Are older folks (40+) who use Myspace fulfilled with their lives?

I'm 34, I had a myspace account for a short time a few years ago because some of my friends were on it. I deleted it because I realized it was mostly a place for kids and because the adults on it exhibited a propensity for mutual sycophancy, childishness, posing and flaming. Most of the older people I came across on myspace were posturing to make themselves appear to be the people they wished they were, creating a self that gets them the kind of attention they desire, whether it's sexual, emotional or intellectual. I think it's a pretty sad thing when people define themselves by how they are perceived on any site or forum. If you're getting fulfillment from your popularity on the web you're not living an authentic life.

Most of the younger people who use then internet tend to, well, act like kids. Lots of fighting, boasting, flaming and all that crap. Oh, and the name calling.

After 30 you tend to not find that stuff amusing anymore. The only grown ups I know on MySpace are pervs who get a kick chatting with young girls.

So I would say that the lives of older people on MySpace are just as empty as the lives of young people.

That's an interesting question. I used to have myspace. But deleted it when I realized its main purpose was self-advertisement and, like you said, accumulating numbers of "digital friends" despite never saying a word to most of them.

My mother is going through menopause and made a myspace profile just before I deleted mine. It seemed that she was incredibly lonely and was trying to find friendship. I told her she wasn't likely to find that on myspace, nor was she likely to find people her own age, but she went ahead and did it any way... it's almost like it was an act of desperation... and maybe that's what it is at any age...

I am 56 and have been on myspace for a month -- after being "begged" for over a year by my kids. Keeping up with my daughters and all their friends is, well, very fulfilling.