Comparison and Contrast: Battle of the Social Networks

Which do you go to for socializing?

As technology has shaped our modern society, both Facebook and Myspace have become defining parts of our culture. Not only do we commit countless hours to these sites by sharing various aspects of our personal lives; we also dedicate a majority of our day idling away on these sites to socialize.

Before you ask, no, this is not a blog comparing which social network is better, for that is an age-old argument that I do not plan (and do not want) to get into. Plus, I do not want this blog to become a forum for pro-Facebook and pro-Myspace users to battle out in. This blog is simply to compare two forms of design—two forms of web design—that have been hiding under our noses for the past 5 years.

There are several aspects of these social networks that we can look at. But for the sake of this blog, we will specifically look at the sites’ layout/formatting and overall functioning.

Obviously, a website’s layout is crucial when attracting visitors and potential members. But how far does a website have to go to see an increase in these numbers? For instance, Myspace gives its members the ability to change and enhance their profile by adding layouts and wallpapers, thereby giving each online profile a personal touch. However, Facebook does not allow its members to personalize their profiles with premade layouts and wallpapers, causing each profile to look nearly the same. Yet in recent studies, Facebook has surpassed Myspace in the number of users. Could it be that a website’s overall layout is losing the effect it once had to attract members?

When comparing and contrasting the design of both social networks, one must consider the design of the website’s overall functioning. In its earlier years, many considered Myspace to offer much more than Facebook; Facebook was just too simple to really make an impact on the online community. But in recent years, Myspace has taken this strongpoint to whole new levels—almost to the point that Myspace offers too much for its members. As a result, many have flocked to the land of Facebook, whose simplicity has appealed to a majority of its members. However, as time goes on, Facebook is repeating the mistake of its former rival; it is beginning to offer too much. Could it be that some other network site, such as Twitter or Formspring, will surpass Facebook by utilizing the design of simplicity? Only time will tell.

Despite the differences between Facebook and Myspace, both share a common enemy: father time. So even if one does succeed to surpass its rival, whether it is in the realm of design or in the realm of pure statistics, both are forced to race against the clock and to make an impact before another social network does.