Bewildering Popularity of an Internet Star

            I was on YouTube the other day and I stumbled across an old video that a friend had once sent to me; I still laugh every time I watch it. But more curiously, I saw that there was a follow-up video to this humorous clip. Although some of the magic is lost in the explanation, it’s amazing to think that a 17 second clip could make some nobody popular enough to make heaps of merchandise.

Facebook Fanatics

            Since coming to college, I have partaken in the Internet craze known as Facebook. I don’t know how exactly I came across Facebook, but it is nevertheless still an important part of my life today. I remember when I first discovered Facebook, I enjoyed its simplicity in comparison to the original, big online community: Myspace.

            I’ve had (and still have) a Myspace since 10^th grade; it was just beginning to get its big lead then. It was a fascinating new way to connect to people over the Internet as well as a way to assert your identity.  But Myspace suffered from constant streams of spam in users’ inboxes and a significant amount of down time; to this day I’m still receiving requests from spammer profiles.

            Facebook, on the other hand, was vastly simpler – instead of gaudy colors and obnoxious wallpapers users were able to insert into their Myspace pages, Facebook has kept a relatively easy-on-the-eye standard that is unalterable. More importantly, however, Facebook revolutionized the previous means in which networking occurred; as Fred Vogelstein’s addresses in his article “How Mark Zuckerberg Turned Facebook Into the Web’s Hottest Platform”, Facebook sought to capitalize on current connections rather than the possibility of meeting strangers.

            Although originally protested, the Mini-Feed has allowed users to see the whereabouts of theirs friends: pictures they were in; groups they join; events they attend; people they were friends with. Suddenly, communications between people was strikingly more efficient than ever, which leads me to wonder about the future of Myspace.

            There are still millions of dollars spent on Myspace advertising (from television shows to movies to music), but it seems that Facebook’s quick rise to popularity and current membership far outranks that of Myspace. Will Tom create a new, competitive “social graph?” Or will Myspace eventually be rendered obsolete? And while the benefits and applications are innumerable, could this social too still be used against the user?

            I have heard of a number of cases where users have been denied employment due to material posted on their Facebook profiles. I agree that a certain caliber of person should be expected when reviewing job applications, but I believe it is pretentious to deny someone a job outright for something that occurs in a user’s private life; a line must be drawn between work and pleasure, and if one doesn’t significantly affect the other, the material in question should be considered erroneous. Which brings me to my final thought: in my future search of employment, will I have to delete or censor my Facebook profile? Do I have to become a stiff and cover any and all footprints of my private life? I’m not sure, but I’ll have my fingers ready on “Delete” button the day I receive my diploma.