Posted on 06/16/2009 2:38:21 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) MySpace, the social network owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, said it will cut 30 percent of its staff to lower costs as it struggles to stay popular in the face of rising competition.
MySpace will be left with about 1,000 employees, it said in a statement released on Tuesday. The company declined to say how many people work at the service, but the percentage suggests that about 400 people will lose their jobs.
The cuts, which were presaged in several blog reports in recent weeks, are the biggest move so far by new management at the social network and an attempt, it said, to return the service to a "start-up culture."
"Simply put, our staffing levels were bloated and hindered by our ability to be an efficient and nimble team-oriented company," MySpace's new chief executive, Owen Van Natta, said in the statement.
"I understand that these changes are painful for many. They are also necessary for the long-term health and culture of MySpace."
News Corp named Van Natta as CEO in April. He replaced Chris DeWolfe, one of MySpace's co-founders.
News Corp's new digital media chief, Jonathan Miller, said MySpace "grew too big considering the realities of today's marketplace."
The layoffs will happen across MySpace's operations, though many of its employees are based in Los Angeles. A company spokeswoman declined to say when employees will learn that they are losing their jobs.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
In other words, Facebook is kicking their butt.
Well, for the 30% I guess it’s, “Used to be My Space”.
Facebook is easier to use, easier to navigate and easier on the eyes and everything else.
I like MoreSpace myself.
I hae faint memories of going there once or twice..
MySpace announced the layoffs on their facebook page
I agree - Facebook is more mature and adult-oriented. MySpace is teeny trash.
LOL
Are they going to lay off “Tom” ?
Correct. MySpace is a playground for teens. Facebook is a playground for people who are addicted to applications ;)
Who cares? You want to put your mug on these pos outlets, go right ahead. I couldn’t care less.
Quite right.
I still have a MySpace page but never use it.
Well I couldn’t care less about you caring less! How about them apples?
I’ve done a fair amount of networking with conservatives on MY Facebook page, BTW.
That’s good too. I like Spaced Out also.
Aieee! Don't get me started.
I am on what amounts to a jihad against those silly-ass quizzes.
I swear, just when I think I have them all hidden, someone on my friends list will take one that's even more inane.
Having used both of these services, I can say that Facebook is much faster, easier to use, and more mature than MySpace (not to mention much less spam!). However, a few of Facebook’s recent updates have me worried that it’s targeting the MySpace crowd, and while this may be good business policy for Facebook, it’s still very annoying.
ROFL!!!
Obama saves a thousand jobs at My Space!
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