Social Media in Ukrainian Tumult

Reaction to tumult in Ukraine is affected by social media.

What’s happening in the Ukraine and Russia is making people bite their nails.  Everyone is on red alert as people watch Russia flex its muscles, Ukraine struggle in confusion, and the rest of the world threaten sanctions with caution.  This is a scenario that reminds a lot of people of events and times that we often try to forget including the Cold War and the start to WWII.  With the news that  the Crimean Parliament wants to now join Russia, people are even more confused and looking around for an answer. Continue reading

Marriage: Commitment Comes With Passwords?

Do couples share too much of a connection?

Do couples share too much of a connection?

It’s a fact, couples share. They share food, laughter, experiences and smiles. But does sharing a password to your email and social media accounts sound ethical?  Well, many already do and this trend is continuing to grow. Today, many couples use digital communication and technology in order to enhance their relationships. In other words, digital technology has become a dominant force in the communication between partners. Continue reading

Facebook Restricts Guns?

Facebook Restricts Gun Promotion

Is Facebook the Next Major Arms Dealer?

Firearms attempting to be sold on Facebook

Firearms attempting to be sold on Facebook

When people post about a gun for sale, Facebook will now regulate who sees the post. They will now make sure that only people above the age of 18 may see it. Additionally they will not be allowed to offer to sell items that can be used to evade or help others evade the law.

For example, private sellers of firearms in the U.S. will not be permitted to specify “no background check required, nor can they offer to transact across state lines without a licensed firearms dealer.

Different pages such as “Guns For Sale” will now be limited to users that are 18 and older. This is their attempt to monitor and limit posts and pages illegal gun sales.

WSJ- Under Pressure, Facebook Restricts Gun Promotion

New York Attorney Generals Office said”The Biggest step ever for social media to limit gun sales.”

The Movement:

“American moms are gratified that Facebook and Instagram have agreed to take meaningful steps to prevent illegal gun sales to children and dangerous people on its platforms,” Said Shannin Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Moms Protesting in Favor Of Gun Control

Moms Protesting in Favor Of Gun Control

Mothers and anti-gun supporters are teaming up in order to create a safer and more controlled social media platform in the U.S. They are happy the companies are listening to the mothers and believe these new changes are major steps toward making rue people who buy or sell guns on their platforms know the law, and follow the law.

Here is the Facebook Press Release.

 

And the Oscar Goes to Samsung

A look into Samsung’s brilliant product placement plan.

Ellen DeGeneres has set a new record for the most re-tweeted tweet of all time and broke Twitter in the process. During the Oscars last Sunday, Ellen took a selfie with many A-list stars sitting in the audience, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Kevin Spacey. She had Bradley Cooper take the photo, which she captioned, “If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars”.

Ellen takes a selfie at the Oscars with her Samsung Galaxy

While you can’t tell in the selfie, while watching the Oscars live it was

blatantly clear that Ellen took this selfie with a Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Although the Samsung product wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the tweet, the product placement was on point. Continue reading

Time for Twitter to Reinvent Itself

As Twitter falls behind in the social media realm, other companies and products are rising to the top. Will Twitter be able to adapt and reinvent itself to be a top competitor?

Social media and technology are constantly changing and developing to do more and reach wider audiences. Twitter has seen dramatic declines in the last three years. Though its growth spread to an impressive 140% increase in 2011, that growth has diminished to a mere 40% overall. Can Twitter rise from its ashes and rebuild itself? Continue reading

Wearable Tech in Walt Disney World: Introducing “MagicBands”

Photo Credit: mousechat.net

Photo Credit: mousechat.net

Walt Disney World is in a testing phase with their latest innovation- MagicBands. WDW hopes to create a more seamless experience for their guests by having a wristband that is an all-in-one feature. From room keys, to theme park tickets, and even reserved fastpass tickets, MagicBands will be a new spin to the old “Key to the World Card.”

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Reuse Recycle Repost — The Art of Reviving Your Blog

Reuse, recycle, repost — reviving your blog.

Reuse, recycle, repost — reviving your blog.

Taking a retrospective look at the older content of your blog might have you wondering what your blog is doing for you. For the most part these posts lay dormant, not getting much attention and certainly not driving any traffic to your site. An old post may get a hit once in a blue moon. As time passes it drifts deeper into cyber space and farther from the audience you are trying to reach.

So what can be done to make these old posts work for your blog now? A simple concept that can put your old posts to good use. Reuse, recycle, and repost —  techniques every blogger should know for repurposing old blog posts.

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Social Media Etiquette

First thing that comes to mind when thinking of social media in the written sense is usually abbreviated words, informal relations, and pretty much nothing is off limits. People have taken writing on social media to the extreme of say whatever. There is however such thing as social media etiquette however and rules people should follow.

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6 Best Practices of Instagram Users

Vibrant colors, a beautiful sunset, and #nofilter are constantly posted on Instagram by friends, but is it appropriate for an organization to post things like that? 

As Instagram grows and makes its way to being the main means of social media for the younger generation, it is becoming essential to know the do’s and don’ts of Instagram.  Here are some best practices for creating an effective and engaging Instagram. Continue reading

Using Pinterest as a Business Tool

Can Pinterest Be More Profitable For Your Business Than Facebook and Twitter?

Who doesn’t love Pinterest? This quick-to-rise virtual pin board has become a social media giant in a matter of three years. In today’s visually driven society, Pinterest offers users a completely visual experience with themes ranging from food and home décor to sports and world travel.

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Have Touchscreens Replaced Toys?

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TouchscreenSay goodbye to Toys-R-Us, with technology advancing at the speed of light, the young generation is resorting to touchscreen devices to play with “toys”. As more devices offer free toy apps, toddlers are replacing toys with touchscreens. Children are no longer begging their parents to buy them the newest beanie baby or cabbage patch doll, it’s all about the iPad. Traditional toys are moving their way out of the clutter in the playroom. Continue reading

Blurring the Lines Between Fashion and Technology

The San Francisco Bay start-up company, Cuff, is hoping to blur the line between fashion and technology. This company is taking an alternative route to the typical technological in-your-face gadgets, like Google Glass or UP Bands. Instead, this company is trying to conceal the bold techie gadgets by using fashion designs and jewelry pieces to do so.

The founder of Cuff, Deepa Sood, is the mastermind behind the fashion line that would double as a pop-out Bluetooth device. Customers can choose between a range of accessories including pendants, bracelets, and key chains that range anywhere from $50-$150 that double as a tech gadget.

Some of the Cuff pieces that are available

Some of the Cuff pieces that are available

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Valentine Technology Etiquette

Sometimes love and technology don’t mix

More than ever, technology and other digital innovations have been growing rapidly in this world.  While its great to keep up with all the cool apps and latest technology, sometimes you can forget that face-to-face communication is still essential. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than sitting across your significant other during a romantic dinner and avoiding any technology faux pas. Here are a few tips for keeping this special day drama free.
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Nonprofits and Social Media

 The Giving World of Social Media

With the increasing interest for community service and donations, nonprofit organizations have grown in their scope and impact on society. A nonprofit or not for profit organization is a type of association that uses it revenue and donations for the greater benefit of the general public and does not operate for profit. In addition to the growing service for nonprofit organizations, the digital age has also been taking off and many have taken advantage of this new way of communicating to stakeholders and the public.

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Banksy and Social Media

Art and Social media take on a new role

Art takes on many different forms and social media helps get an artists name out in the public. One famous documentary called “Exit through the gift shop” is an example of this phenomenon. The documentary follows the life of Thierry Guetta, an ambitious French man eager to capture the underground world of graffiti with his camera. He begins following the most famous graffiti artists like Shepard Fairey, the creator of the Obama Hope poster and the infamous Banksy.

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WhatsApp and Facebook, a New Partnership

With a $19 Billion Acquisition, Will the Social Media Giant Benefit From this Deal?

Earlier this week Facebook bought the mobile messaging service WhatsApp for$19 billion in cash and stock. This is Facebook’s largest acquisition to date. This deal is the latest and greatest from the world’s biggest social networking company. Facebook paid partly in cash and partly in stock for WhatsApp.

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