The coverage of our recent Social Networking report in the blogosphere is gratifying to see. Thanks to all of you who read and commented on the report. Links to two of the blogs that covered the report are posted below, if you’re interested.

Much of the interest/discussion seems to have centered on Part 2 of the report, that is, the comparison between Facebook and MySpace. The research uncovered demographic and psychographic differences between MySpace and Facebook users, some of which belie the conventional wisdom or image of each brand. I’m sure the marketing execs at both sites have grappled with such questions as:

If MySpace has “aged,” should we grow-up with our audience and risk becoming less cool to the younger generation? Is it possible to straddle the age spectrum – appealing to the young without abandoning the base? The dilemma brings to mind the spin-off of VH1 from MTV in the late 80s precisely for this reason. I was among those aging MTV fans that migrated to VH1 because, well, MTV wanted to retool itself for the next crop of teens.

Facebook, by contrast, is enjoying a bit of a grace/honeymoon period – Beacon notwithstanding – but how soon until it is no longer cool? My sample of one (myself) has seen a marked shift in Facebook in the last 6 months as friends from my non-tech life – friends from high school and college and joined the bandwagon and contacted me to friend them on Facebook. It’s great to reconnect, but it makes my Facebook page (and me) feel older.

I wonder how many years (months?) it will it be before Facebook has lost its halo too?

http://veryofficialblog.com/2008/12/20/the-social-network-challenge-mysp...

http://www.ocpinay.com/2008/12/are-you-facebook-or-myspace-user.html