MySpace to help elect next president?

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/fashion/18myspace.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The Future President, on Your Friends List

By ALEX WILLIAMS
Published: March 18, 2007

HAVING already launched a generation of Gwen Stefani clones and death-metal bands into fleeting Internet fame, MySpace — the largest social-networking site — is now setting its sights higher: to help elect the next president of the United States.

This week, the site will introduce a section dedicated to politics, with an emphasis on the 2008 presidential election. Called the Impact channel, it will be an online version of a town square, a collection of links to political MySpace pages that will make it easier for the site’s 60 million American users per month — many of them from the traditionally elusive and apathetic youth demographic — to peruse the personal MySpace pages of, so far, 10 presidential candidates.

The channel will be much like those on the site already devoted to music or video. By clicking into it and on the separate campaign pages, users will be able to read candidate’s blogs, view their personal videos and snapshots, and link to other sites that discuss pet issues. Then, theoretically, users will add their favorite candidates to their friends list, and their friends will add them, too. The campaigns will spread virally, in the 2008 campaign strategy of the moment.

Some observers believe that such efforts by MySpace and other social networking sites might make them influential among voters in 2008. Or, in tech language, such sites aspire to be the killer aps of this election cycle, reminiscent of what talk radio (particularly Rush Limbaugh) was in 1994, when it whipped up enthusiasm for the Republican landslide in the midterm elections, or what MoveOn.org was in 2004 when it emerged as a potent force to raise funds and drum up volunteers for the Democratic Party.

“Part of the motivation is seeing how Howard Dean jumped on the blogging trend in 2003 and established that as a powerful force,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. “A lot of candidates don’t want to miss the boat on what could be the next big thing.”

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[PresidentObama]

1. MySpace is a powerful social networking tool.

Especially with young people. I can't name a young person I know who doesn't have MySpace. My parents both have MySpace. My grandparents have MySpace. My brothers, sister, and friends all have MySpace. It's a great way to connect over the 'net, and get your message across. I know a lot of local causes are using MySpace to recruit members and volunteers.

You can see how many friends each candidate has at:
http://techpresident.com/

They also show how many YouTube views the candidates have. Obama has the most friends, followed by Clinton and Edwards. On the GOP side, I believe it's Paul. And then maybe Giuliani?!? But the GOP candidates don't have as many friends on their friends list. I think Obama's tops out at 70,000 friends or close to it.

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for the explanation; I had no idea it was so popular. nt

[AZBlue]

3. I had no idea it was so popular with those above the age of 25!

I don't have a myspace page and saw a similar article on msnbc.com - my first thought was, "Oh, crap - now I have to figure out how to create a page so I can check this out!" As a 40-something I feel a bit odd setting up a page, but if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? (or something like that!)

My second thought was that this is fantastic - there's probably no better vehicle for reaching and motivating young people to get involved and to vote!!

[Colobo]

4. I'm 23, have My Space, but I don't use it.