MySpace Apps Are Getting Viral
Posted by Nick O'Neill on April 21st, 2008 10:15 AM
One of the biggest problems with MySpace applications has been the lack of viral distribution. Facebook launched with no restrictions and the only platform to come close to Facebook in regards to application growth is hi5. Unfortunately MySpace did not build in many viral channels as to avoid a backlash by users to due spammy applications.
According to one MySpace developer (who I found thanks to Justin Smith), the first viral channels will be opening later this week or early next week. Max Newbould announced that MySpace would be adding notifications by April 30th. This may be the first step toward MySpace becoming a viable platform competitor to Facebook.
As of now, no other platforms have had as transformative an impact as Facebook. Many have predicted that MySpace would be the social platform to change that trend. Following a substantially less buzzed about platform launch (in comparison to Facebook), many have been disappointed. A number of developers I have spoken with suggested that MySpace and the other platforms were not a huge priority because no viral channels had been implemented that would distance the leaders from the rest.
The new updates are likely to change all that. While this will be the first viral channel that MySpace adds, it won’t be the last. Over the coming months we will see the platform adjust to user and developer feedback. As such we are still very early in the social networking site platform wars. The upcoming notification by MySpace is just one step along the way but it could be a game changing addition.
Add New Comment
Viewing 1 Comment
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Good article. I manage a team of developers who are in the process of making an app for MySpace and we were relieved to find out last week that the viral channels hadn't been opened yet. We'd heard that MySpace was going to try to launch them sometime this week but so far there's been no word on the forums or blogs.
Do you have any idea of when the launch of the viral channels might have been moved back to? Thanks for the help in advance.
Justin
Add New Comment
Trackbacks