The MySpace bait and switch
MySpace has a huge bull’s eye on it. With that many users, the potential for income is huge, if you figure out how to spam the system. We’ve seen many do that. The services that promise you can spy on who’s looking at your page, sometimes spam your friends, if you sign up for the service. And they sued Scott Richter… But there’s a twist I haven’t seen before.
Make a fan profile for a hugely popular band, then after it’s become very popular, change the name and launch it as your own profile..
(edited name out) did just that.
What used to be his tribute page for Petra (hugely popular Christian rock band), at http://www.myspace.com/petra is now his own page - the old URL is invalid, but all the people who added Petra as their friends, now has his profile in that spot instead. With all the comments entered for Petra still intact…
Tim says in his blog post (now removed) on what used to be Petra’s profile that he wouldn’t have done that, except MySpace blocked his own profile from sending comments. Hmmm, I just have to ask the question: Did he send LOTS of comments? It’s a valid question, but not one I know the answer for.
Anyway, rationalize it any way you want, it’s still dishonest!
Update, March 8th 2007:
This guy got in touch with me. At first he thought I’d slandered him and tried the usual legal bluff most people fall for. When that didn’t work, he asked me nicely to remove his name. The guy possibly DID send way too many comments, and got punished for it by Myspace. He argued that his own profile had had way more friends than the Petra profile, and that Petra isn’t his target audience. When it was time to promote his new album, he was locked out of doing it the way he wanted to, so he did (what to me is dishonest, even though I understand his reasoning - the end justifies the means) what he could to get the word out - he butchered his fan tribute site and put his own site there instead.
I guess the main two lessons from this story are these:
*Don’t send out way too many comments (or bulletins, messages or friend requests). With the current level of spamming happening on Myspace, you might be labeled a spammer and might lose the right to send comments or bulletins, maybe even messages.
*Don’t do the bait and switch, the backlash could cost you a lot - especially if someone like me gets her toes stepped on.
I did find a current profile for two members of Petra, that I put on my friends list. The artist who did the bait and switch is not my cup of tea, and long gone from my friend list.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:36 am
if you send a lot of comments they block your profile????
April 19th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
To Robbie:
Let’s just put it like this: It’s against their rules to use automated software to post comments. So if you were to use that in order to post comments to every friend you have (let’s say you have thousands), then they might. You might be able to get away with it, you might not. Do you want to take that chance?
April 19th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
well I like to send just comments to my friends. Sometimes I hit up a alot of them - usually about 40. But not all at once - just over a day. So is that going to get me blocked.
April 19th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
To Robbie:
I don’t know the answer to that. I’m guessing not, but since I’m not employed by Myspace, all I can do is guess.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I don’t use MySpace, but I would bet that is pretty normal behavior Robbie.