The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Murdoch to bring MySpace to UK

Hey, Rupert, leave those kids alone

Steps to Take Before Choosing a Business Continuity Partner

News International has sent the social networking world into a tizz by saying its US-based MySpace.com will hit the UK within a month.

According to the BBC, Fox Interactive Media president Ross Levinson told a conference in Las Vegas that the UK launch was on track, and that the initial plan was to “tap into the music scene".

The site reportedly has 32 million active users and pitches itself as "an online community that lets you meet your friends' friends". Despite being just two years old, Murchoch coughed up $580m for the site last year, in what was seen as a late bid to get into the net media market.

The site’s focus is overwhelmingly on the youth market, through a mix of blogs, chatrooms, videos and other services. A quick perusal of the site’s front page doesn’t throw up many people over 30. Or who are less than moderately good-looking come to that. The US site – like its putative UK sibling – has a hefty slant towards music.

MySpace has made enough of an impact on the US psyche to prompt authorities at Utah’s Brigham Young University to warn about the dangers of the site. Meanwhile, a debate rages about whether parents have the right to view their offspring’s online musings on what is after all a public site site

Perhaps people should be more concerned that, unlike previous generations, today’s youth are likely to see their moralistic rantings, crushes and fashion and hairstyling disasters preserved online, for eternity, instead of safely consigned to the attic, where they belong.®

Requirements Checklist for Choosing a Cloud Backup and Recovery Service Provider

More from The Register

 breaking news
BBC-featured call centre slapped with hefty fine for unwanted calls
PPI pests: Swansea-based firm stung for £225k by ICO
Microsoft to open Windows Stores inside 600 Best Buy locations
Product showcases 'must be seen to be believed'
 breaking news
What did the Lehman Brothers implosion look like to a techie?
Insider tells all about the Gnab Gib at Lehmans
 breaking news
The only Waze is Google: Ad giant tipped to gobble map app 'for $1.3bn'
Pac-Man-satnav-ish upstart in bidding war with Apple, Facebook
 breaking news
1-in-10 e-tomes 'are self-published'... most are 'rubbish' says book ed
Publishing man scoffs at go-it-alone writers, ursines still fouling in forests
 breaking news
Facebook RSS reader said to uncloak June 20
Secret event scooped by Scottish developer?
 breaking news
O2 averts strike action over mass Capita outsourcing deal
Details of new agreement not yet released