reporting on either.
Tila Tequila= Myspace
My class president= Facebook
Need I say more?
All I know is, I started both (in my 30s) and I never get predatory-esk friend requests in facebook, whereas I have hundreds…..hundreds of friend requests linking to porn sites on Myspace. Myspace is quick to suspend those Myspace accounts, but I view that as not as safe a place for kids (or adults) to have an account. I know that if you’re a musician and want to show your stuff on a social network, Myspace is the place, but that’s not enough to make me want my kids hanging out on Myspace. I’ll keep both, because they’ve both got some advantages over the other.
I don’t like the “Ghetto” label you’ve given Myspace. I don’t think the Myspace creators would like it either. If you want to be controversial, I’d throw into your review that Myspace is less social and more self-promotional, whereas facebook seems to have an edge on connecting people. I bet the stats out there would prove that facebook is growing exponentially compared to Myspace.
The only comment I have is for the person who stated:
Tila Tequila= Myspace
My Class President= Facebook
Any Questions?
Yes! I do have a question. Which one of those people is the true economic genius? Your class president only wishes he could get a date with Tila!
Well…I think that it doesn’t matter if ur popular or not, or if ur white or mexican to have a facebook or myspace. But I prefer MySpace cause I’m always chatting with my friends and it also depennds on yourself if u want to make ur MySpace private or not in order not to add sites that link to porn.
Myspace is so much better for keeping track of band gigs and updates. Facebook sucks for that. However for simply social chatting with zillions of friends Facebook wins out. I’m much more private so Facebook isn’t as interesting to me. Oh and (5)Billy up above is a liberal idiot.
It always depends on where you are, and who you are talking to. The idea that smarter, richer teenagers flock to Facebook while less privalaged flock to Myspace is plainly stupid. I live in a place where there are less than 2% of my peers who use Facebook. Most use MySpace If I want to communicate with the majority of them, which one would I use? Logically MySpace. Also, for bands and gigs, Myspace proclaims the venue and time of your gig better than Facebook