Understanding social network sites: lessons from MySpace

Article


Goodings, L. 2012. Understanding social network sites: lessons from MySpace. Visual Communication. 11 (4), pp. 485-510.
AuthorsGoodings, L.
Abstract

MySpace.com is an online social network site (SNS) where users build a ‘profile page’ to communicate with millions of other users all over the globe. MySpace users customise their profile page with words, photographs, pictures, music, biographical information and other visual/textual icons. There are a number of unique practices that are inherent to these new online social spaces that extend from the need to maintain a personal profile. For example, many users will regularly update their profiles with new visual or textual information in order to encourage future communication (a practice that will be identified as ‘profile changing’). MySpace witnessed a high number of people joining the site in 2005 but more recently there has been similar movement away from the site and towards other online spaces. This article takes an historical look at the use of MySpace in order to explore some wider issues in online communication practices. Through an empirical analysis of 100 open-access MySpace profiles, the author examines the use of SNSs in relation to issues of self, community and wastefulness. This work also addresses the ongoing need to blur the boundaries of how we understand the relationship between human experience and technology, particularly in relation to visual/textual, online/offline, reality/representation and social/psychological.

JournalVisual Communication
Journal citation11 (4), pp. 485-510
ISSN1741-3214
1470-3572
Year2012
PublisherSAGE Publications
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1470357212454098
Publication dates
PrintNov 2012
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Dec 2015
Copyright information© 2012 The author
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/85y6q

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 175
    total views
  • 1743
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 37
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Social media and mental health: A topological approach
Goodings, L. and Tucker, I. 2018. Social media and mental health: A topological approach. in: McGrath, Laura and Reavey, Paula (ed.) The Handbook of Mental Health and Space: Community and Clinical Applications Routledge.
Sensing Bodies and Digitally Mediated Distress
Tucker, I. and Goodings, L. 2015. Sensing Bodies and Digitally Mediated Distress. The Senses and Society. 9 (1), pp. 55-71. https://doi.org/10.2752/174589314X13834112761047
Digital atmospheres: affective practices of care in Elefriends
Tucker, I. and Goodings, L. 2017. Digital atmospheres: affective practices of care in Elefriends. Sociology of Health & Illness. 39 (4), pp. 629-642. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12545
Medicated bodies: Mental distress, social media and affect
Tucker, I. and Goodings, L. 2016. Medicated bodies: Mental distress, social media and affect. New Media & Society. 20 (2), pp. 549-563. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816664347
Social networking technology: place and identity in mediated communities
Goodings, L., Locke, Abigail and Brown, Steven D. 2007. Social networking technology: place and identity in mediated communities. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. 17 (6), pp. 463-476.
The Dilemma of Closeness and Distance: A Discursive Analysis of Wall Posting in MySpace
Goodings, L. 2011. The Dilemma of Closeness and Distance: A Discursive Analysis of Wall Posting in MySpace. Forum: Qualitative Social Research / Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung. 12 (3), p. Art. 16.
Organising images of futures-past: remembering the Apollo moon landings
Goodings, L., Brown, Steven D. and Parker, Martin 2013. Organising images of futures-past: remembering the Apollo moon landings. International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy. 7 (3/4), p. 263. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJMCP.2013.056504
Mediation and digital intensities: Topology, psychology and social media
Tucker, I. and Goodings, L. 2014. Mediation and digital intensities: Topology, psychology and social media. Social Science Information. 53 (3), pp. 277-292. https://doi.org/10.1177/0539018414525693
Managing stress through the Stress Free app: Practices of self-care in digitally mediated spaces
Tucker, I. and Goodings, L. 2015. Managing stress through the Stress Free app: Practices of self-care in digitally mediated spaces. Digital Health. 1 (0).