Facebook, MySpace, AOL, or None of the Above? at effective web ministry notes

Facebook, MySpace, AOL, or None of the Above?

filed under Community by rob on 18Jul06 @ 11:05 am EST

Back in the early days of the internet, web pages were scattered. Yahoo came along and tried to index them all. But AOL tried to go one step further…making the internet easily interactive. That’s how I got my start with online ministry: AOL chatrooms back around 1995.

I’ve thinking a lot about social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. I have an account on both FB and MS. But honestly, I don’t care for them that much. Once logged in I can blog, upload photos, videos, send email, and connect with other members. So on the one hand, they have made it easy to pull this together into one spot.

For me, I don’t want to spend most of my time in these logged-in communities. I’ve already found my community. I use WordPress to blog (in several places), I use Flickr to upload photos, I use YouTube to upload videos (boring ones), I use Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Outlook for email, and I connect with others through comments and RSS feeds using Bloglines. I mean, I’m literally everywhere and I use del.icio.us to help me keep it straight.

Back to AOL, they did the same thing. They offered one login to get to email, chatrooms, and content (it wasn’t as personalized obviously, but it they laid the groundwork to be sure).

I can stay just as connected without the use of a social networking site. Or do I? I can see the convenience of logging into Facebook if your friends are already there. But won’t this end up like the problem of Instant Messaging (one friend is on AIM, another on MSN, another on Google Talk so now I need three IM accounts)? I can also see that doing this on my own requires some time, knowledge, and actually, multiple logins to each site. But for some reason I think doing it on my own is better. I have more freedom.

That’s what I wanted to discuss…or start a discussion on here. What do you use? Why do you use them? I think this is an interesting dynamic that really since the internet became interactive no one has solved.

[tags]myspace, facebook, aol, blogs, social network[/tags]

27 Responses to “Facebook, MySpace, AOL, or None of the Above?”

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1 Peter Webber on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

Rob-

I currently have both a myspace and a facebook. Neither house any of my significant information, rather they just have a link to my blog. I’m not too keen on the closed loop social community that myspace, facebook and others have created, it forces people to conform their usage to their peer groups. I prefer to have the ability to roam freely around the internet using search engines and whatnot to find my way around, but if everyone else is going to end up using one of the major social networking sites, then i ought to have my info available there as well….
2 Jeff on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

I am currently on Facebook and MySpace as well but like Peter and Rob, these are not the places where I have my significant information. I think the hard thing in evaluating these social networking tools is that most of the people I know are not on them. This social networking thing is not necessarily something that I see my “generation” getting into. I would probably put more time and lay down roots somewhere if it were a place that my social networks were living online. But that is not the case. And I wonder if these networks are more appealing to singles who have more time and maybe more of a motivation to be on them and meeting up with other people. I don’t really have the time with two kids (and 1 on the way in 6 weeks) to invest a lot of time online.
3 Lisa on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

After a conversations that I have had recently with groups in the teen/college community I would have to say yes! Also, I know I need to really take this advice myself, ignoring your myspace only proves to the younger generation that you really just don’t get them.

The quote below is about how MySpace is hit more often than Google or Yahoo!

http://wired.com/wired/archive/13.11/myspace_pr.html

“By any measure, MySpace is one of the top sites on the Web. It racked up 9.4 billion pageviews in August - more than Google - and new users are signing up at a stunning rate of 3.5 million a month. But these aren’t the only numbers that drew the attention of Rupert Murdoch, chair and CEO of News Corp., which agreed to buy MySpace’s parent company in July for $580 million: The site hosts 12 percent of all ads on the Web, more than any other site. MySpace should gross $30 million to $40 million this year, says John Tinker, an analyst with ThinkEquity in New York. And with News Corp.’s sales force behind it, he estimates the company could double that figure in 2006.”
4 Andy on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

A while back I heard a presentation regarding online communitiy in the Web 2.0 world. The speaker noted that the emerging reality that everyone is now the hub of their own community. A person has a blog. That blog links to others. And so forth. Extending this thought I would note that in previous contexts, the real world or even web 1.0, communities where organized around a central point. A town square, a common interest, etc.

Consider how sites like FB and MS embrace this invidual-as-hub mentality. You are a “no one” on either site until you have friends. That’s why every MS user starts with at least one “friend.” And in FB, you do start in the context of your network (e.g. your campus); yet the focus is still on the indivudal-as-hub of his / her social world.

Why do people use these sites? It’s a basic question of uses and gratifications. One of the most basic human desires is “to know and be known.” FB, MS, and blogs address this desire quite well. The social networking sites also seem to reaffirm the age old axiom: it’s all about who you know.
5 rob on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

Andy, I agree that it is all about the connections. I guess I wonder about what the big attraction to a “closed” community like MySpace or Facebook is really all about…especially when you can be “open” by using other tools. I agree with Jeff and Peter that those are places I just don’t really belong to. It’s like being a member of a church or club that I’m not committed to. I want to be on the roll, but I’m not involoved.

But then there are SO MANY PEOPLE who see this as their club. Maybe that’s the deal…that they are joining something with their friends instead of creating something on their own and finding their friends?

I don’t want it to sound bad, but I know it’s more work to be connected by doing it yourself…and with that comes more freedom.

A follow-up question: is it effective to have a membership to Facebook and/or MySpace and only use it to point to your blog/network on the outside?
6 David Hand on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

I use Facebook. I like it. It has helped me reconnect with a couple of old college buddies and past coworkers. My thought is that I want it to be easy for people to find me and interact with me. Specifically, I want (even invite) people to dialogue with me about God. Everybody who knows Jesus has a story to share. People find common ground in personal stories - so I’ve posted my story on StorySpot.com: http://storyspot.com/~dhandman
I’m not suggesting that I fill out a profile on every single social site out there. But I do have a desire to express myself creatively. Now that there are many flavors of creative expression on the web - e.g. Blogger for those who express through blogging; YouTube and Grouper for those who express through video; Facebook for those who like writing on “the wall” and such - I can choose from a variety of means (or social networks) to find common ground with folks.
7 Stephen Miracle on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

I currently use Myspace but not facebook. I actually am quite a fan of it not because of its blog abilities, but the ability to stay connected with friends. My myspace blog is my most personal one and is only relevant to those that know me. Even though there are many more and better ways to keep “connected” Myspace is currently the easiest and most usable by all people and this is the driving force for the church. Anyone can easily sign up, find their friends and remain connected. I have a good post about Myspace on my blog at Faithvision.blogspot.com (work in progress).
8 rob on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

Stephen, I understand the concept of multi-blogging. I do it myself. But why not use your blogspot blog on MySpace? Also, because I’m wanting to learn, do you feel it’s more difficult to connect with others by using blogspot or other open resources?
9 Ken on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

Rob, I use facebook only and my purpose has been purely to get into the students world and on a platform where I know they are hanging out. If I want to communicate something to a student, or a group of them, I have found that facebook is an almost certain way they will see my message and many times respond the same day.

I’m not completely sure why it’s so popular since it’s not realtime like chat rooms. I am not always looking to engage them in conversations, so this is not really a negative to me. Also, I have found that the students appreciate my efforts to meet them on their turf and my “cool factor” has gone way up as a result. I need all the help I can there, so it has been great.

Being a catalytic ministry, facebook has also helped shrink our world a little which is nice. We are also looking to place some ads on some of our “wish we could launch” campuses to see if anyone surfaces.
10 Steve on Jul 18th, 2006 said:

(I have never participated in an online discussion like this, nor have I ever used or understand Myspace and Facebook. I say this because I probably will say something that will sound odd or offend. Please accept my apology.)

I am interested in any type of online community if it will help others in ministry. Are these types of communities useful in helping others grow spiritually or are they best for social interaction?

It sounds like from previous comments that this “world” has moved away from a central location model. If this is true, how would a ministry team use these tools to help others grow spiritually, especially if the ministry’s target audience is only a segment of society?

It would seem that I would have to join Myspace or Facebook (basically go out and try to find them) instead of creating something on our ministry Web site (them finding us). Is this true?
11 Stephen Miracle on Jul 19th, 2006 said:

Steve, (great name by the way)

I think you have brought up some profound things and I would like to tie them with Rob’s questions. It is true that the internet is decentralizing alot of society and in the forseeable future I think it will have the same effect on the church. Myspace is an amazing place for a youth group to remain connected and “be church” without the mindset of “going to church”. These internet communities and emerging “web 2.0″ concepts I believe are an amazing resource to restore our biblical practices and help be a catalyst to the lost
12 Dennis on Jul 19th, 2006 said:

I guess I see mySpace and Facebook as endemic of the generation after gen X’ers (for now lets call them millenials). The millenials didn’t grow up with technology as an add on to their lives, instead it has been infused and integrated into virtually every aspect. In effect, its become ubiquitous, with the technology fading into the background of everyday life. Millenials don’t think, “I’m going to go online now and talk to some friends,” instead they just think that they want to talk to some friends, whether that is on their desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. The method is invisible, so all that remains is the task — in this case, relating to others. This is why MySpace and Facebook ARE such a big deal… because they allow the technology to fade into invisibility, and only the relationship remains. However, you and I (Gen X’ers, I think) still live with much of technology as an add on, not as a fully integrated whole.

Just a few thoughts,

Dennis
13 IndyChristian on Jul 19th, 2006 said:

Rob…

Thanks for begging a great question. I’ll enjoy watching the answers roll in; and hopefully will feature them all in a day or two, via the Blews.Network.

As you and only a hundred others know, we’re watching the social networking phenomenon closely, especially looking for opportunities to accelerate the Great Commission. Several examples have been cited already by your commenters [thanks folks!]. But at CrossroadsConnection.com, we’re taking a different tack as we’re creating an alternative MySpace type site. Our goal is not social networking itself, but as a means to some desirable ends. And specifically avoiding some of the pitfalls you and others have cited.

We have one focused goal there… creating a centralized, collaborative team site for driven Christians headed the same direction… ie, to accelerate the Great Commission, city by city. Thus we’re not there to create more ‘friends’ or more ways to spend your time. Ours is focused on expediting connections & communications among the team. A driven team. Accordingly, it’s private. By invitation only.

But it’s also open source, in concept. So if another such Christian networking site were to open, with a focus on team-building among the driven Christians… we’d link up with them in a heart-beat, and try to create something better-yet, together. Thus avoid the dually-unsocial networking trap.

Btw, if interested… click our ABOUT page… view a sample. Contact us if this sounds like it really MIGHT help accelerate our common mission.

Thoughts anyone?
14 Steve on Jul 20th, 2006 said:

Has anyone done a study to see which age groups use Myspace-type communities? If it is mostly the new gen, what about us “old-timers”? Do we create multiple communities for multiple generations?

I’d like to see if creating a Myspace-type community like CrossroadsConnection.com would work. Do people actively participate in more than one community?

Would they be torn between participating on Myspace where they have an established community and CrossroadsConnection.com where they’d have to develop a new community?

Could a community with a specific focus such as prayer be effective?
15 rob on Jul 20th, 2006 said:

I have not personally seen the demographics for MySpace. But here’s my gut: MySpace is mostly university-aged and below, Facebook is university-aged and up.
16 Stephen Miracle on Jul 21st, 2006 said:

I have seen a good number of “older” generations use it, but I believe that it is small because many are afraid of the internet and are not as internet savy as millenials. It has been my experience that those who are a little older that do know about community sites like myspace do try it. The demographics will widen once it has been made “safe”.
17 Steve on Jul 25th, 2006 said:

Where do message boards fit into these social commmunities?

It seems that my generation grew up using message boards and we might be more apt to use them. My wife has been active for a number of years on various message boards.

I am still wondering if it is possible to effectively receate an online community that moves beyond social into spiritual growth, learning?

And what type of social environment would be best suited - Myspace, Facebook, message boards?
18 rob on Jul 25th, 2006 said:

I think message boards can create community. I’m not as active on them anymore, but when I was, I felt like I knew some of the guys. I still know them and keep up with a few of them through their blogs, but not on the message board.

I think it’s for some, not for others.

At it’s core, the difference in a blog and a discussion board is that with a blog, authors (conversation starters) are limited, usually only to one person. Discussion boards have many more authors or conversation starters, but they are at the core the same.

For me now, it’s the delivery of how I keep up with the conversation. Boards don’t always offer RSS but blogs do, and that’s my preferred method of keeping up.
19 Stephen Miracle on Jul 25th, 2006 said:

It has been my experience that message boards have their own distinct purpose and feel to them. I know of many message boards that the participants are as close or closer to than other members of their own local church. It is a place where group discussion is open to anyone and not topic is off the table. They are an amazing tool to draw closeness with one another and grow spiritually towards God.
Now I wouldn’t set them beside “Myspace” as to figure out which one would achieve the desired result of growing spiritually better. I think they would work best working alongside one another since social network sites like Myspace do not offer conversation like message boards and message boards do not offer the same ease of connectivity as Myspace. I think the best results would be when they interacted by having what is discussed on the forum pulled into myspace comments and blogs, and giving a face to the other users on your forum.
20 Doug on Jul 25th, 2006 said:

I have a Myspace and Facebook account. I have built out my Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/outsidetheboxministry more than the Facebook page, because there are more individuals that will access and view it. I use it primarily to drive people to my blog. It is more of a marketing piece. This seems to be a common practice for bands and other businesses. As for making connections with others, I prefer using Linked In http://www.linkedin.com/.
21 IndyChristian on Jul 26th, 2006 said:

Loved your comment, Doug. [and your MySpace page so far]

Wanna expand on your thoughts about ‘linked-in’?
22 rob on Jul 26th, 2006 said:

I agree with IndyChristisan, Doug. Give us a new post on Linkedin! I’m not familiar with that one.
23 Mike on Jul 28th, 2006 said:

I blogged about this recently on my personal site: http://mclipsco.blogspot.com/2006/07/facebook-me.html I don’t really see what all the hubbub is. I just wish I had something that combined my Flickr-Blog-Facebook. Then it would be one stop shopping. Why several different sites? oh well… by they way… http://www.facebookisthedevil.com is available if you want to register it…
24 Jim on Jul 29th, 2006 said:

College student here.

First off, I do have a Facebook and Myspace account. The only reason I have a Myspace account is to link to my blog and flickr page. I think Facebook is a good way for me personally to keep up with friends from home/school. But, I also think they can both be a bad thing. I’m not a huge fan of either because I don’t like to feel like I have to be tethered to a website to keep up with everyone else’s every move.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people are really addicted to these social networking sites. People spend hours checking, updating, etc. I don’t like the idea of giving up the “real world life” for one spent on the computer looking at profiles and solely interacting on social networking sites.

Like I said above, I do have accounts with them both, but I rarely go on either. I’ve noticed that people bring laptops into classes for the sole reason to surf MS or FB. It’s also frustrating when I need to use one of the computers in one of the labs on campus and can’t find one open, but then see a lot of students on these sites just messing around.

These could be used as an effective way to reach students, but it would all depend on starting that network of contacts.
25 Scott Crocker on Aug 1st, 2006 said:

I have Blogger, MySpace, Xanga and Facebook sites. I use Blogger to post new blog entries and I also put those posts on MySpace and Xanga (can’t do that for Facebook since it doesn’t have a blog feature). Each of the sites serves a bit of a different purpose, although it seems that Xanga and MySpace are very similar in their functions. Facebook has allowed me to stay-up-to-date with a number of staff friends and a number of students that I used to work with but haven’t talked with in awhile. Unfortunately, since we are too old to have many high school or college friends on Facebook, I have to rely on MySpace most likely to re-connect with real old friends. In publicizing to people, I try to steer everyone to the Blogger site and that site contains links to the other ones. While it would be nice to have everything in one place, I realize that different friends/family members are only on one of the above and by being a member of so many online networking communities allows be to stay in touch with a broad base of people.