Sat

Aug 18
2007

Andrew Savikas

Andrew Savikas

Grandma definitely gets MySpace

A popular piece of advice teens are given about sharing their lives online in places like MySpace is "don't put up anything that you wouldn't want your grandma to see".

So I was rather amused to learn today that my wife's grandmother has been offering some rather frank advice to several of her granddaughters about the quality of their MySpace pages (in particular, what "message" some of their pictures and postings might be sending to members of the opposite sex). I can only imagine the degree of mortification that followed.

I wonder how many people on the receiving end of that advice realize how accurate it is actually becoming. There's been a lot of talk on the Radar backchannel about a recent upsurge in Facebook adoption (some of that anecdotal, some of it based on an uptick in press coverage), but hearing about the grandmother scenario playing out so close to home (actually, in Wichita, KS) has certainly underscored to me the notion that we're nearing an inflection point for social networking.


tags: publishing  | comments: 11   | Sphere It
submit:

 
Previous  |  Next

Comments: 11

  Josh Spaulding [08.18.07 02:54 PM]

I recently saw a news article (not sure where) saying there were thousands of MySpace accounts deleted. These accounts were created by pedophiles and suspected pedophiles.

I think this has been a problem since the beginning of social, web 2.0 sites and will continue to be so.

As long as these losers can continue to create accounts, it will always be there.

I guess it comes down to parental control. We need more grandmothers ;)

  Michael R. Bernstein [08.18.07 05:10 PM]

Josh, that wasn't what they did. The accounts belonged to 'sex offenders', which includes a very broad range of offenses, including, say, streaking, or taking a leak behind a tree.

I'm sure *some* of the deleted accounts belonged to pedophiles, but the fact that almost thirty thousand accounts were deleted ought to be some kind of clue that the criteria being used were overbroad.

  Eric [08.18.07 06:17 PM]

"mortification" is truly the word of the day. It seems a day doesn't pass when I get an "invite" via LinkedIn from someone I have never known, met or intend to meet. Web 2.0 is all fine and good, but when the classic "business" version of MySpace - LinkedIn - begins to dilapidate at an accelerating pace - then I wonder if 2.0 has reached its peak.

  Glenn Alvarez [08.19.07 01:59 AM]

@Eric: Web 2.0 has led to the opportunity for Spam 2.0 too

Grandma's advice reminds of the time she used to say that we should wear clean underwear otherwise if we got into an accident and got taken to a hospital, people would see that we wore dirty underwear.

That is what it is all about, do not let your MySpace presence be your bad underwear.

  Mario Ruiz [08.19.07 08:56 AM]

Hi Andrew,

I am promoting a community on Facebook for people in age 35 and on, with "C" level or soon to be.

The case is that the future of the communication among us could be well be in here. MySpace and Facebook are strong communities with tools not only to play but also work there.

You could be contacted by your boss there, you receive a file (no matter where you are), you can open the file with Zoho, make your comments and send back with a presentation or slide show.


Why do we have to excluded to the future to your grandma. You will be surprised the contributions she could add.

Mario Ruiz
@ http://www.oursheet.com

  MaxAzi [08.19.07 06:36 PM]

Woow, it looks like Myspace is taking over. OVer million people visiting it everyday. And its funny to know that your wife's grandma got into this hehehe..

  Andrew Savikas [08.19.07 06:51 PM]

Hi Mario,

I certainly wasn't suggesting Grandma doesn't belong on MySpace, or shouldn't be there. Just that teens and young adults should expect her to arrive sooner rather than later.

Thanks for the comment.

  James Schwahn [08.19.07 11:30 PM]

I think right now its the "breaking" point. It seems every day older people are understanding the technology. I remember when I was considered a nerd, and now everyone comes to me when they have a problem. My parents, and even grandparents have been known to log into myspace to check out our families profiles. Sometimes they do find things that are shocking, and thats why I act normal on there. Great post.

  Richard Cook [08.20.07 07:31 AM]

Anyone interested in this should have a look at the article "Ick, old married guys on Facebook" at http://news.com.com/Ick%2C+old+married+guys+on+Facebook/2010-1025_3-6202499.html?tag=item
and especially the comments. The article was written
by a news.com intern that will be a high school senior this fall.

  RC [08.20.07 08:44 AM]

Overall it's good to see seniors take part online, be it reading the daily newsprint or spying (um,reading) on their relatives blog. It used to be that seniors were not able to find the pc power button, let alone surf the Internet.
There is no way around hiding yourself on the web these days. Your comments or pics will be found, even by your grandma.

  Grandma Jane [09.14.07 07:00 AM]

I'm a Grandmother, and yes I have a 'my-space' lol.
It's great, many of my grandchildren are on it, and some of my own children, so yes, if something is to harsh, I gently let them know it. ahaha.
I don't know what i'd do without the 'pewter, it's so much fun!!
Granny that will be 60 soon.

Post A Comment:

 (please be patient, comments may take awhile to post)






Type the characters you see in the picture above.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

RECENT COMMENTS