I've been getting dozens of comment spam per day on my MySpace profile from users of ProfileWatcher. The spam reminds me of the invitations that were sent to the MySpace friends of Multiply users who volunteered their usernames and passwords. MySpace eventually shutdown the spamming. ProfileWatcher spam hits the inbox and asks you to approve a comment containing a big graphic that links to a download of profilewatch_setup.exe.

The service itself seems quite useful. It provides the type social activity monitoring that Facebook users enjoy by default. MySpace despite the hoopla and wide adoption is thin on social networking features; their creative capital has been focused on new ways of monetizing eye balls, not on improving the fundamental social experience. That's where the ecosystem of add-ons fills the value gaps.

Unfortunately, this service adds value with one hand and takes away value with the other. Apparently ProfileWatcher is a vehicle for the Zango Worm. The comment spam has been virulent for at least two weeks now and MySpace staff has done what seems to be nothing to stop the spread of it on their service and their user's computers. I suggest they reallocate some of that energy from the overseas expansion to the domestic market.

Among friends, usage of Facebook has increased dramatically. I keep finding new friends every week on the service and they are actually using it to plan things and reconnect. I remember when we abandoned Friendster en mass for MySpace when it stopped delivering. MySpace is getting complacent and unless it keeps order and keeps innovating, our online social networking energy will find a permanent new home.

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