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Internet

Rupert Murdoch’s cool new thing

Edie G. Lush

Wednesday, 21st June 2006

Edie G. Lush says that MySpace, the online social network, is another money-spinner for the great media mogul

Rupert Murdoch is probably the last person in the world who would use an online social networking service, but he may be the first to make serious money out of the concept. MySpace, which he bought for $580 million in 2005, is one such service, and it may or may not be the coolest thing on the internet. It has about 70 million users, but is already being squeezed by an upstart website called Bebo which is attracting a greater share of UK visitors. Nevertheless, Murdoch-watchers see MySpace as the next big weapon in his relentless battle to maintain global media dominance.

But what exactly is an online social networking service? It is a website which allows anyone to build a homepage for free. You can list your likes and hates, top films, favourite books, sexual orientation and relationship status, and communicate with ‘friends’ — people you meet both online and off. You can upload photos and videos, communicate via instant messenger, and blog to your heart’s content.

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