| "Messaging people is often quicker and easier than emailing." | | Dom from Leicester |
So, the general idea is that you create a profile with a picture of yourself and a short autobiography, then you set up to link up with other people's profiles so they become your 'buddies' or 'friends'. It is then possible to send them messages, rate their photos or leave comments on their 'wall' so that others can read your conversations (or at least half of them!). Growing interestThe networks are growing bigger and more popular all the time leading to much public and media research. They have often been praised in supporting unsigned and major bands alike by building communities of fans who are able to catch gig updates, share photos and all in all raise the profile of the musicians. It was recently announced that with over 57 million registered users, MySpace is now one of the fifth most visited English-speaking sites in the world. The bad newsDespite much acclaim there are some who take a more critical view of the websites. Some feel that people who use the sites are shallow and use their profiles to create a superficial image of themselves in order to build pseudo-popularity. Others feel there are more serious implications to the sites that are associated with the dangers of sharing personal information with strangers on chatrooms. We decided it was time to find out what the people of Leicestershire think of this internet revolution – so we hits the streets of Leicester (and a few online networks!). The word on the street | | Brett |
Brett is 17 and a regular user of a social networking group. He messaged me to say: "It's awesome, but I don't use it to make friends really. I use it to just carry on talking to my mates that I have." "The only bad thing is its putting yourself out to the world basically – it can be intimidating!" With this in mind I set off expecting mixed opinions... Janoo and Alfie, both 17 from Leicester told me that it can be interesting looking at others pictures and feel good when they get positive reactions from people they know. Jodi-Ann admitted she had an online profile but she doesn't really know how to use it and barely uses the internet anymore. Whereas, Megan told me that she felt the people that are on the sites tend not to go out! In contrast many of the people I spoke to actually felt it actually improved their social life off- and on-line! Eighteen year old Nay from Whitwick messaged me to say: "The only people that I've met are from my local area who I have seen in town or on nights out."  | | Nay |
"Usually if you went to a party and you met people you would never really see them again, whereas with most online networks, 'scene' or 'alternative' people have a profile so you can keep in contact." Emily, Emma, Dan, Dom, Nat and Gough are from Leicester and all use internet networks to keep in touch with friends but assured me they were definitely not addicts! Emily feels that it can be good to meet up with people you meet online - in fact she first met Dom and Nat through the internet! Dom told me that he finds: "Messaging people is often quicker and easier than emailing". Spreading soundsBands I have interviewed in the past have been keen to big-up the internet in helping them to spread the word. Louise and Katie are both 18 and from Leicester.  | | Louise |
Louise told me: "I use the site purely to add and listen to bands I like." Katie added that it doesn't affect their real life despite the fact that they had just been talking about Louise being on there until 04:00 this morning! Nay agrees that social networks can be brilliant for keeping up with new music. "I guess hearing some songs on peoples profiles then checking the bands profile has got me into quite a few bands". | 
