Short History of Social Media

by Ramon Thomas in News on 0707/090909/2011201120112011 • No Comments • , , , , , , , , , , ,

Amidst the sudden ascent of LinkedIn, Twitter, Groupon, and of course, Facebook, it’s easy to forget that social media actually has a bit of a history going back more than 30 years. Really?

Law firm Morrison & Foerster has put together just such a timeline graphic of online communities in its latest issue of Socially Aware, the only newsletter focusing on legal and business issues surrounding social media. (see page 4).

“A Short History of Social Media” goes back to February 1978 – date of the first dial-up CBBS, as in computerized bulletin board service. Other SM milestones you may have forgotten or slept through:

  • 1995: launch of personal home-page server Geocities, later purchased by Yahoo! for whopping $3.6 billion. Geocities was ultimately shut down in 2009.
  • 1997: launch of Kevin Bacon-inspired SixDegrees.com, which soon claims a breakthrough one MILLION users.
  • August 1999: introduction of first web plain vanilla blog service, Blogger, which went on to be acquired by Google.
  • March 2002: debut of warm-and-fuzzy Friendster, which peaks a few years later before fading out like the Winkelvoss twins at the end of a regatta.
  • July 2003: birth of MySpace, which sets new standard for personalized networking and branding; company acquired by News Corp. in 2005 for euphoric $580 million, only to be unloaded this past June to a digital media buyer (one of whose investors is Justin Timberlake) for $35 million.
  • December 2006: Facebook rejects bid to be acquired by Yahoo! for measly price of….$1 billion.

Now, of course, the mileposts are coming in nanoseconds – from LinkedIn’s rocket-launch IPO this past May to Twitter’s jaw-dropping marker of delivering 350 BILLION Tweets per day upon reaching just its fifth anniversary in July.

Socially Aware is to social media legal/business news what TMZ is to gossip: breezy, short bites and all over the map. A tight-knit group of nearly two dozen Morrison & Foerster tech, IP, privacy, litigation, venture capital and other lawyers closely monitors social media news sites, blogs, online publications and Twitter feeds to grab the freshest industry topics and provide a knowing spin. Socially Aware was good enough to earn a coveted Burton Award for excellence in legal writing and analysis in just its first year of publication.

“We’re reaching well beyond other lawyers – including marketing professionals, business development specialists, digital strategists, brand managers, investors, start-up owners and others” said Morrison & Foerster technology transactions partner John Delaney, one of several top editors of Socially Aware who also created the social media timeline. The newsletter has more than 15,000 regular subscribers and is drawing more than 100 new readers a month – hot numbers for a law firm bulletin without a single footnote or case citation.

More importantly, Socially Aware is generating billable work. Delaney notes that the newsletter has helped bring in new client matters on behalf of a large bank, a global manufacturer and multinational insurer, a leading media company and an international technology company, among other businesses grappling with a wide range of social media agendas. Example: the firm is advising one financial services firm in structuring an innovative contest on Facebook.

Socially Aware is in keeping with Morrison & Foerster’s high technology IQ — the firm was the first major law firm to develop an iPhone App. Morrison Foerster also publishes MoFo Tech, a quarterly magazine featuring longer news features on all aspects of tech business – from patent valuations to IPOs, venture capital and data privacy.

Other news notes from the new Socially Aware:

• An organization called Medical Justice joins the growing online reputation-management industry by recommending that doctors – precluded by patient confidentiality from responding to negative online reviews – require patients to sign away their rights to complain, but also assign doctors copyrights to any such reviews. The issue makes DMCA experts squirm, while medical ethicists say it might violate doctors’ oaths to place patients’ medical interests before their own financial needs.

• What’s the problem with using social media to raise money? If the amount is, say, $300 million to buy a beer company, with a promise of part ownership, the SEC just might respond with a cease and desist order. “Crowdfunding” – fundraising through social media sites – is currently subject to state and federal securities laws, though crowdfunding advocates are pushing for an exemption. Socially Aware addresses the potential for fraud and other abuse that might come with an SEC exemption.

Additional topics include a concise overview of the Kerry-McCain privacy bill now before Congress; limitations to safe harbor rules protecting web-site operators from liability for user-generated content; reaction to the latest revisions to Facebook’s user guidelines; and the decision by Twitter’s co-founders to step away and create a new venture that will be a global force for good.

Socially Aware will shortly become an actively updated blog. Until then, here’s the link again to a PDF of the current issue.

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Worm attacks Facebook, MySpace users running Microsoft Windows

by Ramon Thomas in Social Networking on 0808/080808/2008200820082008 • No Comments • , , , , ,

Facebook Worm ScreenshotGareth Roberts, a new member of the team here at NETucation,  alerted me to a new computer worm that attacks Facebook and MySpace users. One very important piece of information left out of most of the news reports on News24 or MyADSL is that ONLY on users running Microsoft Windows are prone to this attract. Facebook users receives links to download the worm via Inbox messages from infected users while links are posted in MySpace commentaries when infected MySpace users log into their account. Current variant of the worm is faked as a codec installer named as codecsetup.exe. When the worm is ran, a dialog box will pop up with the message “Error installing Codec. Please contact support“.

These days I use an Apple Macbook Pro (thanks Google.org!) running the Mac OS X operating system that is substantially more secure than MS Windows. The most important thing to remember with your computer security is to avoid clicking on anything unfamiliar or that you do not understand. Delete suspicious emails on sight and ask your ISP to enable spam filtering before those emails even get to your computer or laptop. In 99% of the cases you won’t miss a thing…

Yes, this may sound like a paranoid approach to conducting your on. However, all computer viruses or worms have spread exactly because Internet users have been gullible. The explosion in use of social networking websites was always going to create new outlets for th creators of computer viruses or worms. Facebook has over 90 million active users and MySpace has over 240 million profiles and most of these people are brand new to the Internet. When something is a novelty you are bound to click on almost anything. What has impressed me the most about the social networking phenomenon is how quickly users are adapting and learning from group behaviour.

According to McAfee this is a low risk virus so you should not panic. However, its important to look at this screenshot and this other one, so you know what to avoid. If you are sick and tired of the vicious upgrade and update cycle on Microsoft Windows why not try Ubuntu Linux.

Cellphones, Cheating and Couples

by Ramon Thomas in Relationships on 1010/030303/2008200820082008 • 1 Comment • , , , , ,

Recently a question the following question was posted on the Bruin-ou.com forum: Should we as individuals be concerned about those ringing and in many cases “vibrating” cellphones of our girlfriends/boyfriends which we never get to see?

Here’s my response…Besides being a part-time dating coach I speak across South Africa to parents, teachers and teenagers about the pro’s and con’s of MXit/Cellphones and Facebook/Social Networking websites.

(more…)

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Video Professor offers Protect Yourself Online: Viruses, Scams and Social Networking Tutorial

by Ramon Thomas in Advice/Video on 0202/020202/2008200820082008 • 2 Comments • , , ,

Leader in self-paced computer training combats Internet security fears with the launch of its newest tutorial, Protect Yourself Online: Viruses, Scams and Social Networking.

VIDEO PROFESSOR-the leader in comprehensive, self-paced computer software tutorials—is offering a three-lesson Protect Yourself Online: Viruses, Scams and Social Networking tutorial to teach people how to protect themselves, their loved ones and their computers from identity thieves, scammers and viruses.

Millions of kids create social networking profiles that make them susceptible to online predators. Dating sites can open the door for deception and cyberstalking. Ten million people buy and sell on eBay every month.

What makes the lesson stand out is the source and motivation behind it: the best-selling book, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering Web Spammers, Stalkers, and Con Artists, by cybercrime expert Jayne A. Hitchcock. “What you know and more Importantly, don’t know about things like shopping online, web sites such as MySpace and Facebook, identity theft and even online dating, will surprise you,” said Hitchcock. “Simply put, you have to be prepared for every conceivable misfortune that could occur to the unsuspecting on the Internet.”

“When I read the book, I was very surprised to see how so many people are so trusting when they use the Internet. They believe that modern technology is keeping them safe. But you first have to understand the technology,” said John W. Scherer, CEO and founder of Video Professor, Inc. “The reality is, there are even more bad people who’ve figured out new and very devious ways to hurt you. That’s why we partnered with Jayne on this lesson. It provides the latest and best tools on how to protect yourself, your family and your finances. It’s designed to help keep you safe.”

The VIDEO PROFESSOR Protect Yourself Online tutorial helps consumers guard themselves against phishing, cyberstalking, online harassment and identity theft. The Protect Yourself Online tutorial teaches users the safety measures to take when making purchases online, the warning signs to look for that indicate you might have become a victim to identity theft or credit card fraud and the top ten online scams. Specifically, VIDEO PROFESSOR’s Protect Yourself Online tutorial provides three hours of in-depth, one-on-one instruction about keeping yourself and your kids safe while participating in social networking sites, online auctions, online banking, online shopping and online dating.

VIDEO PROFESSOR’s Protect Yourself Online tutorial makes it easy for users to learn how to protect themselves when buying and selling online, socializing online or just browsing the Internet. This new VIDEO PROFESSOR tutorial will teach you how to interact online safely and securely and how to portray yourself effectively while guarding yourself from becoming a victim. The Protect Yourself Online tutorial systematically introduces online hazards, such as:

  • Phony photos on online auction sites
  • Phony e-mail from major corporations and e-mail forwards
  • Reverse auction fraud
  • Firewalls, Internet security, passwords and cookies
  • Online impersonation
  • Dangers of blogs, journals and profiles on social networking sites

Identity theft is a particularly important issue for most computer users, and VIDEO PROFESSOR’S Protect Yourself Online tutorial provides detailed instruction about how to avoid becoming a victim. The Protect Yourself Online tutorial describes how to teach your kids to protect themselves and how to use parental controls to keep them out of trouble. VIDEO PROFESSOR’s Protect Yourself Online tutorial also explains computer viruses and how to steer clear of them. After completing the Protect Yourself Online tutorial, users will have all the information needed to protect themselves, their loved ones and their computers from identity thieves, scammers and viruses.

VIDEO PROFESSOR’s Protect Yourself Online tutorial is ideal for anyone wanting to enjoy the Internet safely without worrying about falling victim to criminals. The Protect Yourself Online tutorial is designed to be useful for beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. VIDEO PROFESSOR recommends a basic knowledge of using the Internet before starting the Protect Yourself Online tutorial. Once a user has completed all three lessons in the Protect Yourself Online tutorial, he or she will be able to surf the Internet with confidence.

“Like all of our lessons, this tutorial takes you step by step through the learning process,” said Scherer. “You learn at your own pace and schedule. But you learn. And when the subject is as important as protecting you and your family online, that’s key.” To learn more about VIDEO PROFESSOR and its complete line of computer tutorials, or to view a demo of the VIDEO PROFESSOR Protect Yourself Online: Viruses, Scams and Social Networking tutorial, visit VIDEO PROFESSOR and click on the CD Products link.

Deleting my MySpace profile and loosing faith in Facebook

by Ramon Thomas in Social Networking on 1818/010101/2008200820082008 • 8 Comments • , , , ,

Facebook Friends social powerThere is a idea that I know is true. That idea is that I prefer to speak to a friend face to face. Maybe over a cafe latte or a glass a wine. Why do I prefer this type of interaction over social networking? Because I can SEE the person, I can READ their body language, maybe I can SMELL their perfume (if its a woman); I can TOUCH them and of course if there’s chemistry with someone from the opposite sex I can TASTE (kiss/bite) them.

What do I mean by all of this? It means I am using all of my 5 senses. And there’s much more to social interactions like banter, flirting, reading body language or non-verbal cues like touching of hair along with a certain statement or question, the movement of eyes, etc. I think you get my drift that MySpace, Facebook or any other online social network is severely limited in allowing you to fully and completing interact with people.

So it comes as no surprise I’m extricating myself from most online social networks beginning with MySpace. I joined MySpace a few years ago, when exactly I don’t have any records, so it may even have been before Rupert Murdoch bought the company in July 2005. There’s been some very interesting people I’ve “met” on MySpace. For the most part I connected with people I know and as many women as possible, evaluating it as a possible replacement for paid online dating websites.

Tom HodgkinsonThis past week I found an article by Tom Hodgkinson, who is fast turning into one of my favourite media critics: With friends like these… - a real scathing attack on the false premise on which most online social networking is built. When people are blogging about their Facebook interactions you know there’s something wrong with the world. There was a time when people used to blog about parties or interesting things that happened in the office. But now you more and more people writing about their online exploits more so than real-world exploits. It’s a sad state the world has come to when virtual interactions (read The Matrix) is preferred to sensory stimulus from other people.

Well deleting my MySpace profile was easy because most of my South African friends and many others have moved Facebook. Those who were never on MySpace, like Arthur Goldstuck, actually created a Facebook profile. Removing my own Facebook profile may be more of a challenge because I’m using it for marketing and promoting events.

You may be interested in downloading and reading this short little guide I’ve produced for HR managers and small business owners on the productivity dangers of Facebook use by employees and staff.

The Impact of Social Networking on the Value of Information

by Ramon Thomas in Events/Social Networking on 2929/070707/2007200720072007 • No Comments • , , , , , , , , , ,

Last week I was invited to present a lecture at the University of Johannesburg by the Department of Information & Knowledge Management where I am an alumni as well as currently registered for my Masters degree in Information Science. Contact Andrea Ferreira if you would to be added to their list for similar seminars held every couple of months.

The key points were as follows:

  • Information pollution is devaluing faster then ever before – So learn how to avoid or stop information pollution and information overload.
  • The numbers: Worldwide Internet users over 1.1 billion, worldwide cellphone users: over 2.5 billion, IM users approximately 580 million users, Social networking users approximately over 300 million
  • MySpace and Facebook are both huge social networks for teenagers and increasingly people over 35. MySpace is particularly strong in the entertainment industry and Facebook has loyal support from the university/college campuses while experiencing explosive growth in South Africa.
  • LinkedIn is the most useful social networking tool for professionals with over 12 million registered users worldwide and over 25,000 in South Africa. It’s changing the way recruitment is done as well as background checks on new employees. You may be interested in the excellent ebook: How to double your income in six months using LinkedIn.
  • The concept of Six Degrees of Separation and the Small World theory is the basis for the success of online social networks.
  • Google has been a key driver in the emergence of the long tail in marketing and onlie retail. Rupert Murdoch bought MySpace for $580 million in 2005 and people thought he was crazy and not long afterwards signed an exclusive deal with Google guaranteeing at least $900 million over 3 years. Facebook users generate about $6 in advertising revenue while MySpace users only generate about $2. And based on Youtube‘s value it’s 124 million unique monthly visitors are worth about $13.
  • According to Rich Shefren, the information age is dead and we now live in the attention age. People with elements of ADD have an advantage because they can focus for short periods and maintain productivity levels while switching between tasks. Ordinary people’s potential efficiency is reduced each time they change tasks by 20% to 40% depending on the complexity of the tasks at hand. The abundance of choice impacts decision making because most people are NOT trained how to evaluate source of information. And therefore there exists a Paradox of Choice.

Some recommended resources of where you can start research and narrow your focus on more valuable information are: Squidoo, ChangeThis, Google Answers and to a lesser extent Yahoo! Answers. And if you still have not make some time to read the entire Cluetrain Manifesto, published in full on the website. As a side note if you are interested in the rise of Blogging read the quarterly report by Technorati: The State of the Live Web.

You can view the presentation or download it from Slideshare.net here:

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Facebook vs MySpace debate keeps moving ahead

by Ramon Thomas in Social Networking on 0202/070707/2007200720072007 • 4 Comments • , ,

Facebook has experienced phenomenal growth in South Africa over the last few months. As recently as early May there was only 25,000 registered users in the South African network on Facebook and that has exploded to over 120,000 as of 2 July. That’s over45,000 new users per month for the last two months. Now I have been a MySpace users for about 18 months or longer. I can’t remember when I signed up. And on MySpace I have almost 500 friends while on Facebook I have almost 50 friends. So a funny thing happened a few months ago that led to register on Facebook, one of my friends Shannon Smith, a model and tv presenter announced abruptly that she was moving to Facebook and invited a whole bunch of people to join her. And several did. The amount of interaction for me on MySpace have decreased a little and there is a flood of interactions on Facebook. In my view I can see why Facebook has become preferred because it’s much cleaner and smoother interface. Where MySpace is riddled with adverts and the screen almost clogged Facebook is refreshing.

So it’s with no surprise I just read this insightful article Facebook = Smart, Rich, Cool; MySpace = Dumb, Poor, Loners? And I concur that MySpace will continue to lead with over 120 million registered users vs Facebook’s 28 million registered users because of it’s deep ties with the Entertainment industry. You may also be interested in my mentor, Arthur Goldstuck’s views on Myspace and Facebook.

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