MySpace Founder Lied About His Age

Thu Nov 1, 2007 4:09PM EDT

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I feel so much better now that Tom—founder of MySpace and instant friend to all (and only friend to some)—lied about his age. Tom, as just about everyone knows, is your first friend when you sign up at MySpace. His friends (a.k.a. everyone in MySpace) become your friends.

Now, according to documents reviewed by Newsweek, it turns out that Tom will be 37 in November, and not 32 as his profile says. Yikes. Lying on MySpace. What a concept. I wonder if Tom's the first fibber in cyberspace? Somehow I doubt it.

Ask the social scientists and they'll tell you that lying on MySpace is not lying. It's called experimenting with your persona, role-playing, living your fantasy. Lying on MySpace is sort of like calling a magazine Seventeen, but knowing full well that the average reader is five years younger. I suspect that MySpace is a Never-Never Land for more than a few members.

You have to wonder what was Tom thinking when he lied about his age. I mean if you were going to go through all the trouble of lying, wouldn't you want to make it more worthwhile? Say you were 28? 25?

If the motivation was to be young enough to still talk to teens, well that's kind of creepy. Talking to a 32-year-old or a 37-year-old is not something most teens feel any more comfortable doing. If the goal, as some of the press is speculating, was to be one of the young, scrappy pups who launch a successful startup by age 30 (you know that you can get into groups like the Young Presidents' Organization if you make your first million before the three-decade mark)…well, he probably wasn't too focused on what would happen when he hit 40.

Mark Zuckerberg, be forewarned. If you're a 50-year-old walking around in a 20-something-year-old body, the time to 'fess up is now. And me, I'm waiting for the day when the in thing is going to be able to say that you started a great new company when you were 80.

How do you feel about Tom's age-old lie? Couldn't care less? Shattered? Would you lie about your age if it helped promote your business?

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Comments on MySpace Founder Lied About His Age

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  • 67 Posted by ambergl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    1) Myspace automatically updates your age when you have a birthday. 2) #45, yes it's sad that he or she spelled it "row model", but for your post- it's 'you're' not 'your' 3) Myspace is supposed to be young and cool and it doesn't look the youngest or coolest to have an almost 40 year old run it. Marketing is marketing!

  • 68 Posted by rodney49342 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Please quite picking on my only friend. Even though is is a liar he's a rich liar and he is the only person who contacted me from myspace who did not want to sell me porn.

  • 70 Posted by faded_shado on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Did he lie, or was he 32 when he started it and perhaps he's just failed to update his profile.

  • 71 Posted by iwannapleezeyou on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with several of the people who responded already.....and age is a state of mind. Lieing on the internet...omg....do people really do that? I think they should be afraid of their noses growing...weeeeeeeeeeeeeee....Fishermen lie all the time about the size of their fish. And if you are gullable enough to believe everything every one tells you ..whether if it's on the internet or just in life..then I think it's time that you faced reality. People lie all the time and they have no concious about it either. Thank God that we have the wisdom to see beyound the lies.

  • 72 Posted by jacjaclove on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    My son & all his friends lied about their age so they can get a myspace account, I don't agree with it but no-one seems to care enough to be able to stop it. Don't believe anything you see on myspace.

  • 73 Posted by ttabbey2255 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    people have way to much time on their hands when they worry about peoples ages. get a life

  • 74 Posted by migaleene on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    A lie..is a lie..is a lie... So what else did he Lie about that we don't know yet?

  • 75 Posted by hotgrany2u on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    wow some of us a little harsh on our friend TOM. who cares how old he he , my family and extended family have never gotten anything but a bulletin telling about upgrades or apologizeing if my space is acting up.and I.F. if you don't like my space then dont go in it the site. i myself love myspace. my 3 grown children and i communicate alot more this way due to they live busy lifes and we take breaks to chat, catch up. so my time spent communicateing with my wonderful daughters and son is definately not a waste of time . as for clinging to stereo types u should know i reckon due to u stereo typeing my space by calling it stupid. pot calling kettle black once again. people who do not even know what they are talking about are so darn judgemental.

  • 76 Posted by icyeehot15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE". who knows if he really ment to decieve anyone maybe it was typeo. Just enjoy the freedom he has given those who wish to lie or not.....

  • 77 Posted by rootypoo150 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    It was probably a business decision to relate to a younger market so that younger people would relate to it faster

  • 78 Posted by joyanslem on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I fudged my age on myspace too! LOL so what! My profile says I'm 29....I'm really 30, I just haven't had the heart to set that big 3-0 up there....it's freakin myspace, people! Get over it!

  • 79 Posted by carmencc26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    LOL....who cares, I have a friend on myspace that is in her 20's and it says on her profile that her age is 99.

  • 80 Posted by yoffyyoffy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is not lying, some people have difficulty with getting older, leave him alone. He did not harm any-one.

  • 81 Posted by chynadoll731 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    WHATEVER!!!!!!!!! WHO REALLY CARES HOW OLD HE IS! WE SHOULD JUST BE THANKING HIM FOR CREATING ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS OF ALL TIMES (SO FAR)! MYSPACE! HOWEVER OLD HE IS HE SURE DOESN'T LOOK IT! IS THAT HIS REAL PIC???????LOL NOW I'M JUST BEING NOSEY!

  • 82 Posted by jasmijoe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    We are individuals with different thoughts and ideas. Not all people lie about their age on line. Tom's a liar. Not a big deal unless he is caught soliciting someone under age or wants to meet with a person(without revealing the truth). Many children and teens get into trouble due to misleading information on MySpace. Tom is not a role because he does not promote honesty.

  • 83 Posted by jessicalwalters03 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! He lied, my entire world is crushed!!!! Big deal, so what if he did it's a 5 year difference!!! I know most people who said they stopped having birthdays @ 40. Honestly, who really cares, you have everyone and their mamma that lies about their age, just because he's the founder it's an issue, have you been on myspace? You have people that say they are 99, 105, for that matter you never know who your talking too!!! Hey if Tom ends up a pedophile, rapist, or a man who is into Bestiality then let us know!!! That's news!!!

  • 84 Posted by g_wheely on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hasn't Tom's profile had the same age on it for the last few years now, though? Seems to me he was 32 when I signed up 3 years ago...does it really matter if he's 5 years older?

  • 85 Posted by sr_1705 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I mean who really cares about how old he is. So he lied,ok. Get over it. People lie online all the time. He is still going to be the founder of myspace and that doesnt change anything. Get a grip and find something to write about that truly matters...

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