MySpace deletes everyone's personal data

I haven't used MySpace for quite a few years but I used to have several accounts. Apparently MySpace decided not only to completely redo their site but they also removed everyone's personal data. It was very strange going to my pages and seeing nothing familiar except my avatars.

I thought that I was missing something. Surely all the pictures and blog entries are there somewhere. I checked my emails. Did I get an email warning me to save my data because they were deleting it? No.

Now, because I didn't go to MySpace anymore I wasn't very upset, but it did get me thinking - This is going to be Facebook in 10 years. Think about it. What's to stop them from deciding to start over and deleting all our pictures and posts.

MySpace has been dead for years, and we all know that, but that doesn't mean there weren't people there that had pictures and blog entries saved from their years of using it. Some people I'm sure felt secure that they could go back and see the page dedicated to a love one who had past on, or old stories they had written as a teen.

All of it was taken away. Thrown in the trash. All because MySpace decided to change not only the face of MySpace but what you could do on it. No more blogs, posts, custom designs, games, videos or private messages. They're all gone. Without one word of warning. Only this in the aftermath:

We know that this is upsetting to some but it gives us a chance to really concentrate on creating a new experience for discovery and expression. Feel free to hit the Me Too button if you have similar questions so we can track your needs and concerns.

And this from MySpace CEO:

“The magic of Myspace has always been at the intersection of creative expression, community, promotion, and discovery,” said Myspace CEO Tim Vanderhook. “Myspace aims to power a new ecosystem catering directly to the creative community, enabling artists to manage their digital presence, build an audience, upload and distribute their content, and learn from data all on a single platform.”

Apparently, after so many complaints they decided to see if there was a way to get people their data. This was added to the above post on MySpace on 6/28/13:

Blog Update
Thank you everyone for your feedback regarding your classic Myspace blogs. We understand that this information is very important to you and apologize for not providing an answer sooner. Please understand that your blogs have not been deleted. Your content is safe and we have been discussing the best ways possible to provide you your blogs.

I'm glad people will hopefully be getting there things back. But still, too little too late in my book. Did they not see that people would be in an uproar? If they had they would have changed how they did this. It's not that MySpace has decided to remove the old to make room for the new. It's that they never considered the fact that they were dealing with people. Real people with honest emotional attachments.

Shame on you MySpace.

Let this be a warning to all of us who are now on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other social media sites. Even cloud drives. Eventually those will get taken down, transformed, and all that data you've been saving for years will be lost. Back up your stuff. Don't rely on the internet to keep it safe.


(Source of Myspace responses: Reviewed Feedback)