Digg | Myspace | Facebook : 3 Way Comparison

<}- Click on Graph to Enlarge Judging Breakdown

Digg

Even though Digg is generally classified as a social bookmarking site we can see them growing into a fully functional social networking site, if they were to flesh out their anemic profile and put in a few more networking features. Digg has done a wonderful job focusing on it's core goal of making a streamlined and efficient link site, however, Digg users want more.

A few of the judges comments conveyed the fact that Digg participants take ownership and pride in the site in being strong contributors of content for Digg's community, but sounded almost ashamed that they had to venture over to Myspace or Facebook to complete their internet experience. Evolving to compete with the larger networks is a crucial development for Digg. If they continue development, Digg loyalists will push the network to gobble up a significant share of the social networking industry.

Full Digg Report read more


Myspace

There is no doubt that Myspace lead the way in Social Networking and what is now called the "Web 2.0" revolution. Myspace adopted the early success and innovation of Friendster to become the biggest, most well known of all the social networks. They have pioneered the way we share and listen to music and have a very comprehensive system for their users to participate in. They have a wide variety of age ranges and backgrounds. Overall, the site is a monster and is pretty cool because of it's size and scope. Obviously there is still work to be done to bridge all the gaps that were mentioned above.

Full Myspace Report read more


Facebook

Facebook is a cool site hands down but by no means the coolest. The navigation and user friendliness are a huge bonus for the site. Many users that aren't very internet savvy can navigate the pages of Facebook with ease. Very rarely have we heard complaints which is a great thing for them. They obviously put a lot of energy into the user experience. But now that the technology exists and the users are becoming accustomed to the interface, what happens next? Sure, Facebook has their great applications for users to piddle away time with. What else? Oh that's right, they can join groups...like myspace...like youtube...like the majority of others. So where does Facebook go from here?

Myspace is by far the coolest of the sites just because of their enormous presence on the internet and even though Facebook continues to expand its reach they are a long way from what we consider to be the coolest of the network sites. In order for them to jump in the standings they must start to do something meaningful with the site. Users will begin to wane in their desire to use social network systems...they want to feel as though they are really part of something different. This message does not only go to Facebook but to all the other social networking sites out there...get real...expand your imaginary walls and bring in the real. Care2 is doing it...maybe they have the right concept?

Full Facebook Report read more

Facebook Report 1 : Score "C"

Facebook receives a total of 76 points out of the possible 100 giving it a letter grade of "C". Below is a breakdown of how the website did in each category and a summary of the judging comments.

The 10 different areas are worth 10 pts. each:

1) User Friendliness : 9pts. = "A"
How easy the site is to learn and use?

Facebook was able to leapfrog Myspace and Friendster by listening to those sites unsatisfied users and putting some common sense design to the way social networking was growing. Just as Myspace built off of the early success of Friendster, Facebook built off both and was the first to bring a fantastic second generation of social networking site with all the social networking features myspacers were looking for in a simple easy to learn system.

Many of the applications that Facebook currently has can be performed on Myspace, however users have been forced to go to 3rd party sites to copy code to paste into their profile. Just recently has Myspace attempted to compete with Facebooks platform. Facebook was also very willing to try new technologies to enhance user experience and ease navigation through the site. An example of such technology is the photo tagging ability for users to link a face in a picture to that person's profile. Facebook does an excellent job giving its users a very rich social networking experience through a very intuitive interface. People coming from different sites have a hard time making the switch, but once there usually have no regrets.

2) Amount of Content : 8pts. = "B"
How much stuff they have to look at?

When people think of internet content they think of the likes of Youtube and Digg. However, Facebook approaches "content" in a different way, that being through their applications programs. Users have the ability to upload videos and pictures to their profiles or to various groups they may be a part of but it is not searchable/sortable like Digg, Youtube, or Myspace. The goal of Facebook is to make the system much more like a social utility for peers and thus they are not interested in connecting people with random media but rather through communications. A key way of doing this has been by creating an open source developers platform for outsiders to develop the "applications" which range from games, to favorite movies, or even to becoming vampires.

Many of these applications prove to be a useless waste of time but many are crucial for communication among users. Because these applications create more entertainment value and just give users more to do in general besides message back and forth, we consider it a major source of content that blows the traditional norm out of the water. Another fantastic aspect of the application system is that it brings outside developers into Facebook to develop the site for them. Thus, Facebook saves a ton of money on development and marketing because companies are developing for them and users are advertising these applications to their friends via word of mouth/viral communication. While the application system is a fantastic new addition to the social networking platform, Facebook should still take advantage of what came before it in Myspace, Youtube and Digg. A combination of social applications and media content would make Facebook an even stronger force to compete with. 8pts. for their ingenuity of the application system but also for breaking away from what has worked in the past.

3) Amount of Users : 9pts. = "A"
How many users are on site?

With 58 million users Facebook has grown out of the college only users website it once was into a full service social networking website for any person over 13 years of age. Some judges didn't think it was a good idea to open up the site to the masses because it seemed to cheapen the user base. One such user proclaimed, "I am on Facebook to avoid that Myspace trash." While this lowered the loyalty toward the company, opening up the system has allowed Facebook to share their great system with a much bigger market. 9 for making it to the big leagues, but there can only be one top dog and for now that's Myspace with 217 million.

4) Extra Features : 10pts. = "A+"
How much extra stuff do they have to do?

As previously mentioned, Facebook as blown the lid off of application content. No longer do social networks revolve around looking at your friends pages or writing on their bulletins. Now Facebook has an open source platform for third party software to develop new applications at an alarming rate that keeps users interested and keeps them on the site much longer than normal social networks. One judge referenced that users of Facebook are spending an average of 25 minutes a day on the site. This staggering number shows that there is obviously a lot going on; whether you want to network in groups, play Texas Holdem Poker or give gifts, Facebook seems to have it all for their users. Facebook gets props for the extras-10pts.

5) General Mission of Site : 8pts. = "B"
Does the company have a good mission?

Big and bold on the homepage, "Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you." Kinda wordy and not so original, but overall a good message. This accurately describes the mission of what Facebook is attempting to do, while leaving the user wanting more. This message reflects the general state of the site where users can connect great, but do little more than mindless chain letter like games. Facebook has a full plate keeping up with competition and their break neck growth. If they want to take it to the next level judges feel that there needs to be more quality things to do. They've done a great job connecting people, now they need to work on more real things for them to do instead of "buying each other virtual martinis". A judge suggests that Facebook can make a positive contribution on the net while maintaining its lofty popularity. "Facebook could kill two birds with one stone by offering philanthropic things to do like Care2 or Kiva."

6) User Involvement : 6pts. = "D"
How much do users affect Development/Management?

Just because there are a ton of users on Facebook does not mean users are very involved. Our judges would suggest that outside developers are influencing the user experience in an extremely negative way. Since Zuckerberg introduced his new advertising platform system he has been criticized left and right for not respecting the privacy of his user base. He stayed quiet for some time while the negative buzz was swarming and then quietly said he would fix the problem. Well, the problem isn't fixed. Outside developers creating the "applications" on the site are still attaining personal data to use in advertising. The truth of the matter is that Facebook is the worst at keeping users happy with their privacy rating which so happens to be the number one problem voiced by the user-base. If Facebook wants to regain its users trust they must do what the users want and give them their privacy. Zuckerberg has had a tremendous amount of good fortune and in SNC's eye's the site basically landed on his lap. He wasn't revolutionary in his approach to social networking...he was just there at the right time. So "Zucky", stop thumbing your nose at the rest of the social networking competition and instead, open those ears of yours and pay attention or you just might be wondering what just passed you by...6 for continually patting themselves on the back.

7) Company Loyalty : 6pts. = "D"
How much the company cares about it's users?

As much as the users are enamored with Facebook and its rich features, we were surprised to find that judges felt that Facebook takes it's users for granted. It seems that Facebook counts on it's superior platform to hypnotize its users so it can quietly abuse them. This section was inundated with lists from the judges on ways Facebook has alienated it's users, the following captures the major topics.

-The company started out as a college student only social network which kept most of the cheap and taudry out of the community. To the dismay of existing college users, Facebook lifted this requirement allowing the spammers and the crazies into their pristine community that was originally designated a place for similar minded college students.

-The company opened up users profiles to be included within Google search results. This futher fueled the fire the users felt from when the site went away from college only status. A major outcry rang out in response to the major policy change that was contrary to the users desires. As a result Facebook reluctantly allowed users more privacy only if they were able to dig deep enough into their profile settings.

-Facebook allows users to see all their friends recent activities that sometimes has a negative result. Users have repeatedly asked if they could have control over what information is shared.

- Facebook will allow its advertisers to use the personal profile information and pictures of its users to advertise their products, without permission or compensation. This comment is unverified, however came up several times. If it is not true, it's at least indicative of Facebooks callousness with its users.

-Zuckerberg has a general unwillingness to incorporate individual users suggestions. Facebook had done some interesting site development techniques using prizes as motivation with 3rd party developers but they aren't necessarily listening to what their users really want.

-Facebook is very secretive with company information, but not so protective of user information. This builds the general distrust between the users and company; illustrating the preference of a shortsighted profit over the long term care of their users.

-Company Loyalty was hurt when Facebook sold a 1.6 percent stake to Microsoft Corp. for $240 million valuing the company at $15 billion. One of the appeals of the site was that it was a site created by one of us, a regular guy who was taking on the big guys. Judges felt that the purchase meant that their cool company had sold out. Not only did they sell out, but they sold out to the most corporate of corporate tech companies owned by Mr. Anti-Social himself Bill Gates. Good thing Gates isn't an automatic friend when you sign up like Tom on Myspace, he might send you a Zombie Operating System or something else really exciting.

6pts. for not valuing and respecting your user base. Judges also said that this rating was likely to be on a downward trend if their current mentality persists.


8) Social Responsibility : 7pts. = "C"
Does the company operate in the best interest of the community?

Facebook is growing at an alarming rate. This means that they must be doing something right. General feedback by users suggests they are happy with the look, feel and applications of the site but are very disappointed with the privacy issues. But since Facebook continues to be the fastest growing social networking system (besides Godtube) users must not be too alarmed about their privacy. That being said, if Facebook hopes to continue to grow and to remain atop of the social network world, they must listen to their users and act according to their wishes. Some compare Mark Zuckerberg to the next Bill Gates which seems to be a little premature. Here's hoping that Facebook matures and evolves along with its founder. Don't try to conquer the internet world overnight...take your time and use babysteps. If you don't take this warning big bad Google, who has been there long before you, will be eagerly awaiting your next mistake. A cautious 7.

9) How Green the Company Operates : 5pts. = "F"
Does the company operate with the best interest of the environment in mind?

Aside from letting users form their own groups that might happen to be focused on the environment, Facebook seem to be actively green. Judges felt that Facebook had a better community of users that actually care about real issues more than showing off how sexy they might be a la Myspace; however judges felt that the site was just as spiritless. Facebook could very easily make sections for green groups and green content to attract and promote more environmentally advantageous use of the site. Judges also searched for news about how Green the Facebook company operates with no information surfacing on them adopting eco practices within their office or the rest of their business plan. 5pts. for not promoting the green movement within their community and doing the easy things around the office that will help your impact on the environment and maybe even improve the bottom line (If you care about profitability).

10) How Cool the site is : 8pts. = "B"
Can you see this being a cool site for whoever it's target user is?

Facebook is a cool site hands down but by no means the coolest. The navigation and user friendliness are a huge bonus for the site. Many users that aren't very internet savvy can navigate the pages of Facebook with ease. Very rarely have we heard complaints which is a great thing for them. They obviously put a lot of energy into the user experience. But now that the technology exists and the users are becoming accustomed to the interface, what happens next? Sure, Facebook has their great applications for users to piddle away time with. What else? Oh that's right, they can join groups...like myspace...like youtube...like the majority of others. So where does Facebook go from here? Myspace is by far the coolest of the sites just because of their enormous presence on the internet and even though Facebook continues to expand its reach they are a long way from what we consider to be the coolest of the network sites. In order for them to jump in the standings they must start to do something meaningful with the site. Users will begin to wane in their desire to use social network systems...they want to feel as though they are really part of something different. This message does not only go to Facebook but to all the other social networking sites out there...get real...expand your imaginary walls and bring in the real. Care2 is doing it...maybe they have the right concept? 8 for being an overall cool site.

Total Score = 76 pts. = "C"

3 Ways to Improve

1) Facebook has done a great job connecting people, now they need to work on more real things for them to do instead of "buying each other virtual martinis". A judge suggests that Facebook can make a positive contribution on the net while maintaining its lofty popularity.

2) Facebook is very secretive with company information, but not so protective of user information. This builds the general distrust between the users and company; illustrating the preference of a shortsighted profit over the long term care of their users. Be honest with your users and you will find mutual reciprocity.

3) Facebook could very easily make sections for green groups and green content to attract and promote more environmentally advantageous use of the site. Be an innovator not a follower. Now that Facebook has catipulted into mainstream social networks, it's time to lead by example and show the world how to make a difference.

Digg Report 1 : "D" Rating

Digg receives a total of 62 points out of the possible 100 giving it a letter grade of "D". Below is a breakdown of how the website did in each category and a summary of the judging comments.

The 10 different areas are worth 10 pts. each:


1) User Friendliness : 7pts. = "C"
How easy the site is to learn and use?

To the novice Digg user, the site is confusing to say the least. The interface is very clean, however it is a little misleading of where to go or what to do. One judge claimed that 70% of Digg users are not actual members. While this says great things about the content of Digg, it reflects poorly on the user experience. For the avid Digg user there is no better system...but let's face it; the majority of Diggers are very active internet users that have plenty of time to spend surfing and learning new systems. The initial interface one sees on Digg is a list of linked stories. Searching for new content is much easier than old. Uploading new content is cumbersome. But ultimately, Digg is not much more than a file sharing site...not a site to make friends but one rather to promote one's work. We give it a 7 for its unclear navigation and slow speed of the system.

2) Amount of Content : 9pts. = "A"
How much stuff they have to look at?

Digg is the ultimate content site. Users can find anything ranging from science to off beat news. Videos and article links make up the majority of the content on the system. With the clever Digg mechanism of burying bad content and Digging good content, the goal is to always have the best content rise to the front page for all to see. However, this is not always the case as a good amount of time poor content makes its way to the front. There is only so much the program can do to ensure the best content makes the front, but with spammers infiltrating the system and asking their so-called friends to Digg their content, poor content rises to the top. Another down side to the system is that the content on Digg is not original to Digg. Having original content is not the goal of Digg, but many of Digg's members take advantage of other people by taking credit for the content being linked to the site in an effort to become popular Diggers. Overall the content is great and there isn't much to complain about so we give Digg a 9 for their content.

3) Amount of Users : 7pts. = "C"
How many users are on site?

People flock to Digg to find the most up to date news on the internet. With millions of people reading Digg articles it is a great location to get your website noticed. As we said before, the majority of Digg users are not actual members. Most are on Digg to look at the most up to date news. This is extremely evident once an article becomes popular enough to reach the front page. Once an article hits the front, the amount of "Diggs" sky-rockets because the content is in front of the eyes of millions. This exposure drives traffic to other websites in an fantastic way, many times having an adverse effect on the site that got "Dugg" ultimately crashing the server. While this demonstrates the power of Digg, it also shows that there aren't as many real members inside the system really making it spin. Those actual users in the system tend to have the most power to drive traffic to entries they wish to promote. 7pts. for not having as many actual members on the system as observers.


4) Extra Features : 3pts. = "F"
How much extra stuff do they have to do?

Digg has 2 main features: Creating linked content to other websites articles/videos, and having a very basic, but clean, profile where you can store articles you like and communicate with other Diggers. While these features are great for members, the majority of social network enthusiasts might find it basic and boring. But it's time to rejoice readers! Digg just gave users the capability to add a picture caption to your linked entry! Wow! Sarcasm aside, Digg is good for what it does but the features are lacking, which is why judges give them a 3...ouch.

5) General Mission of Site : 8pts. = "B"
Does the company have a good mission?

While there is no evident slogan for Digg, the mission statement is very clear: Bring the best content on the internet to the users in one interactive environment. This mission is a fantastic strategy that is very ambitious. The majority of the time users have no problems with the content rising the the top, however, as no site is perfect, a good amount of time poor content surfaces in the wrong places. While it is difficult to control this, it is something that should be worked on. But overall judges are very pleased with the overall mission as Digg has not deviated from their course. A very positive 8.

6) User Involvement : 3pts. = "F"
How much do users affect Development/Management?

The overall system of Digg has not changed much since its initial launch and is still immensely popular. Thus Digg follows the mantra, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, there is obviously a missed opportunity when the readers far out number the actual number of members. Digg users have been demanding more features for some time. Many don't like the friend cap, others hate the "shouting" mechanism and wish to block individual users, while many wish the site to be more fair to those that blog and don't have the staying power of larger websites on the internet. There are many complaints but Digg usually doesn't do much about it much to the angst of the user. Does instant success really shut down the ability to listen? Our judges love the concept of Digg but we hope they aren't shooting themselves in the foot by not tapping into their best resource...their user-base...3pts.

7) Company Loyalty : 8pts. = "B"
How much the company cares about it's users?

We know that most Digg users are extremely devoted to Digg and the same can be said vice versa. An example of how strongly Digg users support Digg will be the backlash to this very critique of the Digg site. The strong reaction we will get as result of our sub-par overall analysis of Digg, is proof that users are genuinely happy with the Digg system and feel a strong tie to the founders. The company is loyal to its users because they know they can't put up the large volume of content on a day to day basis to remain popular. Digg would receive a higher rating in this particular section if they actually listened closely to what their users wanted and not be afraid to improve a good thing... or they might find themselves in a similar situation as Myspace...8pts.

8) Social Responsibility : 5pts. = "F"
Does the company operate in the best interest of the community?

Social Responsibility for Digg received mixed reviews that averaged out to a 5. Some judges claimed that all Digg wants to do is create advertising revenue by using content from other websites. Digg capitalizes off of other sites because they don't have to worry about bandwidth costs as they direct traffic to other sites. Yet, at the same time they make monumental amounts of money on advertising from the links to those outside party sites. This received a negative ranking. On the other hand, other judges thought Digg gave power to smaller sites and blogs to get their word out about their particular ideas or causes and give them a real voice in the large vacuum of the internet. It's tough to tell what motivation Digg really has and thus they will receive a big fat 5.

9) How Green the Company Operates : 5pts. = "F"
Does the company operate with the best interest of the environment in mind?

Digg is a link sharing site. Since all the content on Digg is not original to Digg they save enormous amounts of money on bandwidth costs and yet make even more money on advertising. This simple solution is actually a very Green concept. Since Digg is directing their traffic to third party sites and thus cutting down on storage space they are using and emitting less carbon waste. They also have a fantastic environment section and there are Diggers on the site that only Digg Green content. The problem with Digg is that they don't push the Green concept. It is the responsibility of large networks to push positive thinking on the internet. Judges say that the majority of the time the users seem more interested in living in a fantasy land (Digging about various video game terminals) rather than focusing on the real world. Digg gets a 5 for not getting their user base to evolve and grow up.

10) How Cool the site is : 7pts. = "C"
Can you see this being a cool site for whoever it's target user is?

Any Digg user will tell you that Digg is the coolest site on the internet. There is a strong case to be made that Digg is one of the better concepts since there are countless number of copy cats out their mimicking their design through 3rd party open source platforms like Pligg. Even though these users claim that it is the best environment for communications there is a flaw. As was previously mentioned the majority of Digg users are not members...they are there just to see what the newest content is. In order to grow and become cooler to those users that don't sign up they must create additional features that are appealing to the wide scope of internet users. Some may say that Digg members don't want users that don't enjoy the system...but the ultimate goal of any company is to continue to grow and to expand its reach to more people. Digg is a cool site but it needs to continue to evolve to become cooler to the masses-7.

Total Score = 62 pts. = "D"

3 Ways to Improve

1) Even though Digg is generally classified as a social bookmarking site we can see them growing into a fully functional social networking site if they were to flesh out their anemic profile and put in a few more networking features. Digg has done a wonderful job focusing on it's core goal of making a streamlined and efficient link site, however, Digg users want more. A few of the judges comments conveyed the fact that Digg participants take ownership and pride in the site in being strong contributors of content for Digg's community, but sounded almost ashamed that they had to venture over to Myspace or Facebook to complete their internet experience. Evolving to compete with the larger networks is a crucial development for Digg. If they continue development, Digg loyalists will push the network to gobble up a significant share of the social networking industry.

2) Take an active role in promoting positive movements on the net. Make sure to listen to your users to make sure that the causes reflect the passions of the users. Once you have a bearing on the pulse of your users figure out ways to help them get their message out. An easy one would be to feature the "Environment" section so people visit and use that section. Judges said they had to go into 3 sub drop-down menus to get to it. Another strategy that would cost them little would be to create a "Charity" or "Cause" section designed to help users: promote their favorite cause, collaborate on project, recruit volunteers, raise money, etc. Digg has become a juggernaut in a internet world and is about to go through puberty now that they have reached the masses. Will they mature into a force for good or sell out like the superficial Myspace?

3) Overcome the large discrepancy of people who only view articles to the ones who actually post. Implementing recommendation #1 of developing the social networking aspects of the site would make the site more sticky. If people spend just a little more time on the site judges felt that, "They would discover how easy and well designed the posting process is." Developing an animated or video tutorial that explains what Digg is all about is a great first step. Have a "Tutorials" Link in the corner and maybe have them automatically play as they are filling out their profile section. The videos should be simple, short (less than 30 seconds), and fun. It is hard to create another social network to compete with the already saturated industry, however Digg could really capitalize on their unique customer loyalty and tremendous momentum and give the big boys a run for their money.

Myspace Report 1 : "C-" Rating

On 12/27/07 myspace receives a total of 70 points out of the possible 100 giving it a letter grade of "C-". Below is a breakdown of how the website did in each category and a summary of the judging comments.

The 10 different areas are worth 10 pts. each:

1) User Friendliness : 7pts. = "C"
How easy the site is to learn and use?

Being one of the original play makers in the Social Network arena, users have been forced to learn the clunky ways of the Myspace system. In the beginning, it took awhile for users to acclimate to the confusing navigation on the site but once friends persisted in signing up friends, the ease of use was overlooked. Giving them some slack for being innovative in their re-design of Friendster, judges decided to be generous and give them an average score of 7 even though the overall ease of use is not par for the course.

2) Amount of Content : 8pts. = "B"
How much stuff they have to look at?

In terms of content, the original draw for myspace was based around the revolutionary music sharing capabilities. However, their lack of video file sharing allowed the incredibly explosive growth of Youtube, who continues to dominate this area of the industry. Myspace followed and added the video file sharing functionality. But, in comparison to other file sharing sites, like the monster Youtube they created, Myspace is still behind. Another important factor to the judges was Myspace's lack of original content by users. We give this category an 8 for a decent amount of "other" peoples content.


3) Amount of Users : 10pts. = "A+"
How many users are on site?

MySpace is the biggest social network on the net surpassing the populations of most countries. This judge sums up how ubiquitous myspace is, "What...you don't have a myspace account?.......YUCK!"

4) Extra Features : 8pts. = "B"
How much extra stuff do they have to do?

As previously mentioned, Myspace blew the lid off of the music industry by allowing users to share their music with peers and fans. However, since those early days when users flocked in mass numbers, Myspace has been playing catchup to add features other sites came out with before them. Examples of such competitors are Youtube (video sharing), Facebook (open source applications), Evite (Invitations), Craigslist (Classifieds) to name a few. Sure, Myspace has added key features to their system but because of their lack of ingenuity judges give them a 8.


5) General Mission of Site : 7pts. = "C"
Does the company have a good mission?

Myspace has the slogan, "A Place For Friends" which so happens to be their basic mission statement. Since the buy out of co-founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, The Fox Group has been a bit more worried about the bottom line, and the community has degraded to what one judge sadly said, "A Place for Spammers and Lewd Material". No longer can users freely browse the system for real people. Now they must weed through the fake profiles and obnoxious advertisements crowding up the system. Because of its solid mission foundation but its subsequent deterioration, judges will be nice and give it a 7.


6) User Involvement : 6pts. = "D"
How much do users affect Development/Management?

Myspace was one of the Social Network innovators. They paved the way for the online revolution and should be commended. Because of their rapid rise and uncanny success, they may have turned a deaf ear to their user base. When companies have a high success rate they tend to have the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. Well, Myspace has followed this to a tee. Sure, they had to keep up with their competitors and add new features, but overall they never listened to their enormous user base. We hear it all the time now, "Quality over Quantity". It seems that Myspace is looking for more quantity and risks alienating the people that got them their in the first place. Corporate juggernauts should not be in charge of telling users how to interact with their friends. In our eyes, it's time to start listening to users rather than telling them how it is. 6 for arrogance and their resistance to innovation after their initial success.

7) Company Loyalty : 6pts. = "D"
How much the company cares about it's users?

This category is tied closely with number 6 (User Development). If Myspace listened to their audience more, they would find that they aren't very happy. One key thing going for Myspace at the moment is the fact that it is the largest social network on the planet. Thus, users feel obligated to stay where their friends are. If another system came out that gave users a voice we feel their would be mass migration. Judges cited numerous articles quoting Myspace users as saying they feel like Myspace has sold out and is taking advantage of the users. This is not hard to imagine given that it is owned by one of the largest news agencies in the world. 6 for not listening to the people that got you where you are today.

8) Social Responsibility : 5pts. = "F"
Does the company operate in the best interest of the community?

Myspace is one of the most important internet contributors ever. They opened up the lines of communication that had never been seen and the shockwave is still being felt throughout the industry. However, like all successful businesses, there is a bottom line that must be met. Judges feel the original concept behind the site was sound but with the Fox Group currently behind the reigns there seems to be more focus on advertising than community. Maybe Rupert should listen to Oprah who has a great idea that when you put something good/positive out, good things will come back. 5 points for sponging off their users for so long; success should be a 2 way street.

9) How Green the Company Operates : 5pts. = "F"
Does the company operate with the best interest of the environment in mind?

There is a new movement amongst all businesses now. It is trendy and lucrative to be Green. The majority of companies have noticed this trend and are attempting to brand themself a new Green image. Myspace is no different. A few months back Myspace created a new section called "Impact" which is designed to promote people or causes making a positive impact in the world. A genuinely nice idea, however, in the judges eyes, "Impact" has had little impact on the network. Maybe users aren't ready to make a positive difference? Not likely...as was mentioned before, Myspace has created an enormous network in which they have "trained" their followers how to best interact with their peers online and ultimately in life. It's time to lead by example and promote green living and so we ask, what are you doing as a company to limit your impact on the environment? Judges give them a 5 for at least creating the "Impact" section on the site. However, just because it is there does not mean it has any value.


10) How Cool the site is : 8pts. = "B"
Can you see this being a cool site for whoever it's target user is?

There is no doubt that Myspace lead the way in Social Networking and what is now called the "Web 2.0" revolution. Myspace adopted the early success and innovation of Friendster to become the biggest, most well known of all the social networks. They have pioneered the way we share and listen to music and have a very comprehensive system for their users to participate in. They have a wide variety of age ranges and backgrounds. Overall, the site is a monster and is pretty cool because of it's size and scope. 8 points for coolness...obviously there is still work to be done to bridge all the gaps that were mentioned above.

Total Score = 70 pts. = "C-"

3 Ways to Improve

1) Myspace should stop worrying so much about making ad revenue and, instead, go back to the original roots it was founded under.

2) Crack down on inappropriate material and spammers, open up the lines of communication between the system and the users. Maybe then will Myspace save itself from the lack of loyalty it has generated amongst its users.

3) Get off its "high horse". The internet is a much different place than when Myspace came into existence. In order to survive and continue to grow you must adapt. Listen to your user base.

What We Are All About!

We are a collective of concerned Internet citizens that want to influence the social networking industry to be the best it can be for the user at large, us, the new global us. We will issue a rating to social networks based on the Social Network Critic Rating System, an evolving industry standard representative of users of the web. It is a simple rating system that breaks down social networking sites into 10 different areas.

The 10 different areas are worth 10 pts. each:

1) User Friendliness
How easy the site is to learn and use?

2) Amount of Content
How much stuff they have to look at?

3) Amount of Users
How many users are on site?

4) Extra Features
How much extra stuff do they have to do?

5) General Mission of Site
Does the Company have a good mission?

6) User Involvement
How much do users affect Development/Management?

7) Company Loyalty
How much the company cares about it's users?

8) Social Responsibility
Does the company operate in the best interest of the community?

9) How Green the Company Operates
Does the company operate with the best interest of the environment in mind?

10) How Cool the site is
Can you see this being a cool site for whoever it's target user is?

Perfect Score = 100 pts.

Social Networks will receive reviews that are attached to a date. Sites can be reviewed multiple times to track how the company is progressing. The score for each category will be determined by an average of each of our judges opinion of each section. Please contact us if you would like to become a judge to help shape the future of social networking. The current list of judging categories is somewhat malleable according to the readers of this blogs input. This way our rating system stays current with the popular interests and cares of the time.

Our goal is NOT to ridicule sites just for hype...

Our goal is to shape the future of social networking for the better for the common good of all people. Please join us in this very important effort.