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MySpace was the first major social media company. And it was the first major social media company to collapse. But what happened on MySpace would have broad implications for all the platforms to follow. What was this internet sensation in aughts? Log on with Joanne McNeil and revisit MySpace through the people who lived it.


Main Accounts: The Story of MySpace

What Happened to Talina Zar unravels the chilling mystery of a woman who vanished during the COVID-19 lockdown, the internet sleuths who wouldn’t let it go, and the dark subcultures and betrayals they unearthed.
 
Listen here or on the iHeartRadio app. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: What Happened to Talina Zar

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Main Accounts: The Story of MySpace

The MySpace era was incredibly influential, and incredibly messy. And it remains largely underexplored. Young people talk about MySpace like a cool scene they wish they could have experienced. Like CBGB, or Studio 54.
 
But before we get into the experiences that users had — from bored teens to up-and-coming musicians to soldiers stationed abroad — let’s start at the very beginning. Because MySpace does not have a typical Silicon Valley origin story. 

Special thanks to our guests Julie Angwin (author of Stealing MySpace) and Taylor Lorenz (author of the forthcoming Extremely Online). You can share your MySpace story with Joanne McNeil on Twitter @jomc.
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Welcome to MySpace

Let’s look back at the internet communities that were thriving before MySpace — even before Friendster. Why did MySpace get ahead when there was strong competition from other social networks at the time? 
 
To explore the earliest days of social media, Joanne is joined by investor and entrepreneur Benjamin Sun, who co-founded Asian Avenue in 1997, and Katie Notopoulos, senior technology reporter for BuzzFeedNews.
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2. Dialed Up

In this episode, Joanne delves into how MySpace—like reality TV—became a vehicle for celebrity in the aughts, and gave way to the culture of influencers. She catches up with people who built a fan base on the platform. 
 
Special thanks to our guests Bridget Todd (host of There Are No Girls on the Internet); Taylor Lorenz (technology columnist for The Washington Post); and Hanna Beth (one of the first people to become MySpace Famous). 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3. MySpace Famous

MySpace amplified the ongoing moral panic around teenagers on the internet. For young MySpace users, many of the trials of teenhood were transposed from the locker rooms, lunchrooms, and high school corridors to the realm of testimonials and Top 8. But was it really worse than any reality that teenagers throughout history have known? 
 
Joanne is joined by Alexis Nedd (author of Don't Hate the Player) and Noor Al-Sibai (author of the forthcoming MySpace Scene Queens) to talk about growing up on MySpace. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4. Scene Kids

MySpace forever changed the way we listen to music. The social network shifted artists' relationships with their fans, and the site helped launch the careers of many huge stars, from Panic! At The Disco to Adele.
 
What made MySpace such an influential platform for musicians? And why did all the music disappear?
 
In this episode, Joanne sits down with Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias (former Head of Artist Relations at MySpace) and Josh Brooks (former VP of Programming and Music at MySpace). She also speaks to American musician Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500, Magic Hour, Damon and Naomi), creator Scott Zakarin, and Jason Scott of the Internet Archive. You'll hear more from Jason next week.
 
See Also...
The MySpace Music Dragon Hoard
https://archive.org/details/myspace_dragon_hoard_2010
 
Damon Krukowski's Newsletter 
https://dadadrummer.substack.com/
 
Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias
https://www.instagram.com/roslynnc
 
Scott Zakarin
https://www.instagram.com/scottzakarin/

Jason Scott
http://ascii.textfiles.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5. My Music

We first reached out to digital archivist Jason Scott in episode five about the MySpace data loss. It turns out Jason had a lot more to say about his place in MySpace history that didn't make it into that episode. 
 
 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus: The Jason Scott MySpace Story

The moral panic over online predators on MySpace was largely overblown, but there was some truth to these concerns. These stories ended up on the nightly news and further stoked people’s fears about who was actually behind MySpace profiles. And one story — the biggest scandal MySpace had faced yet — showed how the use of a fake account could result in circumstances confusing and surreal, and tragic beyond belief.
 
And it set in motion events that would lead to MySpace’s eventual collapse.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6. Megan's Story

Our last episode featured the tragic death of Megan Meier, which became the biggest scandal MySpace would ever face. In this bonus episode, Joanne wanted to share our full interview with Megan's mother, Tina. Tina told us more about Megan's life, the trial, and the work of the Megan Meier Foundation. Since 2007, the MMF has worked to end bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus: The Jason Scott MySpace Story

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