The usual way the differences between MySpace and Facebook are framed is which one is cooler or how do advertisers target their desired targets. But Danah Boyd and her essay"Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace ." look at the two social networking sites in a new way.
Boyd's assertions based on numerous interviews suggests that MySpace now appeals more to the alternate communities: teens and young adults who are classified by themselves and others as not a part of the current or future power structures. This includes people in those Blue collar families that used to reliably vote for Democrats but who have been peeled away by the Republican pushed wedge issues of gay marraige, flag burning, abortion, patrotic suppot of war without end, and "immorality". Now maybe the kids who are totally into the alternate music groups are less likely to be swayed by any right-wing messages tucked into the site because many of these groups are anti-Bush. But there are still a lot of young people that can be targeted by slick, well funded conservative messages that are slid into the site. Whether Murdoch is aware of this or not or is trying to take advantage of this will be indicated if his corp. is successful in reversing the banning of MySpace by the military in Iraq. As Boyd notes Facebook which is used by the college educated Officer corps has not been banned but the mostly working class and rural grunts have been shut off from MySpace. Propaganda is insidious and although Murdoch is really interested in making money from his purchase of MySpace, if he can also use it to push Republican/Conservative/Authoritarian values he will.