Google Plus aims to be the online version of your existing social circles (such as personal and professional ones and allowing them to stay separate), offering a lot of the same features as Facebook (as in Groups), but organized into "Circles" right up front. To them, it brings "Hangouts" (video chat), "Huddles" (group chat), and "Sparks" (as in conversation starters and talking points, a little … [Read more...] about The new, social Google+
consumer privacy
Behavioral advertising: So far we’re not opting out
Online advertisers have been testing US Web users' tolerance for behavioral advertising (tracking our online activities or behaviors and targeting us with ads based on that automated tracking), and so far not many of us have been bothered by it. "Since last year, ad organizations in the US have been running a campaign designed to convince Congress and the FTC that self-regulation is good enough," … [Read more...] about Behavioral advertising: So far we’re not opting out
Under-age on Facebook: New study
The Consumer Reports headline reads, "That Facebook friend might be 10 years old, and other troubling news," but – interestingly – fewer and fewer parents find it troubling. Most of today's headlines about under-13 social networkers are about the Consumer Reports survey, which found that 20 million, or about 13% of Facebook's 150 million active US users are under 18 and 7.5 million, or about 5%, … [Read more...] about Under-age on Facebook: New study
Online spin control: Who does it best? Us!
A new (and growing) Net business category is now employing Net scare tactics: online reputation management. For example, "the Internet has become the go-to resources to destroy someone’s life online, which in turn means their offline life gets turned upside, too,” Reputation.com CEO Michael Fertik told the New York Times. The article offers helpful insights into how this high-end approach to … [Read more...] about Online spin control: Who does it best? Us!
FTC’s strong message to social media providers
Via its proposed settlement with Google over its Buzz product's privacy flaws, the Federal Trade Commission just sent the social-media industry a message. Bake user privacy protection into your product development. The Commission's critique of Buzz's launch was detailed, reported Rob Pegoraro at the Washington Post: "If you read through its eight-page complaint, you’ll see a focus on the finer … [Read more...] about FTC’s strong message to social media providers