Generation (m)Y

What is it about sites like Myspace, Facebook & NZ's teen darling, Bebo, that so attracts hordes of teens to them?

Welcome to the Myspace generation.

Thanks to the proliferation of both personal computers and broadband itself, you don't have to leave your house to hang out with your peers. You don't have to be particularly clued up on computer use or jargon to immerse yourself. All you need is access to a browser, an appropriately obscure and esoteric nom de plume and you're ready to launch your groomed alter-ego into the teen cyberspace mall.

Teens and young adults are constantly looking for new places to congregate. Why bother going to the mall, when you can vilify and socially castrate those you deem 'uncool" from the comfort of your own crib?

Socialize with like-minded peers, away from the prying eyes of parents and caregivers. Show how cool your taste in music is by embedding bands no one has ever heard of directly into your profile.

Socially inept teens will value the fact that there is no face-to-face interaction at all.

Your profile can include pictures, videos and the obligatory emo blog. You can share lists of friends and contacts with users and even post comments. woop de shit.

Parents, watch what your kids doing, seriously. Over eager teens have the tendancy to share "too much" information and I believe Myspace should be synonymous with "teen sex conduit".