I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get so-called social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, etc. I don’t use them to find music, hang out, send messages, or whatever it is people do. I don’t use them period. I have signed up to try them out and to see if I could stalk find people from high school, etc., but after that what else do you do? Just leave notes on people’s pages? Why not just send an email, instant message, or make a call? Whenever I go to the library it seems like all the people on the library computers are using MySpace. I don’t understand it. Is it basically asynchronous, public instant messaging?
My working theory is that social networking sites are the successors to online dating websites. In effect, MySpace reintegrates online dating into some semblance of a normal, social life, albeit one that is semi-virtual and online rather than physical and actual.
Rather than cruise for connections with strangers (the normal online dating paradigm), social networking sites facilitate lively echosystems where people can potentially pair off. In fact, I believe this is the whole point of MySpace-type sites. According to this theory, I would expect the people who are most active in MySpace/Facebook to be single and looking. Or cynically, in a relationship and looking. In simple terms, dating sites are the online equivalent of a singles’ bar, whereas MySpace is a party. Even though the goal in both often comes down to romance/sexual gratification, they both go about it in very different ways.
Social networking sites will eventually replace dating sites because they perform one very important function: they erase the stigma of meeting people online.
This is just an idea because I am clueless about it. I’d be curious to know what the appeal is. If you participate in social networking, how do you use it? What purpose does it serve for you?
Most bands have a myspace profile. If you befriend a band on myspace whenever they go on tour they post it on the bulletin board. It’s a good way to know when any, but especially indie bands you like are going on tour. You can also listen to a band’s music on myspace.
I found your blog via Google while searching for internet dating profile and your post regarding MySpace is for dating. Period. looks very interesting for me
Hi there I came across this posting after googling for myspace music. Thanks for the interesting read. I have often thought about MySpace is for dating. Period. too. Thanks for sharing. On Monday I will have time to look into it more.