It may not be a website with a reputation for having a social conscience, but MySpace has launched a new service for its ever-expanding troupe of savvy teenage networkers: political empowerment.
The US arm of the self-promotion site has teamed up with the non-partisan youth voting campaigners Declare Yourself to encourage members to make use of their vote in the state elections this autumn.
Designed as a standard MySpace profile, the page combines downloadable voter registration forms and voter information with public service announcement videos directed by David LaChapelle, warning of the dangers of "silencing yourself". After registering, users can pin a virtual badge to their profile saying "I Registered to Vote on MySpace".
There is an army of "friends" already showing support for the cause. Carolina of Arizona is one, commenting on the Declare Yourself profile: "Just when you think MySpace can't get any better ... wow, getting the youth more politically conscientious ... that's good! Love it!"
The true test of this venture would be in statistics ascertaining how MySpace voters turn out on the big day. If it works, the November mid-term elections in the US will provide a perfect dry run for the 2008 presidential poll.
But can throwing politics into the mix save the site from the negative publicity it has been racking up lately? Parents have expressed concern that MySpace is still no more than a haven for paedophiles and ad execs, and political extremists could complicate things further.
