Recent collaborations between the two websites could pave the way for Facebook taking over its less popular rival. That is the view of Neil Stapley, founder of Dadooda Limited, who said that the move was now "a real possibility".

"My reading of the MySpace/Facebook 'mashup' deal is that both parties need to find new market opportunities," he said. "I get the distinct feeling News Corp (owners of MySpace) is signalling a readiness to bail out if this doesn't work, and the deal arguably gives it a logical exit option.

Mr Stapley believes that an acquisition may be possible because MySpace "got its social networking strategy wrong and lost out to Facebook" and, in terms of negotiations, there is "no doubt Facebook is coming from a much greater position of strength". The recent mashup project between the two sites enabled users to import their likes and interests from one site to the other.