Ad Age disects why Facebook is so darn important that even Google is scared: “While Google knows what millions of people are searching for, Facebook has something the search giant hasn’t been able to grow: a network of connections between people that creates a viral distribution platform unrivaled by any portal or search engine.” If… Continue reading Why Facebook is so Darn Important
Category: social networks
Putting the “Social” Back into Social Networking
Susan Mernit explains why she suddenly finds Facebook so much more engaging than blogging. Hint: it puts the “social” back into social networking. “I’ve become completely enchanted by what I think of as the Facebook small town Twitter stream–aka status updates–that flow of one-sentence bulletins posted by people who are connected to me.” “These little… Continue reading Putting the “Social” Back into Social Networking
The Bionic Man Meets Social Networking
Facebook recently turned their social network into a “platform,” allowing any outside developer to create applications that can be used within it. There has been a land rush of activity, although some reports show that it has been more hype than not. It seems that MySpace is following Facebook’s lead: “MySpace is likely to change… Continue reading The Bionic Man Meets Social Networking
Who Will Own the Internet?
A large number of articles I read online seem to involve two topics: Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to buy Dow Jones, parent of the Wall Street Journal. Google buying everything else. It is interesting that the web has empowered any individual to have their voice heard, and given opportunity to so many entrepreneurs, yet a handful… Continue reading Who Will Own the Internet?
Facebook: An Open Platform Moves the Internet Forward
Marc Andreessen takes a deep look into the new Facebook platform, concluding it is a “dramatic leap forward for the Internet industry.” Here’s why: “In a nutshell, the Facebook API enables outside web developers to inject new features and content into the Facebook environment. After signing up for a developer account on Facebook, the developer… Continue reading Facebook: An Open Platform Moves the Internet Forward
For Retailers: Virtual Dollars vs. Real Dollars
The New York Times takes a look at the value of opening up a retail shop within virtual world Second Life: “This is more about relationship building for us right now, and exposing our brand.”
The Growing Pains of Social Networks
The New York Times has an interesting article that looks at the barriers of social networks. The writer (an adult) joins Facebook, and tries to become friends with her teenager daughter, and her daughter’s friends. Besides it being a funny story, it is interesting to see the limits we place on our communities and our… Continue reading The Growing Pains of Social Networks
Social Networks for Kids are Growing
The New York Times profiles “interactive play sites,” in which kids play with their friends online, exploring virtual worlds, and dressing up virtual dolls: “Millions of children and adolescents are spending hours on these sites, which offer virtual versions of traditional play activities and cute animated worlds that encourage self-expression and safe communication. They are,… Continue reading Social Networks for Kids are Growing
All Media is Digital Media
Two reports (from Jeremy Pepper and Eric Savitz) on the keynote from the New Media Summit: At the end of the day, every company is becoming a media company. Community is going to be the most strategic asset in how media gets created. Community is the center of everything. Instead of you finding content, content… Continue reading All Media is Digital Media
Social Networks and Political Campaigning
The Wall Street Journal profiles one of the founders of Facebook, Chris Hughes, who is now helping to build and manage Barack Obama’s website, and growing social network. It is interesting to see these technologies finding new uses, although leveraging social networks to streamline campaign contributions, is vastly different from true social changes. The value… Continue reading Social Networks and Political Campaigning