Changing generation
An online world of pointless blogs and holiday snaps? A chance to share your talents with the world? Or a teenage fad for showing off and making friends? However you view social network sites like MySpace and Bebo, it’s clear that they are helping to change the world wide web. And it doesn’t stop there: in the UK, as membership of network sites grow, a whole generation is changing. Welcome to Web 2.0, a place where big business is no longer in charge.

MySpace, Bebo and Youtube are all for sharing information, uploading films, text, images, they are community or social networking sites. They vary slightly (MySpace - for everyone, Bebo – schools and colleges and Youtube is film based) but they all work along the same principal.  

MySpace
Earlier this year, the web’s biggest social network site (MySpace.com) came to the UK. The press predicted that young people would leave it alone, seeing MySpace as theirspace, another place for the media and its messages. Due to it being a big corporate site owned by Rupert Murdoch they thought young people wouldn’t be attracted to it. They were wrong. Today, MySpace has over 95 million members from across the world.

Then there's Bebo, a UK favourite. In March, the site had over 22 million members and in May, reported more hits than MySpace. The site has become so popular that some UK universities are blocking it on campus computers, while schools are banning its use in the classroom. The BBC has even reported a drop in viewing figures for younger age groups because of this phenomenon.

So what's the attraction? Youtube lets you publish your mini-movies. The Scoopt site pays for pictures, videos and blogs. And Friends Reunited, well, reunites friends. Tom, a musician from Manchester, is already using several sites to get his music heard. He’s now waiting for the day when a record producer says ‘hey young man, I'd like to sign your band’. 'Who knows', says Tom, 'it could happen. It's happened to others.'

Changing world
But will this rise in network sites have other effects? Will youth clubs empty? Will social skills be lost? Will journalists lose their jobs? Will future streets fall silent as we sit in our homes talking with the world?

Of course, whatever happens, will happen beyond the UK. Social networking is a global event. And one thing is sure: it will change our world online.

John
April 2007

Trend UK -> UK Lifestyle -> Current page