Analysis of two MySpace websites

Myspace Site Comparison From a Communications Perspective

Anne-Maree Fewtrell and Ben Daley are a study in profound contrasts, judging by their respective MySpace pages, http://www.myspace.com/666grimreaper and www.myspace.com/annemareefewtrell. In principle, their fundamental purpose is the same as almost all human social endeavors involving group identity and self-expression: they both seek to communicate with like-minded individuals and to cultivate and maintain friendships and associations with other people. However, the similarity ends there.

Ben's website is designed to promote his personal interests in fighting sports, bodybuilding, motorcycles, tattoos, and his clothing line ("FIGHTA") and book, Thug M.C. His MySpace page features pictures of himself, other fighters, motorcycles, sexually provocative females, satanic-style imagery, and Presa Canario dogs, one of the most vicious, aggressive, and deadly dog breeds in the world.

Anne-Maree's website is designed to promote her personal interest in community service, friendship, education, and personal growth. Her MySpace page features comparatively few photographs and much more substantial text. Whereas Ben Daley's website content focuses on his superficial interests, Anne-Maree's MySpace page is much more expressive and provides more in-depth information about her philosophical views of community service and personal growth.

Audience

Clearly, Ben Daley's intended audience are other like-minded individuals who share his superficial and extremely aggressive interests in fighting, motorcycles, tattoos, and bodybuilding. It seems obvious that his page is also intended to appeal to females who are attracted to males of his "type"; it also seems obvious that his featuring their pictures is also intended to appeal to fellow males in the sense that he hopes to impress them or inspire envy by virtue of his acquaintance with many overtly sexually attractive and provocative females. By contrast, Anne-Maree's intended audience are other individuals who share her values and interests in community development, public welfare, spiritual and philosophical development, education, and general benevolence toward other people. Whereas Ben lists more than 500 friends, Anne-Maree has only one friend listed (in addition to the infamous "MySpace Tom").

Form

Ben Daley's MySpace page is heavily dedicated to vivid imagery displaying his superficial interests. The relatively little text in comparison to the visual imagery mainly announces his attitude and his slogans that exemplify his aggressiveness and machismo. In many respects, every element of his page is designed to glorify his accomplishments and his fearsome persona. Anne-Maree's Fewtrell's MySpace page is devoid of visual imagery with the exception of a single low-key, natural-setting photograph of her. The remainder of her page expresses her interests and her values in text with minimal references to her personal accomplishments or attributes. Whereas the form of Ben Daley's page is primarily designed to feature him prominently, Anne-Maree's page focuses more on the abstract ideas and values with which she identifies.

Language

The respective websites use language very differently. Ben uses profanity extensively and gratuitously where it is conspicuous and unnecessary. His choice of language and expression are consistent with his aggressiveness and his apparent anger and his explicit apparent capacity for violence and extreme aggression. Meanwhile, Anne-Maree's website text is well written and articulate and its tone and choice of language are both very consistent with her beliefs, values, and her thoughtful and benevolent general perspective about life.

Context