Callie Rose

For my book analysis I read “The Peep Diaries How...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:10:14 -0600

For my book analysis I read “The Peep Diaries How We’re Learing to Love Watching Ourselves an Our Neighbors” by Hal Niedziecki and ” The Facebook Effect” by David Kirkpatrick. Both of these book proved to be very interesting. They gave you a first hand look to the world of social networking. For my book analysis I looked into two main points they both made, my first point was about how advertising has entered into social networking and the effect it has made. I also went into my second point, being about the privacy issues that face Facebook and its users. Whether the lines of what is private or not private are fading, it is safe to say that Facebook has started to redefine privacy.

The books were really informative, they both managed to keep my attention. Both authors did a great job at getting really good information and building credibility throughout the book. Its crazy to see how much has changed since the explosion of Facebook. The story behind how it started is complicated but hard to put down. Peep diaries was so different fromany book I have read. It discussed how people have started to over-share and become obsessed with what others are doing. The effects of peeping go beyond over-sharing of course, by over-sharing we are also giving into mass media and changing our identities. I would recommend both books and hope that you at least try to get your hands on one!

Wanna go viral?

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:46:17 -0600

In the article by Stephanie Buck, the author interviewed the men at creative agency Seedwell who specialize in imagining, producing and distributing viral video. Peter Furia, Beau Lewis and David Fine represent the heads of strategy, business and production, and respectively are the masters behind what it takes to go viral. It seems lately that the newest fad is the ability to go viral. Take the Kony 2012, it became a video sensation and also earned the name viral video. When the video came out it spread like wild fire. With the help of the Seedwell team they help explain what it takes to gain viral video status.

So what does it take to go viral? According to Seedwell, “a “viral video” is an impressive performance of views, sharing and growth curve relative to the top 5% of the class (10,000+ views, 1,000+ shares in 24 hours)”. They mention how viral videos need structure, a theme, and tastemakers. The structure needs to catch the audiences attention, it needs to take them on an emotional roller coaster and also be surprising. Theme, most viral videos fit into three thematic categories, parody, “cute as hell”, and “did that just happen”. And finally tastemakers or digital influencers, “These are celebrities with built in audiences the size of cable channels”.

The men and Seedwell are not only gurus at knowing how to go viral, they also know what people are clicking on these day and what people are sharing. When it comes to what people are clicking on today its not surprise that sex cells. Most of what people are attracted to are the visuals and anything overly sexualized is good to go in going viral. Also numbers count, when individuals are looking for something to click on its more likely they will click on a video which has 100,000 views. People will also click on videos because there friends are sharing the links, individuals want to view what their friends are viewing. Lastly people will view videos because of the name and how relevant it is to them. When it comes to people sharing “If they decide to share a video, it usually is because they either a) altruistically want to share the enjoyment of that video with others, or b) selfishly want to be seen sharing or critiquing that video.”

Buck went on to discuss future plans the Seedwell team has going on this year. With new videos to come and a online series on its way, its safe to say these men are in no sight of stopping anytime soon. They are smart and creative and know a lot about the virtual world. From what people want to see to what they want to share. Most of us have seen a viral video and know how interesting they can be but what if you started your own. With the tips these gentlemen give i’m sure it’d be difficult but also plenty of fun.

"Memories are becoming hyperlinks to information triggered by keywords and URLs. We are becoming..."

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:56:59 -0600

“Memories are becoming hyperlinks to information triggered by keywords and URLs. We are becoming ‘persistent paleontologists’ of our own external memories, as our brains are storing the keywords to get back to those memories and not the full memories themselves.”

- I thought this quote was very interesting and true. Keywords and tags have helped shaped what how we remember things and store memories. But not the full memories themselves, as the quote stated. This reminds people that maybe all these things that we do online don’t really play such a key role in our lives, since most of what we do online we can’t recall. This shows us that though social media and networking save images and key words it doesn’t really help relive these experiences.

Amber Case (via inthenoosphere)

When I first found out that facebook had bought instagram I...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:49:58 -0600

When I first found out that facebook had bought instagram I honestly was upset. I am so over facebook buying out every app and making it their own. I dont want everything I post to be on facebook. I like having different profiles for different social networking apps and sites. Facebook is taking over the world, and I am over it!

newyorker:

Visual Candy: The Rise of Instagram

So what does Instagram have that Facebook was missing? For Om Malik, the attraction is two-fold. First, Facebook is “a desktop-centric Internet company,” whereas Instagram is mobile-first; it’s essentially a stand-alone app for one of Facebook’s most popular features. Indeed, unless Instagram photos are published to Twitter or Facebook, they exist only in the space between phones. Second, Malik argues that Instagram was doing Mobile Uploads one better: they created a platform “built on emotion.” It’s not just that you can manipulate your photos with pretty filters—the Hipstamatic app already provided an analog aesthetic using anachronistic lenses and various choices of “film.” Instagram, and mobile photography in general, is about the serendipity of taking photos on the go and then publishing those little visual poems. And sometimes it’s not even about the filter; plenty of users post pictures with the hashtag #nofilter, as if to say “life really is that beautiful,” no enhancements needed. Sasha Frere-Jones (on Instagram as @sashafrerejones) spoke to the New York Times Lens blog, in 2010, about this “accidental kind of beauty,” not just in the photographs but in the conversations about them. Instagram provided a quiet gallery space for this conversation.

If Twitter occupies the hyperverbal space in our shared Internet brain with bits of news, jokes, and news-jokes, Instagram falls in the hypervisual part, which revels in the bits of visual candy in the world around us. It combines the sharing of a social app with the emotion of a photo album, and sharing plus feelings equals sharing feelings—an activity neither Mark Zuckerberg nor his company are known for. Om Malik goes so far as to say that Facebook “lacks soul,” whereas Instagram is “all soul and emotion,” but I think that’s a bit of a stretch. If anything, Facebook made a very emotionally mature move by acknowledging something important that it lacks; whether paying for it in cash and stock is ignoble is beside the point. Sometimes we want to talk about things we see outside ourselves. Camera phones have helped refocus our gaze from our navels back onto the world, at least until the next e-mail arrives. And that’s a big but important pill for Facebook to swallow.

- Silvia Killingsworth writes about Instagram: the visual candy Facebook couldn’t resist http://nyr.kr/IeRp1T

This video and cause went viral in about 48 hours. The cause its...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:34:15 -0600

This video and cause went viral in about 48 hours. The cause its still strong and I myself have even gotten involved by purchasing the the change kit. Its terrible that some people have turned this into what some believe a “scam”. But how can helping children and bring awareness to the the cruel acts of the world be bad. We should be proud to stand up for those who cant be heard. Not once again take something positive and turn in negative.

throughherblueyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Ue6REkeTA

Guess teachers now can now be even more prepared for class! and...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:29:21 -0600

Guess teachers now can now be even more prepared for class! and way more organized. The way school is being taught today has come along way in a very short amount of time. Its crazy how everything is literally at the touch of your fingers.

world-shaker:

This inexpensive app ($3.99) is unique – while there are a few others apps available today that can provide some of this functionality, what iTeach Pad delivers is a combination of tools that you won’t find in any of those other tools. iTeach Pad lets you set up and maintain the following classroom and teaching information:

Schedule

Calendar

Classes & Students

Lesson Plans

To Do Lists

Worth a look if you have some time (and an iPad).

(via A unique classroom and teaching organizer app for the iPad (created with input from our readers!))

I just love this photoset. With smart phones being used by...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:53:51 -0600

I just love this photoset. With smart phones being used by almost everyone you know its crazy to see an elephant now being able to use this device. Does this mean in the future animals will be able to use not only smart phones but social media in general? haha i doubt but it sure is crazy to watch this elephant have some fun on a smartphone.

toptumbles:

Elephant plays with a Galaxy Note

Who would have thought that the use of Google+ would be...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:50:38 -0600

Who would have thought that the use of Google+ would be decreasing? With many of our friend and family members using this site it makes me wonder what other social media sites have seen a decrease and why? Is Google+ just not as entertaining anymore or are people to obsessed with Pintrest and Facebook?

courtenaybird:

Will Brands See User Engagement on Google+?

Instagram is my new favorite app on my phone as well as my...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:07:11 -0600

Instagram is my new favorite app on my phone as well as my friends favorite. Being able to edit pictures fast and easily is addicting. Im constantly updating pictures of my delicious meal i made and things that i find cool and interesting! I am not surprised at all that it has become this successful.

photojojo:

Instagram for Android is *really* on its way!

Co-founder Kevin Systrom briefly showed it on stage at a SXSW panel. This is what he said about it:

In some ways, it’s better than our iOS app. It’s crazy.

Instagram for Android Makes an Appearance at SXSW

via Gizmodo; TechCrunch

The 'ME'dia Generation: The Top 5 Sites Visited While Watching TV

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:58:55 -0600

The 'ME'dia Generation: The Top 5 Sites Visited While Watching TV:

While watching TV, waiting for my next class to start, pretending to listen to my friends talk, and when i should be doing homework all of these websites have become a daily routine for me to go on. But i especially visit them while im watching TV, which is kind of funny since the whole point of TV, is to watch it. I find myself reading new posts on Facebook and looking up random things on google. All the shows I am watching can also been seen on my computer. I guess I am good at multitasking.

briansolis:

In Nielsen’s U.S. Digital Consumer Report, we were given a glimpse of the extent consumers are connected while watching TV.

The world’s greatest attention magnet now meets the world’s coolest digital water cooler.What’s clear is that connected consumers are also seasoned multi-taskers. When…

Can Social Media Predict Our Next President

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:38:00 -0700

In this article the author discusses whether social media could potentially predict our next president. Facebook and other social media sites have always been a place to keep up on the latest in celebrity gossip and a place to chat up on the hottest tracks music artist have come out with. But with elections around the corner it seems as though social networking sights have also been a place for politicians to market themselves as well. These old white colored politicians have finally realized how to effectively reach out to voters, since now TV and Radio are a thing of the past.

The simple reason why politicians are now deciding to embrace social networking is Facebook is a place people hangout, Youtube is a place they watch videos, and Twitter is a place for random banter. Romney who is a candidate in the upcoming elections has started a facebook page and now has 1.5 million “likes”. Many of the republican candiates are now posting more videos and status updates and seeing an increase in followers. “After Santorum picked up three wins in one night in February, his Facebook page gained 9,000 fans. Gingrich’s numbers climbed after his win in South Carolina in January. Romney gained traction among users after his debate performance in Florida. The opposite occurs, too, when candidates underperform.”

Twitter specifically has been a real advantage, since all the tweets are in real live time. ” Twitter’s promoted-tweets advertising has also become an important tool.Most of the candidates that are running ads on Twitter are bidding on key words around the debates, says Adam Sharp, who manages government and politics for Twitter.” Tweeting and Facebook mimic old strategies politicans used in the past, they are just new and updated versions.

I think its great that voters now can easily access the latest news on their favorite candidates. Not everyone watches the news and has time to read the newspaper. And i can honestly admit I don’t like to do either. Being able to just “follow” candidates and “like” their page is way easier!

Once again another app and another way for my to distract...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:26:25 -0700

Once again another app and another way for my to distract myself. The google play is going to change the way we hear music and see videos, according to google. Honestly I just cant tell the difference anymore.

thisistheverge:

Hello, Google Play: Google launches sweeping revamp of app, book, music, and video stores | The Verge

Goodbye Android Market, Hello Google Play Store

Most of you probably have been hearing a lot about the protest...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:24:07 -0700

Most of you probably have been hearing a lot about the protest in Virginia. Women have been protesting again the new law that is trying get passed to end abortion. This topic has always been popular and controversial. And I think that Colbert has made an excellent and simply stated point.

Follow-up: Tumblr’s New Policy Against Pro-Self-Harm Blogs

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:43:54 -0700

Tumblr is setting a great example. While other sites ignore this issue or even condone this kind of activity, tumblr is trying hard not to allow this kind of activity to go on any longer. Good job tumblr!

staff:

Last Thursday, we posted a draft of a new policy against blogs that actively promote self-harm, along with some PSA-style language to appear next to searches associated with self-injury. The reaction was overwhelming. The post itself provoked more than 25,000 likes, reblogs, and replies; and more than 2,500 of you sent in comments by email. Thank you.

By far, the most common comment was some variation on this:

This is really great, but what about people who just talk about it? They aren’t promoting it in any way, but like some of us just express ourselves through posting about it. I don’t promote self-harm or eating disorders or anything, but I do talk about my experiences with these things. Do those count as something that’s going to be banned?

That’s an important concern, so we want to be totally clear: While we won’t allow blogs dedicated to triggering self-harm, we will not act against blogs engaged in discussion, support, encouragement, and documenting the experiences of those dealing with difficult conditions like anorexia, bulimia, and other forms of self-injury. We absolutely want Tumblr to be a place where people struggling with these behaviors can find solace, community, dialog, understanding, and hope.

We will apply this policy on a blog-by-blog basis. There won’t be any wholesale suspension based on tags or text. We’re not under the illusion that it will be easy to draw the line between blogs that are intended to trigger self-harm and those that support sufferers and build community, but, thanks to the tireless efforts of our amazing Support team, we will do our best.

With the benefit of all your input, we’ve written a new draft of this policy, changing some wording and adding some clarifying language:

Promotion and Glorification of Self-Harm. Don’t post content that actively promotes or glorifies self-harm. This includes content that urges or encourages readers to cut or injure themselves; embrace anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders; or commit suicide rather than, e.g., seeking counseling or treatment, or joining together in supportive conversation with those suffering or recovering from depression or other conditions. Dialogue about these behaviors is incredibly important and online communities can be extraordinarily helpful to people struggling with these difficult conditions. We aim to sustain Tumblr as a place that facilitates awareness, support and recovery, and to remove only those blogs that cross the line into active promotion or glorification of self-harm.

In addition, we got some helpful suggestions from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to improve the language that we’ll start showing alongside searches for tags associated with the promotion of self-harm, such as “pro-ana”, “pro-mia”, “thinspiration” and “thinspo”. Here’s an example of the revised language:

Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices, they are mental disorders that when left untreated, can cause serious health problems, and at their most severe can even be life-threatening. For treatment referrals, information and support, please contact the National Eating Disorders Association’s Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.

We’re working with other health organizations to help us craft similar language around pro-cutting and pro-suicide search terms.

After the jump, we’ve pulled out several thoughtful messages from the community on both sides of this issue:

Read More

Heartbreak online

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:07:00 -0700

In this article the author discusses heart break online. Relationships are hard enough but now even more distress can come with being “in a relationship”. Everyday I see my friends updating their relationship status “single”, “it’s complicated”, and “in a relationship” on Facebook. And there is always that couple that seems to break up and get back together every-week. Its annoying enough having to hearing about it but now I have to witnesses it all over my newsfeed. In this article the author interviewed multiple people on the issue of relationship status over Facebook. Its interesting hearing to opposing arguments on the issue. While one individual expresses tension and stress over the topic some seem to enjoy posting their relationship status.

One of the issues of relationships over Facebook was the actual initiation of the relationship. While the couple may be official in real life, the concern when to make it official on Facebook can come with negative implications. One of the partners may want to share this love and relationship with friends and family members while the other may feel like it is unnecessary and wouldn’t want it to be public. This is where insecurity and jealously may come up in the relationship. Personally I see no need to have to publicly announce that you are in a relationship, because no one really cares. If anything just hide your relationship status and not show whether you are in one or not. That seems way more simpler. Its going to be way more embarrassing anyways having to post single after the potential break up. This is another issue that the article addressed. The embarrassment of the break up, it not only does it makes you feel uncomfortable but so do the people who see it. I always feel bad and am confused on whether to “like” my friends recent “single” update. Things like that are very personal and can be very hard to get over. Having everyone know that your relationship failed and that your probably crying as you updated that can’t be fun.

Posting your relationship can also be enlightening to others. It can be exciting for couples to finally make that final big move onto the live newsfeed of their friends and family. Whether they’re announcing an engagement or updating their marriage status. For couples updating their relationship status is a positive step for them in strengthening their bond. Many of my friends like having it posted publicly because it helps avoids any confusion for those who don’t know if they have a boyfriend/girlfriend.

In the end it is up to the couple, and whether they decide to update their relationships status is completely up to them. While some find it as stressful and useless others enjoy the publicity over Facebook. Its a decision that only they can make and hopefully can agree on. But word to the wise, please be sure that you are in a stable relationship before posting. Like I said before by you constantly and publicly getting back together then breaking up it is not only annoying but now i feel like even i am in the relationship.

Fired over Twitter

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:43:00 -0700

In this article the author gives several example of people getting fired over twitter. This week in class we discussed some of the repercussions that social networking can have. Specifically toward the job market. While most of us want to believe that what we do away from work doesn’t interfere with our profession lives, well in fact it does. During our lecture I learned that not only do companies you work for, or are trying to work for know what twitter and facebook are, they are also skilled monitoring it as well. Companies search for mentions on twitter and track when their companies name is posted online.

I found this article online, it gives 14 examples of people in the workplace getting fired for having inappropriate things posted on twitter. But this issue of getting fired over tweets goes far beyond that, we must also take into consideration is this faire and just for companies to spy on their employees and track there tweets? I personally believe that this is a totally invasion of privacy. People should not be fired over tweets they post or comments made on other types of social networking sites. Its a form of freedom of speech and what is said outside the work environment is completely separate from what is said inside of it. The finger should not be being pointed to the employee but rather the person who hired them.

Facebook and Twitter have not always been around, and weren’t part of the hiring aspect of the job market. People who interviewed potential employees had to be skilled in who to hire and an expert judge in character. These were the people companies instilled the most trust in. Now that twitter and other social networking sites have been created these interviewers now have used them as a threat. But I see it as laziness. These people should be responsible for looking at the persons resume and being thorough in their interviews with potential employees. They shouldn’t be peeking into twitter and googling these people. Its not only creepy but in some cases prejudice. What if these people do find a picture that they feel is in inappropriate and against their moral conduct? how is the interviewee supposed defend themselves?

If companies are going to use twitter as a way to track employees there needs to be an overall consensus on what is right and what is wrong. Everyone has the right to be who they are. Especially outside the work environment. Tweeting your thoughts is part of freedom of speech. I am strongly against tracking employees and future employees and firing them over things written over social networking sites.

Pinterest has become the new “it” soical media...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:47:06 -0700

Pinterest has become the new “it” soical media website. My friends are constantly on it, while i on the other hand am trying to resist this new pop culture phenomena. With all these new website being created i now look at them as pure distraction. I thought my procrastination was bad, now imagine if i join this new craze. People call Pinterest addicting, i dont know if i have time to take on another addiction. Facebook and Twitter already have become part of my daily life lol.

infographicsme:

All about Pinterest. I love how this infographic is made to look just like Pinterest. [by Modea]

I tweet throughout the day and go on facebook religiously. Its...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:41:36 -0700

I tweet throughout the day and go on facebook religiously. Its nice to know i am not alone and that within these 60 seconds now someone else is doing the same exact thing i am.

stoweboyd:

Stats are astonishing, and I’ve been informed by @nik (Nick Halstead) that Twitter is now moving 1B messages every three days.

(via Every 60 Seconds 175,000 Tweets Are Sent [INFOGRAPHIC] | Twitter Tips And Updates From Buffer)

runs like a penguin: How exercise fuels the brain

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:28:22 -0700

runs like a penguin: How exercise fuels the brain:

runslikeapenguin:

The New York Times has a really cool article today called “How exercise fuels the brain.” I highly recommend you read the full thing yourself, but here are a few excerpts with random bolded phrases:

For many years, scientists had believed that the brain, which is a very hungry organ,…

Since spring break is right around the corner its nice to know that all this hard work will pay off physically and mentally. I not only have to look at celebrities for inspiration I now can look to scientist to reassure me that I should stick to exercising! Can’t wait to see all the positive results I get from running and kickboxing ;)!

brianduprix: ComScore report finds 42 percent of US mobile...

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:40:18 -0700

brianduprix:

ComScore report finds 42 percent of US mobile users have smartphones, Android at nearly 50 percent, from Engadget http://engt.co/w7vuJY

This is so crazy to see! 5 years ago my friends and I were freaking out that phones could have cameras and take pictures. Now almost 50 percent of the US has smart phones. Smartphones not only have cameras but you are also able to surf the net, send videos, and stream live T.V. “Times they are a changin” and its insane how fast!