Ever since Facebook came out they always emphasised on the idea of connections, however when Facebook first made their debut in 2005, it was a private space for communication. Today Facebook has transformed in a forum where much of you information is public by default.
In 2006, Facebook's privacy policy stated that "no personal information that you submit to Facebook will be available to any user of the Web Site who does not belong to at least one of the groups specified by you in your privacy settings." Then as time progressed in 2006, Facebook allowed your personal information to be visible to to your school, your specified local area, and other reasonable community limitations that we tell you about, yet they still allowed their users decent amount of privacy.
However, in 2009 Facebook decided that their default privacy setting should change from "private" to "everyone". Facebook believe that since their were a social networking site -making their users personal information available to everyone, would open more lines of communication.
Finally in April 2010, Facebook's new private policy stated that "When you connect with an application or website it will have access to General Information about you. The term General Information includes your and your friends’ names, profile pictures, gender, user IDs, connection, and any content shared using the Everyone privacy setting. ... The default privacy setting for certain types of information you post on Facebook is set to “everyone.” ... Because it takes two to connect, your privacy settings only control who can see the connection on your profile page. If you are uncomfortable with the connection being publicly available, you should consider removing (or not making) the connection."
Clearly, we can conclude that Facebook was meant to offer its users complete and effective controls over their personal information. Nonetheless, as Facebook grew larger and became more important, it changed from users control to advertising and businesses purposes. They made available more and more of its users' information, while limiting the users' options to control their own information.
Complete Article at: http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/facebook-timeline
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Technology and Relationships
Technology has affected my generation in a way no one could've imagined. It has altered our languages and even the process of creating friendships and other kinds of relationships. So being I that grew up in a time where instant messages and texts replace real face-to-face contact, how are the generations that have come after mine being affected?
The average high school kid sends about 50 texts a day, if not more. Psychologists are researching this behavior to see if these kind of relationships can help teens to become social-functioning adults in the real world. While the research is still inconclusive and kind of vague, the worry that they have is that this kind of "connecting" is superficial, and could affect how these children function in the real world. Another big concern is teens engaging in cyber-bullying and "sexting" I'm quoting here from npr.com (and linking the full article for anyone to read) because it explains best what the main concern is:
"One of the concerns is that, unlike their parents — many of whom recall having intense childhood relationships with a bosom buddy with whom they would spend all their time and tell all their secrets — today’s youths may be missing out on experiences that help them develop empathy, understand emotional nuances and read social cues like facial expressions and body language." (Stout,2010)
While people on the other side argue that technology has brought kids closer than ever to one another, there is still some research that needs to be done in order to find out whether this kind of communication is beneficial or not.
The arguments on both sides are valid. Teens who only interact with other people virtually could be missing out on valuable face-time with real people, but what's worse, a kid who only talks to people online or one who talks to no one...at all? It's a conundrum, and probably one that won't be figured out until we are a LOT older...and maybe a little blind from always having our faces on some sort of screen....
Apple’s iPad, a savior comes to rescue?
In my previous blog post, I gave some analysis on the statistics of advertising revenues distributed in old and new media. One creative way the old media can take advantage of the recent release of iPad is to attract advertisers through developing applications compatible with the device where users can download and read its content.
As of now, ABC is the only television network that is offering an iPad application where users can download and watch its episodes for free. ABC network said that in the 10 days since the iPad’s debut, its TV-show app has been downloaded a total of 205,000 times, “giving the Disney network a presence on nearly half the 450,000 devices that Apple says it has sold”. (WSJ.com).
ABC network also says that it will eventually give local advertisers the ability to sell ads that would be seen only by iPad users in their markets, thereby targeting audiences according to their geographical locations.
According to Smith, “the app represents one of the most ambitious attempts to date by a traditional media company to create a new business model on the new Apple device.”(WSJ.com). At times like this, creativity may bring surprising results. As seen from ABC’s initial success with iPad, many other television networks and print media may follow suit.
To view the original article, please click here.
Privacy Concerns Limits Online Ads
A recent study done by The Ponemon Institute discovered that privacy concerns has definitely affected the online ad industry and prompted many marketers to use online behavioral advertising — based on tracking a user’s Web browsing habits — 75 percent less than they would otherwise.
Nonetheless, the 90 companies and organizations surveyed reduced their behavioral advertising, even though they estimated the tracking-based ads were 50 percent more efficient in generating sales than conventional online display ads.
“Privacy fears are definitely having an economic impact,” said Larry Ponemon, chairman of the privacy and security research group. The markets are holding back, Mr. Ponemon says, because of the uncertain legal and regulatory environment. Congress and the Federal Trade Commission are mulling tighter restrictions on online data collection, disclosure and use.
However, the industry has set forth its efforts in the last year to develop a meaningful self-regulatory program in which advertiser can still incorporate targeted ads, while keeping the consumer informed. "The effort includes public education and technology — a click-on icon — to tell consumers what is happening when they see a targeted ad that uses demographics and behavioral data." (NY Times)
It was also suggested that they include limiting the ability of Web sites and ad networks to use behavioral data to 24 hours after it is collected, and requiring consumers’ permission — an opt-in approach — to hold such data beyond 24 hours.
The groups also say individual privacy rights should include being able to find out who is tracking them and know what information is being disseminated about them.“The online ad lobby is spinning a glossy fairy tale about how they want to protect privacy, all so they can continue data collection practices as usual,” said Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy.
Full article available at: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/privacy-concerns-limit-online-ads-study-says/?ref=technology
Nonetheless, the 90 companies and organizations surveyed reduced their behavioral advertising, even though they estimated the tracking-based ads were 50 percent more efficient in generating sales than conventional online display ads.
“Privacy fears are definitely having an economic impact,” said Larry Ponemon, chairman of the privacy and security research group. The markets are holding back, Mr. Ponemon says, because of the uncertain legal and regulatory environment. Congress and the Federal Trade Commission are mulling tighter restrictions on online data collection, disclosure and use.
However, the industry has set forth its efforts in the last year to develop a meaningful self-regulatory program in which advertiser can still incorporate targeted ads, while keeping the consumer informed. "The effort includes public education and technology — a click-on icon — to tell consumers what is happening when they see a targeted ad that uses demographics and behavioral data." (NY Times)
It was also suggested that they include limiting the ability of Web sites and ad networks to use behavioral data to 24 hours after it is collected, and requiring consumers’ permission — an opt-in approach — to hold such data beyond 24 hours.
The groups also say individual privacy rights should include being able to find out who is tracking them and know what information is being disseminated about them.“The online ad lobby is spinning a glossy fairy tale about how they want to protect privacy, all so they can continue data collection practices as usual,” said Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy.
Full article available at: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/privacy-concerns-limit-online-ads-study-says/?ref=technology
NJ Principal Tells Parents "Keep Your Kids off of Facebook!"
A NJ principal, Anthony Orsini is telling parents to keep their kids off of social networking sites like Facebook. Orsini is the principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School and is telling parents that their children have no business spreading personal information on social networking sites. He is quoted on CNN saying:
"It is time for every single member of the [school] Community to take a stand!”
His reasoning behind the mass e-mail to parents is that kids at that age don’t have the intellectual ability to know what to share and what not to share...he has a point. I know that when I was a teenager in high school I wanted the world to know everything about me, and had no idea what danger could come from revealing too much.
I spoke about cyber-bullying in my paper on Friday and this is one of the things Principal Orsini is concerned about. He is worried that students with online profiles will be more susceptible to online predators and bullying from other people at school.
This principal maybe taking some extreme measures to protect his students, but in this technological era it makes sense.
Internet ads revenues continue to rise, old media getting a smaller slice of the pie
From the report of ZenithOptimedia, advertisers are spending more on internet than the magazine in 2009, for the first time in history. With the trend of downsizing in traditional media like newspapers and magazines, the further cut in advertising revenues taken away by new media like video games and internet seems to make it even more worrisome.
ZenithOptimedia reports that “Magazines' share of worldwide ad spending fell to 10.3% in 2009 from 11.6% in 2008 and is expected to fall to 9.6% this year, 9.1% in 2011 and 8.6% in 2012. Radio, which held even at 7.7% last year, is projected to decline to 7.5% this year and 7.3% in 2011 before holding steady again in 2012.” (ZenithOptimedia).
On the contrary, the internet increased its share of global ad spending to 12.6% last year from 10.5% in 2008, and will keep growing—the report predicts that its share will rise up to 13.9% this year, 15.4% next year and 17.1% in 2012. (ZenithOptimedia).
Advertising is considered one crucial revenue sources for print industry, with internet taking a growing share of ads income, the print media would have to think of newer ways to cope. Nevertheless, many print media has already crossed over onto internet by establishing its own news websites, which can provide an additional source of revenue.
To get more information on the statistics of advertising revenues in media, please see here and here.
History in 140 words or less.
Tweet by tweet as people check on status of other, a lot of information is taken for disregard. However, laterly they are likely to be of considerable value to future historians. Many critics believe that they contain more observations, recorded at the same times by more people, than ever preserved in any medium before. Who knew your status would actually make history.
“Twitter is tens of millions of active users. There is no archive with tens of millions of diaries,” said Daniel J. Cohen, an associate professor of history at George Mason University and co-author of a 2006 book, “Digital History.” What’s more, he said, “Twitter is of the moment; it’s where people are the most honest.”
Last month, Twitter acknowledged that would donate its archive of public messages to the Library of Congress with supply it with continuous updates and statuses.
Before transferring it, the company will remove the messages of users who opted to designate their account “protected,” so that only people who obtain their explicit permission can follow them.
"A Twitter user can also elect to use a pseudonym and not share any personally identifying information. Twitter does not add identity tags that match its users to real people.
Each message is accompanied by some tidbits of supplemental information, like the number of followers that the author had at the time and how many users the author was following. While Mr. Cohen said it would be useful for a historian to know who the followers and the followed are, this information is not included in the Tweet itself.
But there’s nothing private about who follows whom among users of Twitter’s unprotected, public accounts. This information is displayed both at Twitter’s own site and in applications developed by third parties whom Twitter welcomes to tap its database". (NY TImes)
The library will embargo messages for six months after their original transmission. If that is not enough to put privacy issues to rest. However, many people on twitter arent aware of their privacy setting. This leaves a lot of room for information that is invalid and as Mr Cohen puts it "useless information"
Nonetheless Mr. Cohen encourages historians to find new tools and methods for mining the “staggeringly large historical record” of Tweets. This will require a different approach, he said, one that lets go of straightforward “anecdotal history.”
However, are we at that age when the quanity of history replace the quality and significance.
“Twitter is tens of millions of active users. There is no archive with tens of millions of diaries,” said Daniel J. Cohen, an associate professor of history at George Mason University and co-author of a 2006 book, “Digital History.” What’s more, he said, “Twitter is of the moment; it’s where people are the most honest.”
Last month, Twitter acknowledged that would donate its archive of public messages to the Library of Congress with supply it with continuous updates and statuses.
Before transferring it, the company will remove the messages of users who opted to designate their account “protected,” so that only people who obtain their explicit permission can follow them.
"A Twitter user can also elect to use a pseudonym and not share any personally identifying information. Twitter does not add identity tags that match its users to real people.
Each message is accompanied by some tidbits of supplemental information, like the number of followers that the author had at the time and how many users the author was following. While Mr. Cohen said it would be useful for a historian to know who the followers and the followed are, this information is not included in the Tweet itself.
But there’s nothing private about who follows whom among users of Twitter’s unprotected, public accounts. This information is displayed both at Twitter’s own site and in applications developed by third parties whom Twitter welcomes to tap its database". (NY TImes)
The library will embargo messages for six months after their original transmission. If that is not enough to put privacy issues to rest. However, many people on twitter arent aware of their privacy setting. This leaves a lot of room for information that is invalid and as Mr Cohen puts it "useless information"
Nonetheless Mr. Cohen encourages historians to find new tools and methods for mining the “staggeringly large historical record” of Tweets. This will require a different approach, he said, one that lets go of straightforward “anecdotal history.”
However, are we at that age when the quanity of history replace the quality and significance.
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