Everyone needs a social life, right? I signed up for a MySpace account earlier this year, but never updated it or customized it much. To be honest, I probably was just too busy. But, it also wasn’t inviting, compelling, or easy to use, so that contributed to my mostly ignoring it besides putting up two pictures and accepting three or four friend invites.
This week I signed up for Facebook, another insanely popular (if less so) web-based social application. It’s like night and day—so much better! On MySpace, 9 out of 10 friend invitations were spam; Facebook’s invites have been mostly legitimate. The interface to add your details and customize your settings is clear and simple.
Facebook also made a great move recently by allowing third-party applications to synchronize with your account. In less than 5 minutes I had my Flickr account showing 15 random photos and Twitter updating my status. I really like the idea of reusing data or media that you have already worked hard on somewhere else (blog, photos, etc).
So, today I deleted the MySpace account permanently. No. Looking. Back.
Hey Lance! I found your blog. I’m excited to check in every once in awhile. My brother and LIsa and their 5 kids live in San Antonio. If you’re ever through there again, I’ll have to get your in touch. Anyway…fun to know you are out there/here on the web.
Kelley, thanks! Wow, I can’t believe Lisa has 5 kiddos. Crazy…
And we’re all the happier because you defected! I had a very similar experience to yours. Totally turned off by MySpace and amazed by Facebook. I like to say that Facebook is MySpace without the raging hormones, both in the people who use it and apparently, the designers who built it.