MySpace Is Your Space

The online journey begins. MySpace says it has more than 70 million users, with about 15 million between ages 14-18. While non-MySpace members can scan most profiles on the site, only members can send e-mails, post comments and engage in group forums.

Find A Friend

By clicking the search button on the MySpace home page, the user is presented with a variety of search options. Not shown is a classmate finder and a search called affiliations for networking.

Pieces Of Me

On my profile page, a viewer can get a quick rundown of who I am and what I do. There is room for more information, but I found myself getting bored clicking answers to generic personal questions.

A New Friend?

Possibly one of the most exhilarating sights in my MySpace existence: the friend request. This one in particular came from Matt, a teenager from Richmond, Va., who helped fill me in on what Myspace means to teens.

Tough Decision

The next most exciting moment in MySpace is actually seeing who wants to be your friend. As I suspected, Matt is on board, but I have no idea who this so-called princess is, I swear.

I've Got Mail

I have accumulated three whole Web pages of e-mails. But before you go thinking I am Mr. Popular, keep in mind that two of the four profiles shown are from total strangers, peddling either music or car insurance.

If You Say So

In an effort to promote communication, each time a user opens their home page, MySpace provides a pair of "cool" new people you may be interested in meeting.

Someone Else's 2 Cents

Leaving comments on a friend's profile can be one of the more enjoyable activities for MySpace users. Gossip and banter (sometimes witty, sometimes mindless) compose the majority of posts. You can only leave a comment on a page if you are that person's friend. This comment was chosen at random from a young woman's profile, also picked randomly.

A Blogging State Of Mind

Once MySpace users type their innermost thoughts in the blog area of their profiles, they can inform readers of the context in which the blog was written. Among the lengthy list of adjectives available include "crappy," "nauseated" and "quixotic."

Help

This message is from a mother who belongs to a group called Parents Of Teens On MySpace. A lively electronic dialogue among parents took place on this particular forum titled "Keeping An Eye On Teens."

Hello, Sean!

My pretty face, live on MySpace.