[Air-l] viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace

[nativebuddha]

Maybe this has already been said, but I find the framing by class
problematic on a basic level--we are already focusing only on a
certain "level" of class we we look at Facebook and MySpace users.


On 6/29/07, Lois Ann Scheidt <lscheidt at indiana.edu> wrote:

"Will the divide hold true now that Facebook allows access to anyone
with an email address?"

Yes, anyone with an e-mail can have access, but remember that only a
certain "level" of class has an e-mail, and has/feels the desire to
devote time to play via Facebook and MySpace. (Lois, pardon my lifting
of your quote. I know that it was not pertinent for your discussion.
It seemed like a good jumping off point for my thoughts.)

I'm not statistically sure of this, but I would imagine that there are
class distinctions (more inclusive, maybe) between cell phone users
(more lower socio-economic groups included) and webpage users.

This may seem like a trite over already explored discussion of class
and the internet, but I think it still needs to frame the overall
discussion of class. That's why Bourdieu's discussion of class and
distinction might bear some fruit. Facebook and MySpace class
differences are more like differences within a class grouping that
already exist "above" other socio-economic distinctions. Again, maybe
this is plain to see, but it is worhy of acknowledging if we want to
untangle class on the internet.

-robert