One huge opportunity

Jeremy Wright is afraid of MySpace:

MySpacers connect better than bloggers, get their friends into it better than bloggers, stay in touch more than bloggers, and form true sociological pods better than bloggers. MySpace is closer to the Google Grid than Google is. MySpace is the closest humanity has ever come to a central community or a central consciousness.

Well that makes sense because blogging isn't really a social connection framework; it's just publishing with a little bit of moderate feedback - a few comments on a post. It isn't a community. When bloggers connect with each other they do it outside of blogs. The blogs are just the introduction point.

MySpace is a publishing medium as well, but while blogging is the domain of "adults", MySpace is the domain of teens. And let's face it, this is the most connected generation in history. MySpace is merely one of many connection and communication channels.

MySpace isn't a culture unto itself. It is merely one more outlet for a very connected culture and lifestyle.

As I've watched my kids grow up the internet has been integral to their lives, first for research, and now for an almost unbroken connectedness. They move effortlessly from MSN Messenger to Skype to cellphones and back. Their IMs are sent to their phones. They make plans online. I've even watched a few of my son's friends sit with laptops in our family room and laugh simulaneously at some comment they've IM'd around, without a word spoken.

And if MySpace were to suddenly vanish something else would take its place the next day, if not sooner. I can remember the day Napster shut down. My kids had new tools within minutes.

Just as the internet routes around problems, so do they.


Thanks to Larry Borsato for the link.