Facebook trying to take over the Homepage.

For this week I am writing about an article that is title "Social media Homeboy Wants Homepage Advantage." This article talks about how Facebook is trying to take become the homepage fro the majority of its users rather than search engines such as Google, which has been the most popular homepage for years. I'm sure you have noticed these homepage invitation messages, such as "Make Facebook Home Upon clicking, the user can select to either make the page their homepage or add it to their homepage tab" or "Drag this to your home button to see what's happening with friends as soon as you open your browse." It's obvious what Facebook is trying to accomplish by doing this, for instance keeping their users on their site from the moment they click their web browser. What I find most interesting about this article and Facebook's actions in doing this, is that it seems that Facebook, doesn't really know how to get their users to selecting Facebook as their homepage. Since they have so many different kinds of messages, trying to encourage their users to select them as their homepage. 
In my personal opinion having Facebook as a homepage makes sense to a lot of people, including me the first thing I do once I get on the internet is check out my Facebook. Wow that is sad, that being said Google is still my homepage primarily because, I like to be able to search for the information as soon as I open my browser.

Social Media Homeboy Wants Homepage Advantage
http://inventorspot.com/articles/social_media_homeboy_wants_homepage_advantage

The Worlds Angriest Man

This week I am writing about a documentary that I watched titled "Winnebago Man." This documentary is about a man named Jack Rebney who was a video salesman for Winnebago, and about the out takes from Jack Rebney's sales videos. These out takes consist of Jack Rebney's angry/crazy outburts about anything and everything. These out takes were originally passed around as a inside joke, these VHS tapes began to rapidly circulate and be copied. Although numerous people had seen these videos up until this point the videos became viral with the birth of YouTube in 2005. Jack Rebney's videos were uploaded to YouTube, the most popular video has around 2.4 million views.

Even though Jack Rebney had know idea that he was somewhat of a celebrity online. He was somewhat angry when first told about these out takes being posted on YouTube but, eventually embraced his followers on YouTube. He even made a guest appearance at the Found Footage Festival that was sold out for a screening of the original Winnebago clips. Without a doubt this is the funniest documentary I have ever seen. It really goes to show how even the simplest things can become so viral through the use of social media.

Winnebago Man  (website)
http://winnebagoman.com/index.php

Winnebago Man Trailer - You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtCRVUdaiyw

Sobriety Test for Social Media

For this week I am writing about two articles I found that are about a sobriety test for social networks. These articles are titled "Small Talk Social Media Sobriety Test" and "Tipsy Tweets? Foggy Facebook Updates Heres You Social Media Sobriety Test." In these article they talk about a company called Webroot that has created a program that is designed to prevent drunk embarrassing social media post. Webroot calls this program Social Media Sobriety Test. It works by first selecting the social networks you would like to block and from when to when you would like these sites to be blocked. Even during the times you selected to block these sites, you can still post content, if you pass one of the five sobriety test. One of these test are doing things such as keeping the cursor in a moving circle. Out of all the things i've read this semester it think that this is one of the most interesting social media applications, although i see it being useful to some. 

• Small Talk Social Media Sobriety Test

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-small-talk-1110-20101109,0,405714.story

• Tipsy Tweets? Foggy Facebook Updates Heres Your Social Media Sobriety Test

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/11/08/tipsy-tweets-foggy-facebook-updates-heres-your-social-media-sobriety-test/

• Webroot's Social Media Sobriety Test Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNXMtc0iQrg

Sport Teams Ban Social Media

This week I came across an article titled "Indiana player suspended for social media misuse." This article is about Andre Kates who is a Indiana cornerback. Kates was suspended for his criticizing tweets about the Indiana's coaching staff. This article really came as a surprise to me, that athletes would so blatantly write publicly about their coaches in this way.  Upon reading this very short article I did a little more research on this topic because, this article talks about how several universities. Have already banned student athletes from using social media during season. Some of  these universities that have banned or regulated social media use are Miami, Boise State, Texas Tech, and many more. In my searching of other articles I found numerous articles about school athletes being suspended due to social media use or the teams/universities banning the use of social media all together or at least during season. I came across this article titled "Student athletes banned for Facebook pictures" this article is about Slippery Rock University (SRU) track runners that were suspended. Due to Tiffany Tedesco age 19 at the time uploading pictures depicting her and other track members drinking in their hotel room. Tedesco and the other players that are involved will be suspended for a game due to violation of the, SRU athletic department policy on online social networking. The SRU athletic department on online social networking policy is "incriminating photos or statements depicting hazing, sexual harassment, vandalism, stalking, underage drinking, illegal drug use or other inappropriate behavior will be subject to disciplinary action by the head coach and/or Director of Athletics if they gain knowledge of such violations." Below are the photos that caused these track athletes to be suspended.

I also came across an article titled "NFL bans tweeting before, during, after games." In this article it states that the NFL has banned athletes from using any form of social media 90 minutes before a game and until post game interviews are over. The reason for the NFL banning social media use is that they have had problems with athletes posting updates and information about games. NFL argues that posting of this information such as play by play, updates on the score, and other game information, are negatively effecting the networks that are broadcasting the games.

• Indiana player suspended for social media misuse

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college/2010/10/indiana-players-suspended-for-social-media-misuse.html

• College football teams prefer cyber silence

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101006/SPORTS0208/10070334/College-football-teams-prefer-cyber-silence

• Student athletes banned for Facebook pictures

http://mynaym.com/archives/2008/03/26/student-athletes-suspended-for-facebook-pictures/

• NFL bans tweeting before, during, after games

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10322904-2.html

Businesses using social media to grow globally

This week I am writing about an article I came across on the internet. It is titled "Social media marketing allowing businesses to go global." In this article it is stating that many small businesses are jumping on the social media band wagon. Also being so bold as to saying, "If you're not into social media, social networking you will be out of business." This article is simply reinforcing everything that we have discussed in class. It talks about how a company found that its print ads and traditional methods of advertising are expensive and are becoming less receptive. The same company ran their ad contest to find a person that fits their brand image, through Facebook. That only costed them their time, and also generated 150,000 fans. 


I really liked this article because, it reinforced everything that we have been discussing and learning about in our social media class. Overall this article is an excellent example of how important social media is becoming. Even though social media is still a very new concept, to the marketing world. It is taking hold with amazing speed and becoming a must in marketing today. 

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=124458&catid=11

US Government Monitoring Social Networking Sites

For this weeks blog I am writing about an article that I came across on the internet. It is entitled US Government Monitoring Social Networking Sites. This article discusses how some US Homeland Security is starting to check Facebook and other social networking site. US Homeland Security are using theses sites to gain information about people that are wanting to gain citizenship into the US. They check personal information for fraudulent information, as well as daily activities.

My main question about this article, is this infringing on ones rights to privacy. As well as what keeps this agency in check from not abusing the power and spying on anyones social network. I think that this is kind of terrifying, im not sure about you but the thought of the goverment going through all my personal information and conversations, post. At the same time if this protects our country from any future terrorists attacks. Also if they keep it down to only checking the potential immigrant to the US, then I think that these types of profile scans are appropriate. 

US Government Monitoring Social Networking Sites

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/homeland-security-monitoring-social-networking-sites/19675854

Axe vs. Old Spice

This week I am writing my blog about the new Axe advertising campaign, I saw on TV the other night. Axe calls it the Manliest Rituals, in which they send two guys around the world on challenges. Setting these two guys up against crazy exotic rituals and compare these rituals against the Axe "Pit Pit Chest" ritual. To see which  rituals are more likely to attract the opposite sex. These two guys are put up against  rituals such as an ostrich stampede, a swordfish sword fight, and many more. 


I believe that this advertising campaign is a attempt to compete with the popular Old Spice commercials. Both Axe and Old Spice commercials are quite similar when it comes to the message, but their approach is quite difference. They both aim toward being advertising their products in a humorous way. Were Old Spice has a  Isaiah Mustafa  simply talking  about being the manliest, and its kind of dry humor. Axe kind of goes the other way they have these guys going around the world preforming these ridiculous tasks trying to prove that they are the manliest. Im curious to see if Axe's commercials become as popular as Old Spice's. 






Axe
http://www.theaxeeffect.com/#/axe-campaigns/rituals/ostrich-stampede

AXE World's Manliest Rituals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ8iECj_btc

Social Networking Effects

In this weeks blog I am writing about a couple of articles that i ran into on the internet. These articles are about the  negative effects from social media/social networking. We all know about the positive side for these forms of networking, for both personal and business use. These networks make it extremely easy for friends and family to stay in touch, as well as providing a way for customers to share their knowledge and experience as well as suggestions for products.

These articles sugest that these forms of virtual networking have a greater toll on our brains then what one would think. They argue in these articles that people especially younger children that are on these sites for a large portion of the day. Are acutely damaging ones attention span as well as effects ones to ability to communicate one on one. Teachers are mentioned in these articles quoting that "youngsters lack the ability to communicate and concentrate away from their screens."

I believe that this could really turn into a problem considering that today it seems like everything connects to the internet or at least has the capability of linking to some form of a network. Especially since its a trend thats easy to see, all one must do to see this trend of zombified youngsters, is to go to your local mall. It's something I noticed the last time  went to the mall or even at other stores, when kids go shopping with their parents they aren't talking to their parents. They are  walking around like zombies head phones stuck in their ears and noses stuck in some form of a electronic device.  

Social websites harm children's brains: Chilling warning to parents from top neuroscientist

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html#ixzz11XAH3Swz

Is Social Networking Killing You?

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/is-social-networking-killing-you/

South Park's 0 Friends

I feel like everyone at least has seen a clip from South Park. I personally love South Park, I think what makes South Park so humorous is that they are able to make fun of anything and they make fun of everything. In this episode they make fun of the Facebook and the people that are addicted to  posting everything in their lives on Facebook. This episode even references Facebook applications such as farmVille in which Kyle is addicted too.

This  episode begins with all of Stan's friends being obsessed with Facebook. Stan starts of being anti-Facebook, so his friends make him a profile. Once Stan's profile is made he is soon engulfed in the Facebook world, by everyone around him asking why he hasn't accepted their friend request, posted, or poked back. While Stan's profile is growing in popularity due to everyone adding him. His friend Kyle's profile is losing friends left and right due to him adding, someone with zero friends, everyone sees this as a plague and deletes Kyle. Kyle turns to his friend Cartman who hosts a TV show that talks about Facebook and what popular trends are going on with that. 

This episode concludes with Stan getting feed up with having to deal with everyone in real life, and also having to respond to everything on Facebook as well. As Stan try's to delete his profile, his profile sucks him into the virtual world of Facebook. His profile has become so strong in this virtual world that it doesn't want to be deleted, so Stan has to battle his profile for survival. 

Honestly I believe that this is one of South Park's funniest episodes i've seen. I personally haven't laughed so hard, at anything I believe what makes this episode so funny is that we can relate some of these characters to people that we know. I know that I have friends, that are addicted to farmVille and have to check it every couple of hours. 

Here is the link to South Park's website and should connect directly to this episode. However I had trouble playing it on my laptop, not sure if thats just my computer. 

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/267112

Google Me!

In this weeks blog I am writing my blog about Google. Google has been working towards developing their own form of a social networking site that will compete against the all popular Facebook. Since Google is already one of the most trusted search engine sites on the web currently, and is already offering a wide variety of things from personal email accounts, to research tools, and everything in between.

I think that this is going to be extremely interesting on how Google Me turns out compared to Facebook. Especially since most  people already use google for so many things such as email, YouTube, and blogs. With all these Google applications  that people are already using and even adding them or linking them into their current Facebook. My question is will Google Me be the next Facebook? It's not for certain, but I believe that Facebook is going to have some stiff competition especially since, Google already has around two million fans on Facebook.

I would like to also reference a movie that is titled Google Me. This movie is about a man by the name of Jim Killeen, who googled himself one afternoon like most of us have before. He then had the idea of finding other Jim Killen's around the world and interviewing them. This movie is about his adventure finding all the other Jim Killens, and getting to know them and their families. He finds seven Jim Killens that agree to meet and be interviewed by him.

Google Me
http://www.pcworld.com/article/205471/google_gets_serious_about_social_networking_is_google_me_coming_in_2010.html?tk=hp_new

Google Me Movie
http://www.googlemethemovie.com/

Apple enters social media, with the new Apple Ping.

In September with the launch of i -tunes new update, Steve Jobs the CEO of Apple also unveiled there all new social media network called Apple Ping. Ping is very similar to other social networking sights such as Facebook and Twitter. The thing that sets Ping apart from other social networks, is that it specializes with your music. With ping your capable of building a profile find your  friends and favorite artists and connecting with them in the same ways as Facebook such as commenting on their post and pictures. As well as seeing what your friends have lately been listening too, or bands that they're following. You can also see local concert listings, and even shows that you're friends are wanting to go to.

I think that apple ping will revolutionize the way we network and discuss music with our friends. Since its built to i -tunes, and i -tunes already has 160 million user. I for see this new form of social networking becoming a hit. With the simplicity of the design of Ping its so simple to create your profile and begin networking wit your friends and favorite artists in  just minutes.

Original Article
http://www.mndaily.com/2010/09/08/ping-apple-dives-social-media