Facebook, MySpace: A race/class divide?

Speeches, like plays, are sometimes more interesting to read rather than see live.

So I have spent some time staring at the words of a speech recently given by Danah Boyd, from the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet and Society, titled "The Not-So-Hidden Politics of Class Online."

In the speech, given to the Personal Democracy Forum, Boyd picked up utopian views of technology, pinned them against a wall and asked them for a little more than their name and rank.

"For decades," she said, "we've assumed that inequality in relation to technology has everything to do with 'access' and that if we fix the access problem, all will be fine."

She then used the example of Facebook and MySpace to suggest that perhaps people's behavior online absolutely mirrors enduring social divides.

Many Americans use Facebook and MySpace, she said. But which Americans?

Using teens as the indicators of where the world is heading, Boyd described some of her research among them and took the words of one 14-year-old, Kat from Massachusetts, to describe her central thesis:

"I'm not really into racism, but I think that MySpace now is more like ghetto or whatever, and Facebook is all...not all the people that have Facebook are mature, but its supposed to be like oh we're more mature...MySpace is just old."

For Boyd, the sites we go to reflect our idea of what "people like us" do. Another teen, 17-year-old Craig from California, put it extremely baldly (especially for a Californian):

"The higher castes of high school moved to Facebook. It was more cultured, and less cheesy. The lower class usually were content to stick to MySpace. Any high school student who has a Facebook will tell you that MySpace users are more likely to be barely educated and obnoxious."

Boyd, who is also a researcher at Microsoft Research New England (Microsoft being a prominent investor in Facebook), described the migration from MySpace to Facebook as being akin to white folks setting up their own communities. Yes, the places that spawned the allegedly desperate housewife. This wasn't that Facebook was newer or cooler. This was "modern day 'white flight.'"

Clearly written by a highly educated American tourist in London.

(Credit: CC Bitterjug/Flickr)

The wealthier, the whiter, the more suburban left MySpace and, if they went anywhere, they went to Facebook for a "more peaceful, quiet, less-public space."

In an observation that might echo the private views of quite a few who might be watering their lawns on a summer's evening, Boyd noted far greater condescension by Facebook users toward MySpace users than vice versa.

Here's the fear as Boyd sees it: governments, commercial organizations, and others will see the likes of Facebook as being the whole community, whereas in reality they are representing the status quo, traditionally occupied by "educated, wealthy, white, straight men." (Although, some would say that both political parties have certainly shown that at least one of those descriptors is a myth.)

Speaking to a mainly white, liberal audience, some of whom are involved in politics through their work, Boyd challenged them to go to MySpace, try to log in, and see if they could make any sense of it. She then asked her audience to imagine how some outsiders might feel when confronted with Facebook or Twitter.

The issue of race and class defining certain social-networking spaces online is not limited to the U.S. In India, Boyd noted, Orkut and Facebook users represent very distinct professional and caste memberships.

Two years ago, Boyd began developing these themes in her work, describing MySpace members as "'burnouts', punks, or alternative-scene teenagers whose parents likely didn't go beyond a high school education."

But the more important point that she makes is surely that when we go online we are propelled by assumptions about the world, ones we don't bother articulating. Our behavior is automatic. It was learned in a few instants, sometimes from others in our immediate social world.

We somehow fool ourselves that we're looking and participating in one big, happy world family. We're not.

When we go to Digg, for example, to see what's worth reading today, do we stop to think "worth reading by whom"? Do we wonder who actually are the 250 people who thought an article was worth Digging? Do we notice, for example, just how male Digg's front page seems to be? Do we care?

And that's what Boyd is ultimately getting at. While we talk of the Web being the great equalizer, the uncontrollable stage upon which democracy happens before our very eyes, whose version of democracy are we really looking at?

[ti99_forever]

Hmm. Not true for me. I joined Myspace first, then Facebook. Finally left FB because it was nothing but stupid quizzes (what superhero are you? and such). At least Myspace apps are a little more than quizzes for the most part. Plus there is the music - for free, not limited plays like FB.<br /><br />Oh, and I'm white, educated with a college degree.

[gsmiller88]

Ditto.

[ExWinUser]

Facebook does suck. Worthless apps like water gun fight, etc... ***. I joined FB because CF and Flex seemed to have a strong community there, however, they post useless info and I never get a reply. When I log on I have to see everyone's comments? The problem I have with MySpace is that a lot of people have ugly MySpace pages and like 15 freak'n videos that have first load before you can see anything. If MySpace could limit video postings and other features so that I don't have to wait for 20 minutes to view another persons site, I might give them another try.

[Firehazel]

But not true for me. I'm 16,educated (still in school...) and i use Facebook more than Myspace. I feel that waiting 5 minuites for one's profile to load over 3Mbps DSL is too irksome. I guess it's more of my friends than Myspace. I don't know who came up with the fact that your profile has to be "pimped out", but that gets on my nerves...<br /><br />Overall, I feel it's a preference.

[terminalblue]

huh?<br /><br />it couldnt just be that people moved to facebook because myspace's html was spiraling out of control, making a very unusable environment. because really thats the only difference. facebook offers a clean, standard and easier to setup design, and myspace still lets it user tinker with HTML and have actual control of the content of their pages. i have a facebook, literally because everyone else is doing it, but i prefer myspace because i can tinker with the code and make my page look and act th way i want.<br /><br />I think the exodus from myspace is a result of people not having the time or patience to understand that they have control over how their pages behave, and facebook offers a cleaner and supposedly more private interface.<br /><br />Honestly, myspace has always been the ghetto of the internet, i dare anyone to say otherwise. but that all rest in the users. Facebook doesnt have a "ghetto" mode because its users dont have control over anything. d rather hang in the ghetto and have some freedom then go the the gated community where i cant even put a sign on my lawn.

[lordmorgul]

I prefer working with a truly custom website to tinkering with MySpace html blocks... and I use Facebook for communicating... which is what social media is for. The success of Facebook in migrating people away from MySpace lies solely in the difference between communication styles. MySpace is a messy, cluttered, loud and obnoxious place to interact with others, while Facebook is none of those. Some peopel prefer one, and others prefer the other.<br /><br />There really could be something to this researcher's results.. but I highly distrust the assumptions made as to what led to that result. This is about communication styles, and yes education could have something to do with how people communicate more effectively with each other, and with who they desire to communicate; it is not however akin to 'white flight' in any way other than people who socialize with certain behaviors migrate toward each other (which is nothing new and did not show up with computers and the internet).

[TotallyMadeUpName]

Terminalblue, I think you've just demonstrated one of the demographics they are talking about. ;-)

[blusky08]

I don't use any social networking sites because they're mostly displays of self-importance and full of mindless chatter. But people with similar interests tend to communicate with one another. It's often just about similar life experiences. Yes, there <br />may, unfortunately, sometimes be a racial component to this-but not necessarily a racist component.

[sodablue]

And how is this different from the graffiti sprawled walls of the urban city and the Home Owners Association rules of the Suburban gated community? <br /> <br />That doesn't mean one way is bad... it's just noting that there is a difference, and the control aspect may explain why.

A lot of myspace users just copy the codes from a certain myspace design site, paste them into myspace, create a bunch of trashy flashy pages, and think they are "creative", "unique" or "expressive".

[cecetay2007]

I agree with the first part of your post: The html (or shall I say abuse of html) makes many MySpace pages unbearable, obnoxious and irritating. Freedom in the "ghetto" of My Space as opposed of the gated community of Facebook? Maybe so. In the end, it may be that users choose the networking service that most reflects THEM and what they want to represent. I don't see it as a race/class issue; but a choice for users how they want to connect with other people. <br />If you go to a club, and you don't like the music you get up and leave. It's about choice. You go where you fit in. If that's where you fit in--that's where you will be.

[Sum1HackedMyNamr]

"by July 10, 2009 9:52 AM PDT <br />A lot of myspace users just copy the codes from a certain myspace design site, paste them into myspace, create a bunch of trashy flashy pages, and think they are "creative", "unique" or "expressive"." <br /> <br />I like what this person said, even though the name won't show up for some reason... I made an account just to "like" it. Also, I noticed that when I was creating the account you could either use an e-mail or link it to a FaceBook account, not a MySpace. Yahoo also supports FaceBook, PlayStation Network supports FaceBook. My statement: <br />MySpace is dead and if you want customization, get a free web host and it's the same thing. <br />You get: <br />-Your own URL (not domain name, URL, there's a difference) <br />-More customization that MySpace will give you, with a free web host you can use JavaScript, MySpace won't let you do that. <br />-More space <br />-More than just one page. <br /> <br /> <br />And now refering back to the comment I reposted because it's just sooo awesome. <br />What teenagers don't realize is that when they pick that awesome looking Element, Monster, Nike, Adidas, or whatever name brand CSS/HTML block of code, it likely wasn't made by that company or some awesome looking dude. It was made by a computer/code geek like myself who just thought it'd be cool if THEY were creative... which it is. But as the comment above says: the person who simply coppied the code thinks that they're cool, creative, unique, and expressive. Whatever those words have turned into... <br /> <br />I also liked the comment that mentioned there may be a division between MySpace and FaceBook because of a _racial_ factor, but not a _racist_ factor <br /> <br />Lastly, TerminalBlue posted a comment, and towards the end he mentions the freedom of MySpace may be worth more than the "status" FaceBook offers. <br /> <br />But MySpace is still dead, as dead as Nintendo LOL... because the Wii sucks... and PS3 rocks... notice how I just insulted an entire country but put-up another, yet both of those countries are Asian? (Sony makes PS3, Sony is made in China, Nintendo makes Wii and Nintendo is made by Japan)

[nic.disassembly]

i don't know if it's class divide as much as myspace got ruined ALOT by bands and abusive html. People were creating "*****" codes (as they were affectionately called) to add thousands of people/strangers at a time and beyond the "layout" changes, spyware, and/or phishing problems, alot of times the site just plain didn't work . By time Facebook was open beyond the Ivy League "invite only" stage, people had learned how NOT to handle their social networking profile and were essentially given a chance to "start over". At least this is the case with me when i finally caved in and joined facebook 2 months back since all my friends stay in touch there now :(<br /><br />Myspace now is basically a convenience for bands and/or musically related endeavors. If that stick to and market that, i think it will continue to be around for some time...

[nic.disassembly]

also, secondary thought, the "login or link with your Facebook account" functions that pop up everywhere from youtube, to Apple and mobileme, to even this here site...why copy and paste a bunch of stuff to myspace when you can just link it all thru fB...probably the thought of anyone migrating from one to the other...

[Pete Bardo]

She brings a little reality to the myth that the internet is different from other aspects of real life. We are the same online as we are in person. The internet as the "great equalizer" was just wishful thinking. Small businesses do not have equal footing with large corporations, as was predicted when the internet was just getting started. Independent artists do not have equal footing with major labels. It hasn't equalized a thing.<br /><br /> ti99_forever: Yes, all those FB apps are very annoying--I logged on my FB account today to discover I hadn't done that for 6 months. And there's a lot going on with MySpace that's way too confusing for my aging brain. But I use both, for different reasons.<br /><br />Point being that the internet has evolved as it developed to where it is simply a part of our everyday life. It hasn't really changed what we do, it has only changed how we go about doing it. People in China still aren't able to freely exchange ideas (remember that prediction?) Some people have always been crude and ignorant. The only difference now is that they can show the world--and do it anonymously.

[bluemist9999]

I agree. Communication doesn't change people. In fact, if you read the book "The Victorian Internet," many people in the late 1800s were making the same predictions (sweeping social change for the better) because of the then-new telegraph.<br /><br />Change comes from within.

[gggg sssss]

Shhhh dont tell anyone

[jimayson]

And then there's Friendster.

[noazark]

Race might have something to do with it (I don't think so; as least I don't think it's as direct a corrolation as is suggested). Caste and class, however, have everything to with it.<br /><br />Yes, MySpace was getting irritating with the scripts and general aesthetics abuse. And yes, Facebook has a more standardized UI and is, dare I say it, less "blingy".<br /><br />But THE differentiating characteristic at the inception of Facebook, as an alternative to MySpace was... drumroll... A COLLEGE EMAIL ADDRESS. Without a ".edu" address from an accredited institution, you couldn't open a Facebook account. The site was launched in '04. This was the case until Sept/Oct '06. So who was already using Facebook when it opened up? And who was using MySpace? And in what economic classes would one be statistically more likely to find people with friends already on Facebook with whom to communicate at that point?<br /><br />Not hard to figure out. Facebook's original user base was built around exclusionary criteria. 'nough said.

[jbassett9]

Agreed

[superman227]

I got both, barely use both - developed own page on ms, didn't really bother on fb. Refuse to do twitter - too stupid of a concept.

[superman227]

As for a race/ class issue - facebook started as a college geared social site, ms all. i think it might be a coincidence if it's a race/class issue. fb wanted to improve on ms.

[JasonGooljar]

Here's the real problem mypace sucks. Want me to elaborate? People got tired of the extreme customization of profiles where you end up putting all this crap on your profile and it slows down the user experience. In the end Facebook designed a better network with more applications. That's what it's about.

[Dustymack]

There is still two more classes higher... The people that don't use stupid social networking sites. So many dumb people put there information in the web just to become victims of identity theft or ridiculed. The two higher classes prefer anonymity but one of them prefers to hack and steal information while the other prefers to preserve and keep information safe. People don't upload your life because some one like me might download it and use it against you.

[Developer22]

Good try bringing RACE into this. That's crazy. Caste / social status, MAYBE. <br /> <br />It could very well be a failed business model on the part of MySpace. I have an MS account. I choose FB for a few reasons. <br /> <br />1. The obvious, over customized, over commercialized, "IN YOUR FACE" with no apparent rhyme or reason to MySpace. It's chaos. <br /> <br />2. MySpace has had ample time to recognize this problem and they haven't addressed it. It shows to me they aren't up on the latest and aren't listening to their user base. Facebook has made mistakes, but corrects them when their users speak up. <br /> <br />3. The constant bombardment of sexual explicit material on MySpace's site. They sell advertisements of half-naked and suggestive materials. Any child can go to the website and see this. Facebook does not allow this.

[pbradleyii]

So is there something wrong with people wanting to hang out with people they like and have something in common with? Why is that so shocking, or amazing, or unpredictable? What is with this idea that we should all just enjoy everything/everybody equally? That is nuts. Certainly it is fun and even educational to be exposed to people with experiences and tastes other than our own, but in general we like to hang with people like ourselves. So what is wrong with that? It is always presented as if it is wrong or bad, and something to overcome. But no evidence is ever presented that it is harmful in any way. Why shouldn't a person surround herself with what is pleasurable and comfortable?

[GoOwls]

"Why shouldn't a person surround herself with what is pleasurable and comfortable?" <br />"So is there something wrong with people wanting to hang out with people they like and have something in common with? " <br /> <br />If what you?re alluding to are white people getting flack for only wanting to hang out with white people than I would say that there is something wrong with that. Choosing your friends based on race and not the content of their character prevents you from meeting people who make you grow and change. In college I could have roomed with a carbon copy of myself yet I chose a good friend who happened to disagree with on hot-button issues. Rather than let these differences scare me I embraced them and became better for it. Being brought out of your comfort zone is only negative if you let it be. <br />Additionally this desire to permit defacto segregation in society is one of the reasons race and class still cause unrest in America. Instead of actually meeting people of other races, many would rather sit comfortably with their friends and family and form ill-informed theories about people they never met. This is a problem worth studying and attempting to fix.

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

So there are some people who are actually surprised that class distinctions from the real world persist (in many ways) online? How could anybody be ignorant enough to miss the obvious point that people are going to bring their real-world attitudes into the online social networking? That's just amazing.<br /><br />BTW, MySpace just LOOKS ugly enough to be a ghetto or run-down shanty town. Facebook, by comparison, looks like the suburbs. You might prefer one or the other, but the design echos the people it attracts, in a lot of ways.

[Inconnux]

Yet another lame facebook ad... I hope CNet gets paid for all the propaganda

[memathews]

The fact that birds of a feather flock together is barely worthy of comment, which some commenters here have already addressed. As a creative director and marketing person, I should think Chris would definitely care about these demographic separations and we might use these to address the most appropriate audience for our products and services.

[monicam-1]

Not completely sure about race, but you're definitely onto something in terms of class. Too bad you didn't mention, what I feel, is a crucial element to the myspace/facebook difference: their original audience. Myspace was opened as one gigantic network for the masses. Facebook was exclusively for college students. And there's a fair argument in noting that higher education is generally a privilege in our society (even public universities have enormous tuition rates). Already, there's an exclusivity factor involved in facebook that I believe spiraled into this proverbial "white flight". Clearly not all college students are upper-class wealthy (I certainly wasn't) and not all non-college educated individuals are uncultured and poor. But as a whole, there's generally a socio-economic demographic gap between those who did and did not attend college. And when college-only facebook users graduated in '04, '05, '06; we're going to see that gap more and more in terms of what accomplishments, etc. are showing up on their profiles (generally speaking, of course). <br /><br />So say you have a 30+ adult ready to sign up to a social network: do you choose the one your/your relative's/your friend's "well to do" college kids already have (or college kid who's now a med student, a lawyer, an MBA holder...)? or the one with... everyone else. And going back to my point on exclusivity - that's always a twinkling factor when one commits to any product with some hint of social standing on their mind. So once again, do you choose the network of the masses or the one that was once limited access only? <br /><br />Clearly I don't think this is the only explanation for the race/class divide in social networking. I think there's a lot to be said about user interface aesthetics/design, age gap association (myspace=high school age, facebook=college age), etc. But once again, I think the original audiences of the two networks is a crucial element in this assessment.

[JimBrittTN]

A college degree doesn't make a person better or smarter.

[Hunnter2k3]

Myspace lets you express yourself more.<br />The boring, less technologically abled types go to Facebook because it is easier. (and Bebo too)<br />All (most) of my friends agree on this.<br /><br />Myspace was and still is used to prey on the innocent less technologically abled people to steal their accounts thanks to Myspace and their terrible filters and that (eventual) horrible thing to hide links.<br />Facebook was pretty much static, but had thousands of those stupid Application things you can add into your profile.<br />The last point for Facebook was why i actually deleted my profile because Profiles were a mess of these applications. <br /><br />Myspace default theme and homepage was god-awful to look at.<br />Facebook wins in this case, it was nicely designed. (besides the whole application thing above)<br /><br />Facebook users smarter?<br />HAH! That's the best joke i have heard in a long time. <br />Ask half of them what HTML is and they'd probably google it. (i know this doesn't define intelligence, so don't)<br /><br />Facebook was designed to cater more to those people whereas Myspace has progressively lowered the age requirements to access the site. (and language too)<br />Myspace is designed in such a convoluted way that it makes it hard to communicate in the ways you can in Facebook, especially when it comes to Networking (such as schools, colleges, etc, the forums are a mess)<br /><br />Completely agreed with monicam-1 above.

[Universal_Indie_Records]

Facebook users smarter?<br />HAH! That's the best joke i have heard in a long time.<br />Ask half of them what HTML is and they'd probably google it. (i know this doesn't define intelligence, so don't)<br /><br /><br />This is the dumbest quote I've seen. If you're a Doctor you probably don't know too much about HTML either. Probably don't care. What the hell does that prove?

[xcopy]

Oh Please.......Why bother creating a distinction between these two online "places"? <br /><br />The truth is that both Myspace and Facebook are for losers... The losers using these sites just don't get it yet; they're still too busy thinking they're "cool", while in reality they're just pathetic.

[Universal_Indie_Records]

You're the one who doesn't get it. Through FB i've found 191 people that I grew up with and lost contact because we moved, raised a family, etc. This would not have been possible without the launch of such social networks without a lot of time and effort. I enjoy the interaction with people who knew me when I was "a kid" and seeing where everyone is in their life now.<br /><br />Loser? Far from from it... but what I've noticed that the world is full of jerks who feel the need to put down others because they don't agree with their choice of operating system, brand of phone, choice of website, etc.<br /><br />I guess in some way it makes them feel superior?

[naterandrews]

Your right! I use Facebook because I'm "cool", and I want EVERYONE to know it!<br /><br />So what about those that use these sites to share photos of events their friends and family missed? What about those that use Facebook to catch up with friends that are going to college? They must be losers too, huh?<br /><br />While there isn't much that separates these two in terms of the service they are offering, it does a world of good for those that utilize it the right way. Instead of projecting your self-loathing onto others (probably because you either have no friends on either service, or because you dont understand how helpful both sites may be), try talking to people that use them before you pass judgement? Talk to those that got their start on MySpace Music and are no perusing their wish of entertaining others. Talk to businesses and groups that help to inform and help others on Facebook Groups. No, only an uninformed coward makes blatant statements like yours to hide behind while insulting others.

[blusky08]

There is no judgement here, just an observation. Like anything in life, a lot depends on how one uses these sites. My opinion, after using these sites and reading many studies/analyses concerning them, is that while there are some legitimate uses for social networking sites, the truth is that they mostly reflect our narcissistic culture. Contrary to the popular belief that these sites build human relationships, in many ways they create a false sense, simulating the feeling of genuine human relationships without having any true stake, responsibility, risk or investment in real human relationships.