MySpace, My Corporation, My Friend?

I found this discussion on NPR (National Public Radio) to be particualary interesting. The comentator talks about how large companies are using social networking sites such as MySpace to market to young people. "But they're not just buying ads; the companies create their own profiles in the hope that they will prove popular." Young people (and possibly old) are befriending these advertising agency's creations online. You can become a friend to "Hashy", McDonalds hash brown, "Helga", the volvo girl or even the blue ipod - leave them a message and they will reply!

So we now really do need to be concerned about who are children are making friends with online.

Here is the link http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10215577