MySpace Restrictions Upset Some Users

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MySpace Restrictions Upset Some Users

phranque

11:47 am on Mar 20, 2007 (gmt 0)

from nytimes [nytimes.com]:

At stake is the ability of MySpace, which is owned by the News Corporation, to ensure that it alone can commercially capitalize on its 90 million visitors each month.
But to some formerly enthusiastic MySpace users, the new restrictions hamper their abilities to design their pages and promote new projects.
...
MySpace says that it will block these pieces of third-party software — also called widgets — when they lend themselves to violations of its terms of service, like the spread of pornography or copyrighted material. But it also objects to widgets that enable users to sell items or advertise without authorization, or without entering into a direct partnership with the company.

i think this could spell the end of foxspace as a platform for indie music promotion, which was it's original "killer app".

Receptional

1:18 pm on Mar 20, 2007 (gmt 0)

That's interesting news (to nerds like me anyway)

There's also the same sorts of restrictions a few months on Live Spaces. I think it's really very revealing when the mainstream press picks up on such a new phenomenon so quickly and the nuances of how marketers are using them.

[edited by: Receptional at 1:18 pm (utc) on Mar. 20, 2007]

rogerd

1:30 pm on Mar 20, 2007 (gmt 0)

I think this kind of conflict will continue as more firms try to exploit social networks at the same time that the platforms themselves are looking to maximize revenue.

Metaphorically

2:11 pm on Mar 20, 2007 (gmt 0)

So how many people here will feeling the impact of this?

blaze

3:37 am on Mar 21, 2007 (gmt 0)

Myspace is Nuts, with a capital N. They are risking their whole business by betraying the community.

Someone is going to come up with freespace.com, ie: not restrictions (except maybe adult content, etc) and everyone is just going to move over en masse.

I'm sure someone already has. Whoever at myspace thinks they have a business which can't be immediately replaced if they endgender the ire of their community .. is whacked.

The fact is, widget makers are going to write widgets which allow advertising .. why not, everyone else will accept them.

They'll have a business and they'll spend a portion of those profits to anonymously stir up trouble with myspace and any other clueless webpage hosting system that thinks they can control their community just because they give away a few free megabytes on a disk somewhere.

thaedge

5:27 pm on Mar 21, 2007 (gmt 0)

A blow to anyone trying to be the next MyBlogLog but for myspace.

Wonder what will happen to all of those myspace quiz type sites and how the mob that is the myspace user base will react when they cant add any widget they want.

ncsu98

3:55 pm on Mar 29, 2007 (gmt 0)

This question isn't related to widgets but to something else I just noticed on my MySpace profile page today. I thought I could embed links before, but today noticed that the link will start with "www.myspace.com/followed by URL," therefore directing it to a dead page since that's not the correct URL. Is this a new thing?

Any insights anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.