MySpace: A Space for Everyone, and Everyone in its Space

By Elise C., '06

I was in the bathroom at a concert with my friend Diane. There were a group of girls standing off to one side of the bathroom, all with short black hair and bleached bangs, when a short dark-haired girl walked into the bathroom. “Are you Alyssa?” one of the girls said to her. She nodded.
“Yeah! I thought it was you!” said the girl, “I thought I recognized you, but I wasn’t sure it was you.”
The short girl laughed, and said to the first girl, “Oh wow, hey! You’re so much taller in real life!”
I realized that I had just witnessed two people meeting from the Internet.
A few years ago, this story would have seemed like something that would happen only to nerds who sign up for dating sites or go to forum meets or other “geek” Internet activities. But those days are over. The Internet has drastically changed. The Internet is no longer just for people traditionally though of as Internet geeks. Our entire generation is online, whether we put ourselves there or not.
For example, if you meet someone at a show or a party, instead of never seeing him or her again, they can easily find you on MySpace. And before long, a friendship is underway. MySpace is a social phenomenon. It’s a new level of social interaction on a scale never before seen. It’s not just a dating site. Its appeal is far greater than that. And with it gaining more and more popularity, a few questions begin to raise themselves. Is it weird to meet someone and then later recognize them on MySpace? Or is it weirder to find someone on MySpace and then later recognize them in real life? The truth is, occurrences like these are becoming quite common. Everyone is on MySpace. And what, exactly, are the implications of that?
According to Allison D., a junior at Magnet, “It re-acquainted me with old friends! I found my friend from like kindergarten I hadn’t seen in like 10 years.” Kristen S. and Meagan S., also juniors, both agree that “It’s really addicting.” But what exactly is its appeal? According to Meagan, it’s “to judge other people by how many "friends" they have.” Cassie M., from Rahway, agrees. “You pretend to have friends you really don’t. It’s not genuine. You get to find out how fake people are from the comments they leave on the pages of people they love to talk crap about.” Rebecca B., a freshman, has a more optimistic opinion. “I think it’s kind of cool how with all these new Internet community things, people can get to know each other more easily. And you can make friends (literally) with the click of a button.” Ally, Meagan, and Kristen all said that they joined because “all their friends did” and they didn’t want to be left out. According to Meagan, “It’s like a little cult.” Says Kristen, “Since I joined, I feel like I started talking to more kids in other grades. It’s nice because I don’t always get the chance to talk to them in school. But it’s a lot easier to drop a little comment and say hello.” Says Rachel M., a junior at Magnet, “I like MySpace because it’s my own personal place – I can decorate it and use it however I want.”
Val M., '06, is one of the few who has not succumbed to the trend. “It seems like a good way to meet new people,” he says, “But at times it's just petty. Like one of those online dating services for helpless dudes where they just pair you up with a picture. People aren't really true on those things anyway. You post your best picture. You make up an alter ego. I’d rather just meet people as they are.”
Meryl C., one of the first to join MySpace over a year ago when it first emerged, says that MySpace has been a great asset to her social life. “It’s good for planning things.” Also, she says, “It’s nice to just drop in and leave your friends comments. It’s a good way to keep in touch with friends you don’t see on a regular basis. It also definitely is a good way to meet new people.”
Whether for better or for worse, MySpace is here and it’s big. What will this web of connectedness mean to us in a few years? Only time will tell.