23Jul Instant messaging versus Social network websites
Are the instant messengers such as MSN and ICQ losing popularity to upcoming social networks as Facebook and MySpace?
During my internship I interviewed a group of kids in the age of 8-13 and came to the conclusion that MSN is still popular, but not as popular as Facebook and Myspace
They are used among this target group as instant messengers, through constant sending short text messages and giving reactions to each others
uploaded pictures and movies.
What is the reason for this big success? Is it their wider possibilities such as uploading pictures, music and video’s? Is it the opportunity to create your own profile and letting people in to your lives? I think their big success is due to the “ Do you want to be my friend” tool.
Msn is lacking that possibility, because you first want to know the person before you add them to your list. In the social network sites you can first view the persons friends or profile before you decide to make him or her your friend. You can find old friends, people you wonder about and you can check out your friends friends, to find someone interesting to add. If you want contact you can leave them a personal or public message or just sent them a nice link or video. This is more easy accessible then starting a real time conversation with an instant messenger.
If you look at these kids, the new generation, you see they are ahead of us and I think they are a good prediction of the future.