Sociology and social media, two case studies

Recently, a lot of voices have risen saying Facebook, Twitter or other social media are used to utter hateful ideas about other people. Since its rise, social media have been applauded for their democratizing and emancipatory potential. Now, however, its users are often considered cold, harsh or cruel for voicing shocking opinions, hurting wishes and even death threats. With every new mediatic hype, a Facebook group and ante-group is created. Instead of invigorating debate on social issues, this phenomenon disembogues into a noise of shouted slogans.
Two case studies from recent Belgian media hypes are exemplary: journalist Linda De Win's envied streak of victory in De Slimste Mens, a Woenstijnvis quiz on Flemish broadcasting station één; and referee Luc Wauters' giving Club Bruges soccer player Ronald Vargas a red card. Both got stuck in the eye of a (social-)media-storm when people created several hate-groups around their person. The events were hyped on radio and television and in Belgian/Flemish newspapers. Society watchers were invited to vent their ideas on the matter and people condemned first the groups and later Facebook's giving people the ablity to spread hatred.
Obviously, what happened to mrs. De Win and mr. Wauters is intolerable. Yet, would the things said remain unsaid if Facebook or Twitter did not exist? They would still be uttered in bars, on busses, at the hair dresser's - which means they would be kept hidden or difficult to find for sociologists and academic moralists. The widespread availability of world wide fora does not create new social or moral standards, it merely gives people the opportunity to spread their immoral ideas more effectively.
Instead of convicting sites like Facebook, researchers on human traits should praise them for easily and freely externalising what goes about in society.

Sources: De Standaard, Knack

'Hidden Facebook' has much more 'users'

Even though you might not have a Facebook account, mind you that Zuckerberg’s team knows who you are! The idea behind it is as simple as it is terrifying. When a new Facebook user signs up, he is requested to automatically let Facebook find friends. He can upload his address book which is then scanned for known Facebook users. But next to them, also people in his adress book without a Facebook account are saved in the Facebook archives. Also, names that are searched for, even if they don’t have an account are saved and analysed. That way the system can create your personal web of friends just as if you were on Facebook. The advertising possibilities are ample.

One might feel assaulted by this, but Facebook puts the responsibility for breaking people’s privacy with its users. It says this quite clearly in its terms of use. The thing is; who reads those?

Sources: T-Zine

Microsoft and Google deal makes Twitter profitable

Like many other SNS'es, Twitter was not profitable from the start. It is only after three years that the microblogging site will be able to pay out dividends to its share holders. This is announced by BusinessWeek who is aware of Twitter's financial situation.

Because of a huge deal with Microsoft and Google, 25 million dollar could be added to Twitter's 2009 earnings. In return for the money, Twitter makes its tweets accessible to Google and Microsoft's Bing.

With 58 million users, visiting the site via the web or their cell phone, Twitter is one of the fastest growing websites in the world. Although this is nothing compared to Facebook's 350 million, Zuckerberg's project won't be profitable for the next few years.
Analysts had feared Twitter would never be profitable. However, because of the deal, the SNS now has a stronger negotiation power allowing it to further cut back telecom expenses.

Sources: De Tijd, Wikipedia, Newsweek

Satnav meets SNS

Garmin has recently brought out its new nüvi 1690. The satnav has lane assistance which always keeps you on the right track, photo navigation, ecoRoute fuel saving routes and park position recalls.

But what is really cool is that the device has a built-in mobile phone connection, allowing it to connect to a whole range of communication services like those of the TomTom LIVE range. Because of this technology, Garmin provides Instant Traffic information, Speed Camera alerts, Google Local Search and Telephone Directory, weather forecasts and Ciao! Friend Finder (Garmin’s Social Networking application which also features on the nuviphone range).

According to Garmin, Ciao! is a patentpending social network application that can link multiple networks onto one application. Caught in traffic and already late for an appointment? Put it on Twitter. Cruising around in your vacation? Immediately post your photo's on Facebook feeds via your satnav device.

On its site, Garmin says: "Imagine you’re out and about and you’re hungry. You really don’t want to eat alone. With one click in Ciao!, you can see the location of your friends who are near your location! Then you can use your phone to call, text or email them with the location of a restaurant and see if they would like to join you."

Sources: Gadgeteer (October, 14 2009), Garmin (October, 16 2009)

Bloomberg buys BusinessWeek

In other, more general communication news: media corporation Bloomberg - founded by New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg - recently bought BusinessWeek. This way Bloomberg, active as a financial software developer, press agency and data provider, enhances its grip on its main market and opens up to a broader public.

BusinessWeek is read world wide by 4.7 million readers and was previously held by McGraw-Hill. With a drop of 32 percent of its advertising revenues, the magazine was put up for sale. Bloomberg will try to create synergies between its existing media channels and the business magazine.

Bloomberg News, the company's news show on Bloomberg television and on its website, alone employs 2,000 staff in 125 bureaus around the world. It provides information to approximately 350 newspapers and magazines worldwide, including The Economist, The New York Times and USA Today.

Sources: De Tijd (October, 10 2009), Wikipedia (October, 16 2009)

The Future of Legal Online Music

Recently the Dutch copyrights organization Buma/Stemra (equivalent for the Belgian SABAM) announced that it will start charging websites that offer YouTube movies. So not only YouTube itself, but also sites that have embedded music clips (blogs, for example) will be fought openly.

And yet this is not the first time that the problematic nature of online music has become the talk of the town. Music downloading and music streaming have come into collision with the judicial system that much, that it makes one wonder if they still have a bright future in store.

In any case, these two smart numbers have succeeded in streaming legal music: both We7 and Spotify enable users to listen to music for free. How did they manage to do this? With the occasional ad! In the beginning of each song adverts can be attached dynamically, and the revenue generated from these ads goes directly to artists, labels and other right owners.

If legal online music has a future, this is probably it. Besides, it's definitely a smart way of digital advertising in general.


Sources:
- http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/06/technology/tommy_lee_motley_crue.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2009100711
- http://www.we7.com
- http://standaard.typepad.com/eland/

Nike goes web2.0 with Nike+

Nike is entering the world of web2.0. On Nike+ the sports shoes manufacturer tries to stimulate people to join their running competition The day the world runs held Octobre, 24. Actually, the event is a brilliant undercover promotion campaign for the brand's Nike+-chip. The device, inserted into your shoe, communicates with you Ipod. Registering different statistics like running speed, distance and burnt calories and on top of that giving direct feedback via the headset, the Ipod backs up the info and lateron syncs it with the Nike+-website. A great way to compare your own running achievements with the rest of the world!
Later more on this subject.