Social+Network+Update+5

__**Social Networks **__ Update #5



**April 18th, 2011** **Posted By: Heather A. Shadd**

**Article: Senior citizens in N.J., elsewhere using social networking sites at increasing rate** **By: Aliza Appelbaum/ The Star-Ledger**



The Pew Research Center has been studying senior citizens' involvement with social networking sites. Studies have shown that senior citizens are signing up for Facebook and other networking sites at a dramatic increase. We could relate this article to the Shirky reading from class. Shirky explained how email and the internet became a tool for the young and then the old picked up on its use. It took the older population longer to catch onto the email craze that is until they saw it's benefits and use. Now your parents and grandparents are catching onto the simple notion of being "connected" no matter the distance, situation or time. Grandmother Claire Edelman (shown in above picture) can now see pictures and posts her 17 grandchildren are uploading to Facebook. But, as it may be second nature to the non senior citizen population, these seniors need help catching on. Social networking sites are now providing classes for seniors to learn. My grandmother even has a computer class at her senior center that has helped her connect with me on Facebook. Opportunity and use are the main key factors of why senior citizens are now "poking" and commenting.

**Article:** [| Man uses Facebook to Propose]
 * April 20th 2011 **
 * Posted by Kayla Drake **
 * By: Margaret Hartmann**

Just when you thought facebook users were getting out of control, we've now hit a new low. Users are now making wedding proposals via status update. An article was published, with a bad review might I add, about a man who used facebook to tell the story of how his father proposed to his mother which lead to the question "Will you Marry Me" to his now fiance. The girlfriend was a little apprehensive with her response but quickly highlights "YES". The author of this article was less than amused, and titled this an "Indecent proposal", as she felt it was very distasteful. I could not agree more. The use of technology is great and has been a big help in communication, but there's still something romantic about a face to face proposal, not a facebook to facebook option instead. That's hope this doesn't pick up as a trend!

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This article discusses a new web browser that brings browsing the Internet and social networking into one. In fact the article explains that you actually need to log into your Facebook account or create one to even use RockMelt. They are currently in the works of creating apps for both the iPhone and the Android. The app will work to target the users favorite websites that have been recently update and present them like a newsfeed (see picture). The writer of the article outlines the flaws she feels with this. She explains by all of this being compiled into one it takes away the time wasting, leisure feel social networking can have. By making an all in one app that sort of eliminates the need for the Facebook app or your Internet browser allows for more efficiency for the user but may take away the leisure joy of going on Twitter or Facebook. I think that this article is an interesting new trend with social networks. I know other sites such as stumbleupon.com that also allow the user to log in via Facebook to better gear the content or allow the user to share what they find more easily with their friends. I think that websites being intertwined with social networks is inevitable; however, the impact it will have on work, leisure, and personal activity is unknown.=====

**April 20th, 2011** **Posted by Madison Jones**


 * Article: [|Obama Talks Budget at Facebook Forum]**
 * By: Jon Swartz**

President Obama expanded on his fiscal message Wednesday at a virtual town hall meeting at Facebook's headquarters. The meeting streamed live on the White House's Facebook page, Obama discussed the budget deficit, fiscal responsibility, investments in technology, health-care reform, the housing crisis and the power of social media. The one-hour event was moderated by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Obama spent as much time talking about raising federal revenue as cutting excessive spending. Obama has skillfully used Facebook and other social media to connect with voters, raise money and mobilize forces. Today 19.3 million people like President Obama on Facebook.

**April 21, 2011** **Posted by Megan Salkin**


 * Article: Twitter is growing big, looks to acquire Tweetdeck [|Article Link]**
 * By: Pooja. Thakkar **
 * TweetDeck** is an [|Adobe AIR] desktop application for [|Twitter], [|Facebook],[|Google Buzz], [|Foursquare], and [|MySpace] as well as others (Wikipedia). It is Twitter's most popular application which allows users to split their program into different columns which show different threads, i.e. tweets from different groups of friends. This article refers to a Wall Street Journal report that claims Twitter is looking to purchase Tweetdeck for $50 million. It also points out that Twitter has grown from 8 employees in 2008 to 400 currently and is apparently devouring the market.

**April 21th, 2011** **Posted by Alex Pilon**

Associated Press revealed that the Department of Homeland Security is planning to integrate Facebook and Twitter into their alert system. The current alert system consists of three color coded levels, but the new system will have two levels: elevated and imminent and it is said that these two social networking sites will be vital to spreading alerts. If the government is using these platforms to spread security threats, we can see how important the sites have really become.
 * Homeland Security to Use Facebook & Twitter**

**April 21st, 2011** **Posted By: Sadie Eisley** Article: Social Networks Are ‘Huge Boondoggle for Bad Guys’ http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Social-Networks-Are-Huge-Boondoggle-for-Bad-Guys-72316.html By: Richard Adhikari

As much as social networking has been beneficial in increasing the pathways of communication and connecting people with one another, it unfortunately, allows this for the cybercriminals too. Cybercriminals are becoming a huge issue among Social Networks because of the ease and convenience that they have in getting the private information of numerous users and companies. The acts of these cybercriminals have expanded from simply hacking into Facebook or MySpace accounts and sending fake messages to their “friends”, to researching their victims via the pages and then sending specified messages that they will undoubtedly fall for. Cybercriminals are also now researching employees of certain companies and businesses in order to successfully hack their employers. Because of these threats and the spread of spoofed messages and viruses, companies are struggling with the regulations that they feel are necessary to put on their employees: banning them from social networks. As unrealistic as this is, numerous CEOs see it necessary for security purposes.



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