Walmart Tries to Emulate MySpace

mattsucks writes to tell us that according to AdAge, retail behemoth WalMart is trying desperately to target the MySpace demographic with a new, and highly sanitized, site designed to appeal to teens. From the article: "It's a quasi-social-networking site for teens designed to allow them to 'express their individuality,' yet it screens all content, tells parents their kids have joined and forbids users to e-mail one another. Oh, and it calls users 'hubsters' -- a twist on hipsters that proves just how painfully uncool it is to try to be cool."

Comments

Re:Check, check and check...

[TubeSteak]

My Hub
http://schoolyourway.walmart.com/index.php/Hubster Page/46700342

The e-mail:

From: schoolyourwayparentalconsent@walmart.com
Subject: Your child has registered at The HUB by Wal-Mart.

Your child has completed online registration and created a page at The HUB, Wal-Mart's "School Your Way" contest website.

If you would like to register at The HUB and view your child's page submission, you may do so by clicking the link below:

http://schoolyourway.walmart.com/index.php/user/do b?childId=

If you do not wish to have his/her submission included in the Hub, please reply to this email on or before August 27, 2006. Your kid's page will be removed from the Hub and the Contest promptly following our receipt of your email.
Thank you!

- The Wal-Mart Back-to-School Team

Please only reply to this e-mail if requesting your child's page be removed from the Hub.

Email Marketing, Walmart.com, 7000 Marina Blvd., Brisbane, CA 94005 ? 2006 Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

What a joke.
They call that screening?
It's an opt-out e-mail!!!

They have to know that's a stupid idea.
I could have sent that confirmation e-mail anywhere.