MySpace may once again start to take action against third party applications that disrupt the user experience (or their revenue streams), it seems. Back before MySpace Platform this was limited to the occasional widget provider that got out of line. But third parties now have a broad arsenal of features to attack users and get additional installations and clicks. Messaging users is among the most effective, and most annoying.
Cofounder Tom Anderson is making a rare blogging appearance on the MySpace Developer blog this evening - outlining changes to their developer guidelines regarding how third party applications can communicate with users.
This is a a problem that Facebook has had to deal with extensively, including early changes to their platform to limit what we called “black hat” activity by application developers. Facebook has continued to refine the rules over time, but has also shown that they are willing to break their own rules when revenue is at stake.
MySpace has added a new section the guidelines called “Application Communications.” Specifically, applications are now restricted
- No incentives may be given to a member for sending a message, bulletin, comment, or any other form of communication. This includes “points,” “bucks,” increased standing, or even features within the app.
- It must be very clear to a member what they are sending, when they are sending communication. “Share with friends” is not sufficient messaging, the link must state “send comment,” “send bulletin,” and so on.
- The “no popups” rule we have had in place since day one applies to messaging windows. This means no more popping up a messaging window the first time someone tries to use an app. No popping up messaging windows without a user clicking on a very clearly marked link.
Applications that are already live have two weeks to comply.
It’s about time, it’s about time.
“MySpace may once again start to take action against third party applications that disrupt the user experience (or their revenue streams),”
Hey Mike, just wanted to flag that none of this is about revenue streams - it’s totally user experience.
(Disclosure: I work with MySpace Developer Platform)
Is this an example of the kind of spam ? :
http://www.myspace.com/kevinpereira (look at the comments)
@Martin,
Yes.
“Cofounder Tom Anderson is making a rare blogging appearance on the MySpace”
Your link doesn’t work. BTW, I am steadily improving http://www.sitespaces.net and will soon provide an advertising free experience with Rubicon supported ads for those who choose not to go ad free.
I would still like to read Tom’s blog though so I will visit his profile myself.
Tom insulted and threatened me back in 2005. I don’t have cheery feelings about him, but I guess you forget that kind of stuff.
I don’t think apps should be able to send comments at all. All the ones I’ve seen so far have been spam.
@3, I actually blogged about KP this morning
http://www.sitespaces.net/blog.....&11704
Tom’s blog post moved. See here:
http://developer.myspace.com/C.....m-Tom.aspx
@8, thank you. At least somebody is with the program. It wasn’t on his profile blog, so I probably wouldn’t have read it otherwise.
The author of this article should probably check his links before hitting the post button next time.
The thought of allowing apps to post to a comments/wall section was completely ludicrous to begin with. It was just begging to be spammed.
Instead of turning that off and implementing useful features like personal notifications, requests, invitations, or opensocial’s ShareApp concept that could have additional mass anti-spam features (where comments by their nature cannot), they basically crippled all virality on their application platform by instating business rules where the proper application of technology would have proven effective. It seems like they’re going the wrong way with this, but hey what do I know.
@5 and 8
The link is fixed now. Thanks for the heads up.
Good to hear. I admin a few ‘high-profile’-profiles and even turning off the ‘let apps send me auto-messages’ feature in the account settings wouldn’t work 100% of the time. Mysteriously, my preference would get set back to allow those messages to come through. Go figure. (no, i don’t want to be your PET!)
I gave you a link: http://www.ferodynamics.com/my.....uidelines/
You’re welcome
Ferodynamics is adv ,admin shloud get it out
If Facebook is a fancy bistro, myspace is a meatmarket. nuff said. Now commence with the fox news feeds and the subversive media and let’s all stop pretending we didn’t know what would happen when a news company owned the third most trafficked website in the US.
Peace,
Parris Whittingham - New York City Wedding Photographer
What took them so long? I’m only worried about the 2 weeks to fix current apps.
That’s funny #14, you’re selling junk from China and my blog is actually about Myspace apps and the people that use them. Trust me I don’t need traffic from this post, my blog averages 9,000 impressions/day for years now, mostly Myspace traffic.
The constant barrage of bulletins from the “Buy your friends” app is just killing me. I now have to open the bulletins list, and scroll through 2 or 3 pages to find actual bulletins from bands or friends to see what’s going on in just the last 24 hours. I’m glad MySpace is taking some action to correct all this junk.
pirates and took even him. by themselves to ramble
scissors about it is a to our on me. We used then eventually were having It is often