9: MySpaced.

The face of various addicts is oftentimes easy to detect: the red-faced alcoholic who wears sunglasses at night, the white-lipped crack addict constantly itching his neck, the list goes on forever. With that said, it’s appropriate that I now describe the face of the addict I will be referring to in this post, the MySpace addict. Indeed, the MySpace addict-- normally about 14-years old and female-- can oftentimes be found in a dimly lit room with a digital camera in hand, held strategically overhead to capture the image of their adverted glance as well as the rest of their outfit (ingenious). Sitting tirelessly before a computer screen, the MySpace addict will constantly update their page’s layout, the information they reveal, and of course, upload countless numbers of self-photographed MySpace-pictures. Additionally, they will study their friend’s page’s, comment on their photographs, and leave messages to let their friends know how wonderful they are. While using MySpace is not inherently dangerous (unless 13-year old Sara is actually 40-year old George), the fine line between recreational use and hardcore addiction is becoming increasingly blurred.


Like many other Internet addictions, those who find themselves at the mercy of MySpace crave online communication due to the inherent Internet properties of access, anonymity, and interactivity. Specifically, these characteristics contribute significantly to the susceptibility of middle school-aged Internet users. During this unbearably awkward time in one’s life, a venue through which to interact with friends (and of course, the opposite sex) free from the supervision of parents and teachers is absolutely an opportunity to be embraced. Operant conditioning takes place as frequent users are continuously checking their own sites for new comments/messages, and others’ sites for any new updates. Since users’ sites are affected by information added by others (via comments), the locus of control is not exclusive to the creator of each MySpace page. This lack of complete control could potentially add to the compulsive nature of MySpace addict’s frequently checking their sites. Thus, in keeping with the standards delineated by Caplan, MySpace can be addictive in nature due to this compulsive quality due to lack of control. Also, as users constantly check their sites and spend a large quantity of time on MySpace, addicts also display the characteristic of excessive use.

Caplan’s model proposes the cycle of psychosocial problems such as low social competence leading to preference for Internet interaction due to affordances of such interaction. However, recreational MySpace users as well as addicts do not necessarily seek interaction on the Internet because of a lack of real-life social skills. On the contrary, MySpace allows users a venue through which to increase their social interactions since users oftentimes communicate with people they know in the real world. Also, as previously stated, users who fall within the middle school-aged demographic may seek Internet interaction solely because it is the only venue through which they can freely do so.

However, MySpace addicts choose online interaction for many of the reasons explained as “affordances” of Internet interaction by Caplan. Such affordances include greater anonymity, greater control over self-presentation, more intense and intimate social-disclosure, and less perceived social risk. Of the given characteristics, ‘less perceived social risk’ is definitely one of the main characteristics of MySpace that keep frequent users coming back for more. Once again referring to the middle school demographic, the idea of communicating outside the classroom or the cafeteria provides a venue that is immediately less socially intimidating.

There are certain characteristics that separate MySpace from other social networking sites, increasing its addictive-nature. Particularly, MySpace allows users to add their own creative input to the formatting and design of their site. Unlike Facebook where a user adds their Favorite Movies, TV Shows, etc., within an unchangeable format, MySpace allows users the freedom to create a site unique to them. This perpetuates addictive behavior in two distinct ways. First of all, in a search for self-discovery, MySpace users may continuously seek new ways to artistically portray themselves through the Internet. Secondly, formatting ones own MySpace in a unique manner can allow users to push themselves not only creatively, but electronically. Thus, creating a more sophisticated MySpace site could aware someone artistic and technological merit. As users try to “one up” one another, the search for the most complex MySpace layout is a seemingly unending quest.

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