Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Acquires MySpace.com
Ultra-conservative, FOX News-owning media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is buying Intermix Media Inc., the parent company of MySpace. Already, alarmed conservatives who consider MySpace “a virtual candy store for pedophiles” are making preemptive calls for Murdoch to “clean it up.”
While I’ll concede that there may be more that can be done to police the site’s age restrictions, I don’t relish the thought of News Corp. putting its foot down on a thriving online community. While not a MySpace user myself, I’d hate to see neo-con censorship applied to a community that thrives on free speech and association.
Updates
This just in, from the Los Angeles Times:
The young hipsters who congregate on MySpace.com are known for posting revealing information about themselves. So when Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. announced this week that it had agreed buy the popular social networking website’s parent company for $580 million, pranksters rushed to set up phony profiles of the 74-year-old media tycoon.
In keeping with the site’s subversive tone, listed among his general interests are “World domination,” “Games, specifically Monopoly” and “Making Ted Turner squirm,” referring to his rivalry with the CNN founder.
Under musical preferences, one says, “Yes, money is music to my ears.”
“I encourage my television and radio stations to become Republican soapboxes,” another profile says, adding, “There are important benefits to fascism.”
The site is one of the most popular among teens, and spoofs are common. There are hundreds for President Bush, and such celebrities as Britney Spears are parodied.
News Corp is doing an admirable job of staying cool, at least on the surface:
News Corp. President Peter Chernin vowed to protect the uncensored site.
“If we try to impose our own sensibilities on MySpace, it would be a dopey thing to do,” he said.
News Corp. spokeswoman Teri Everett said the company was aware of the Murdoch profiles.
“But asking for their removal is something we wouldn’t consider,” she said.
Late Wednesday, more than 300 MySpace users were signed up as Murdoch friends, including “Gangsta,” “Bejeezus,” “Lady Love” and “Dr. Teeth.”
Most asked for money. A few wanted movie parts.
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How could it possibly be in Murdoch’s economic interest to “clean it up.” If you had his money, would you spend $580 to do the job of pedo police? Methinks not.
Comment by tom sherman — July 24, 2005 @ 11:00 pm
It’s only in his interest to clean it up to the point at which News Corp doesn’t get sued. Besides, if they really decided to quell all the hormones flying around on MySpace they’d lose their customers. Murdoch is nothing if not a smart businessman, which is why I don’t think we’ll actually see a big crackdown.
Murdoch has always managed to surprise me, however, by doing things that seem counter-intuitive (and are usually completely against my political/moral belief system) but managing to make it work out. Really, the whole thing just makes me nervous. I have friends and acquaintances on MySpace, and even though I don’t participate (no time for one more web site!), I appreciate the anarchic energy of the place.
Comment by Adam Messinger — July 25, 2005 @ 1:54 am