April 30, 2007
The MySpace Generation
Back in 1990 the Rock The Vote campaign was founded and aimed towards getting the MTV generation into the polling place. Now the politicians are joining MySpace in an effort to reach the younger generation.
MySpace Impact is where you can access each Presidential candidates profile. Some candidates have their profiles set to private, perhaps in an effort to get more "friends" (since you have to add them before viewing it). So far, Obama (who's profile is public) has the most pals. He also has a Flickr page, a YouTube account, and a Twitter account! His last update on Twitter was: "Thinking we're only one signature away from ending the war in Iraq."
Giuliani's profile is set to private, but Hillary's is public, and she's got 126,350 less friends than Obama, an interesting snapshot at who the MySpace generation is most interested in.
Forbes says:
"The MySpace generation is not reinventing political communication on its own; modern day politicians are doing their part, as well. The leading candidates for President have MySpace pages...The MySpace generation doesn't really read newspapers or watch a lot of television. This group shapes its views of the world through networks of friends. In past elections it was almost impossible for young voters to touch candidates, to interact with them directly, to get a feel for who they are. Now citizens of the Web have the chance to discover the issues by getting to know candidates just as they interact with their buddies, as well as with comedians and bands. That's why John McCain was smart to post his March Madness picks, and John Edwards did well to offer a candid behind-the-scenes video that didn't have an overproduced feel."
One little glitch in this...hackers! Back at the end of March, John McCain's MySpace was hacked in to, and suddenly he was sending a new message to the online community, one reversing his position on gay marriage as well as revealing a bias towards attractive lesbians!
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Too bad young people don't vote.
Isn't it possible that more efforts aimed at young people might encourage them to vote? And even if it doesn't, does that mean we should stop reaching out to them? We read the news, and frankly, a lot of us are more politically aware than people in our parents' generation. Don't pigeon hole us. And never, ever, discourage an entire segment of the population from exercising their right to vote.
Now please young people, prove me right when the elections role around...
mccain's site was not hacked into it. he just hotlinked a jpg.
I hear you #2, but in 2004, young people didn't vote in any larger numbers than before. Sure, they're more aware and more vocal, but they can't seem to peel their asses off their couches. Outside of the dreadlocked, patchouli, college community, young people really don't care enough to vote.
Seriously, the numbers don't lie. Count how many young people in NY still have their ID's from other states. Think those young people are registered to vote in NY? I don't think so. They can't be bothered to even change their phone numbers to a NYC number, let alone register their residency. How can those same lazy people be bothered to find their polling precinct, wait on a long line and vote?
Too bad the youth is fleeing MySpace for Facebook like rats from a sinking ship.
And does Gravel even warrant a page? I guess they arnt giving him any fighting chance at all huh.
For you commentors who said young people don't vote, you might wanna check out the funny video shorts thanking 18 year olds for NOT voting. i found it at www.DeclareYourself.com, and its with the guys from Reno 911. really funny!