Social Medai: Geotags, Good or Bad?

In today’s world its hard to find someone who doesn’t use Facebook or Twitter. Its even harder to find someone that doesn’t frequent these site via their Smartphone or Iphone. We are in constant connection with friends a family, able to share and upload photos not only at home but while we are out and about on vacation, work or even just running daily errand. Who doesn’t love to snap a funny picture of something you saw or document that perfect sunset? We all do it. We are constantly sharing picture via our smartphones to sites like Twitter and Facebook, keeping our family and friends up to date on our current activities. But due to recent search engine optimization technology we should be aware that we are sharing more then just the image in the photo. In an article by Betty Lin-Fisher and another by Sarah Graettiinger they discuss the so called "dark side" to this form of technology. Most iphones and smartphones automatically have a setting on that records the exact location of where you take your photos. They do this by using a GPS program. Whenever you snap a picture with these setting enabled you are recording your exact latitude and longitude coordinates called with “Geotags”. It doesn’t stop there, photos that are then posted or uploaded to social media sites allow viewer to not only view the photo but are current location. So what the problem you ask? Well with some relatively easy programs online, someone without good intention can click on your photos using these geotags and gather information to pinpoint your current location. So this means someone who is trying to track you will then be able to gain access to where you and your family are, when your not home or track your favorite hot spot that you may visit on a regular basis.

Charles Johnson, who is the assistant director of the criminal justice department at UMPI, specializes in the dark side of technology of such apparently innocent pastimes. He pointed out that even if people only sometimes update their status to show where they are, that puts them in a more dangerous situation than people who don’t. Burglaries are more likely to happen to people when they geotag their location or just update their status to where they are. So if you’re a the type of person who is constantly uploading photos while on the move and in the moment it is easy for someone to begin building a profile of your schedule, where you like to go and what you like to do. Luckily for those of use who enjoy keeping friends and family up to date using these photos updates, there are precautions we can take. Here are some ways to be safer on Facebook: put your sharing on Facebook to “custom,” increase the level of your privacy settings that include photos, decide what information you want people to see and who you want to see it. Disable the “check me into places” tag and the public search tag. Enabling HTTPS support will make your Facebook slower, but will make it harder for someone to hack your account or try to view your information. By doing these small steps you are able to keeping posting those fun update while keeping a little bit more of your privacy in tack.

http://www.ohio.com/business/taking-action/betty-lin-fisher-turn-off-geotags-when-taking-phone-photos-posting-online-1.242645

http://utimes.umpi.edu/2011/11/the-dark-side-of-technology/

Social Media: Skype

Skype. We’ve all heard of it, and most of us probably have used it at one time or another. Online video chats allow us to communicate face to face with friends and family across the globe. This type of communication has allowed us to feel connected to our loved ones no matter how far away they are. Skype is used in just about every type of situation, from family and friends keeping in touch to multimillion-dollar companies using video to hold conferences to online schools using Skype. So Skype is great right? Or is it? In a article by Chole Albanesius she uncovers an issues we might not have even considered, Tracking your location using Skype?? We are all concerned with it, since the big break in technology it has been an issues discussed over and over again. Are all these advances in technology really benefiting us, or hurting us. This year alone the issue of having your location tracked has popped up in the use of Apple’s IOS, Google, Microsoft and now Skype. In recent research done by the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, they discovered that the average Internet user can use a service like Skype to track a persons whereabouts. Simply having access to a users IP address can allow a person using real-time communication systems to be tracked by others. With this type of access privacy is clearly at risk. For example a prankster could easily use this data to create a public Web site that exposes the location and file-sharing activity of all active Skype users in a particular city or country. This type of exposure could lead to a number of privacy issues. SO what is being done about this problem? Believe it or not, at this moment in time… nothing. Skype was informed of this issued in its system months ago and very little action has been taken in the resolve of this glitch.

In a second article by Emma Woollacott discussing the same issue, she brings to light just how big an issues this problem really is. Skype claims to have more than half-billion registered users and one report suggests that one in five overseas calls is done using Skype. Not only are users at risk to have their location tracked but peer-to-peer file sharing activity is potentially at risk as well. So with nearly a billion registered users the possible backlash could be severe. A hacker anywhere in the world could easily track the whereabouts and file-sharing habits of a Skype users, from private citizens to celebrities and politicians, and use the information for purposes of stalking, blackmail or fraud. When a call is placed using an IP address that IP address is reveal to the recipient of the caller who can then use commercial geo-IP mapping services to determine the users location and internet provider. There is even a way for hackers to access IP addresses without the recipient even receiving the call or showing an call alert. Not to worry, researches have stated that flaw could be fixed relatively easily by redesigning the Skype protocol so that a user’s IP address is never revealed unless the call is accepted. So why hasn’t Skype taken action?? Your guess is as good as mine. For now all we as users can to is wait and cross our fingers we don’t fall victim to this invasion of privacy.

http://www.tgdaily.com/security-features/59240-skype-security-flaw-allows-location-tracking

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2395225,00.asp#fbid=MqvEDAd4e72

Location-Based Programs

In the world of social media we have new apps, programs and social networking sites popping up on a daily basis. Keeping up with whats new in the world of social media is almost becoming a full time job. Today's hot topic is on the buzz of social medias latest trend, location-based programs. Now if any of you out there are like me your probably asking yourself what exactly are location-based programs? Well turns out you might be more familiar with them then you know. Location-based programs are integrating into most forms of social media, most popular are FourSquare, Geotagging, Yelp, and Google Latitude. Check-Ins on sites like Facebook are even considered location-based programs. Each of these programs allow you to enter your current location and find restaurants, activities and facilities around you. Sounds pretty nice right? Believe it or not these new programs have been met with fan and haters alike.

According to the article Why You'll Use Foursquare by Mike Elgan, he discuses why whether we are fans or haters, eventually we will all be using location-based programs. Location-based programs are gaining popularity by making these social- networking programs worth your while. Luring in users by offering coupons, discounts and exclusive deals. Location-based programs like Foursquare have even established branded partnership with the History Channel, CNN, Bravo, MTV, VH1, Zagat and the Wall Street Journal. All of these company's assisting networks like Foursquare in offering incentive for those who use its program. The buzz around these programs and their gaining popularity is also causing quite the stir. Awareness of the function of these location-based programs is spreading like wild fire. Mentions of these programs are popping up of popular sights like Facebook and Twitter helping to inform even more people of their presence. Facebook is even in negations of linking up with Fouraquare and making it part of the Facebook experience. Pretty soon the products, services and businesses you enjoy will being to offer incentives to persuade you to use location services. Companies, conference and event organizers, family and friends will be using location-based social networking. So maybe Elgan is right, even if your not ready to embrace location-based programs one or more of these programs is likely to embrace you.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/198698/why_youll_use_foursquare.html
http://theweek.com/article/index/200751/what-is-foursquare

Tradtional Views: Online vs. Traditonal Journalism

We live in a world filled with online new sites, magazine and blogs. The world of journalism has exploded online and continues to expand daily. With every form of journalistic media available to us with the click of a button, what is happening to traditional journalism?? In an article by Denishia Salter a Journalism Major at Seton Hill University she discussing the every growing world of online journalism and its effect on the traditional journalism. With online journalism more accessible, cheaper and more convenient what chances do traditional newspapers and magazines really have? Are we as a society going to eliminate print journalism all together? Is online really better? In her article Denishia write about her decision to compare print vs. online for herslef. Using as her subject one of the most popular magazine in existence , the Cosmopolitan. While comparing the online version to the print Denishia found that online isn't always better. Online pop ups, advertisements and videos continually popping up while reading the online magazine became quite annoying. She even found that the online magazine did not giver her access to all the articles from that issue. Not to mention that all the money generated from these magazine comes from the purchase of print versions. Though there may be benefits to online journalism, does it take away some of the fun? Does online ruin the effects the magazine has when a bunch of girls huddled together on the back of the school bus gigling while they fill out the question to the "what kind of dater are you" quiz? Or what happens to the fun of ripping out the pages of your favorite celebrity hunk and pinning it on your wall? Can online journalism ever replace the experience of traditional print journalism? As far as Denishia concerned, no, as long as print journalism is making money, traditional journalism is here to stay.

Paper or Plastic? This question was posed in the second article I found discussing the issues of traditional vs. online journalism. The debate this time was between paper books and the ever popular Kindle. In an atricle by Allan Mott entitle Paper or Plastic?: Books vs. Kindle Showdown he poses a series of situtaion in which he compares using the kindle vs. paper books. Using satire Mott give example of situation where at times books are the better choice and at other times the kindle wins. So what is your opinon? Is the kindle changing the future of publishing? Do we still have a need for paper books. My personally opinion books are a classic form of literature that will never die. While the kindle is useful in the packing and caring of numerous books at a time, can it ever replace the feeling of curling up by the fire with your favorite worn out novel in your hand? Are we willing to give up the sound of each turn of the page or the smell of the musky worn out paper? While the kindle will continue to grow in popularity and has its use, paper books are irreplaceable. Books have been around for thousands of years, they stand the test of time and in my opinion no Kindle is about to show up and replace them.

http://www.newmediaskool.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=169:online-journalism-vs-print-what-happens-to-the-traditional-journalist&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50
http://www.bookgasm.com/features/books-vs-kindle/

Blogging: Social Media

There was once a time when fashion shows were reserved for the elite. The only way you were getting your foot the door was if you were a designer, model or big time celebrity. But recently sitting front row at every major fashion show are some familiar faces. These are the faces of today's top fashion bloggers. Girls like you and I who got their big break, believe it or not, from blogging. Their "claim to fame" are their very popular blogging sites. Blogs they set up to report on today's latest fashion trends, parties and upcoming shows. Little did they know just how far these little blogs would take them. With increasing popularity in their blogs, girls like Rumi Neeley, founder of fashiontaost.com, and several others are gaining celebrity status in the ever so elite world of fashion. Designers have recognized the amount of traffic these blog receive and have taken full advantage. Sending bloggers new clothing, purses and accessories, designer all over are cashing in on the free advertisement. Not only are these blogger receiving merchandise they are also being invited to attends several major fashion events, signing endorsement deals, and some even get lucky enough to land modeling contracts. Most of these girls have become style icons themselves, making designer even more eager to feature their products on these blogs. These girls have taken their simple blogging pastime and turned it into a full blown career. Blogs have allowed these girls to reach audiences world wide, something that was not possible before blogging. Fashion bloggers have manage to squeeze their way into the once closed off world of fashion and are taking the public with them. Giving blog readers the inside scoop on toady's fashion world.

Not only are the bloggers themselves benefiting from this blogging phenomenon, but we as a public are as well. The general public can now access details on major fashion event, shows and campaigns, that before were keep under lock. Thanks to these bloggers we are able to see what goes on behind the scenes of major fashion shows. Like never before, the public has access to these events and all their inner workings. Numerous blog sites are set up to keep fashion crazed audiences in the loops. With just the click of a button we can access photos and videos from the top couture fashion shows around the world, something that wasn't possible a few years back. Fashion week 2011 was a perfect example of how social media has altered the fashion industry. Videos and photos were being updated on popular fashion websites by the minute during top designer shows. Viewer gained their own front row seat to these once private shows. From the comfort of their own homes, fashion fan were able to tune into designer hottest runway spectaculars. Blogging has become am major part of how designers and companies promote their products. Products feature on these popular fashion sites can sell out in minutes. If its on the blog its obviously something "fashionistas" around the world will want to have.

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/put-yourself-in-the-front-row-20110914-1k9g3.html
http://heartifb.com/2011/05/09/the-rise-of-the-superblog/

Organizational Uses: Social Media

Social media seems to be taking over the world. As our main source of social networking, its hard to find someone who hasn't heard of sights such as Facebook or Twitter. Not only have these sights dominated social communication and the way we interact with friends and family, they are now taking over the marketing world as well. Everyone from major celebrities to multimillion dollar corporations depend on the the exposure they now gain through followers on popular social media sights. With hundreds of thousands of followers, these popular businesses profit from this type of marketing, but what about those of us who aren't as well known in the public eye? How do small businesses reap the advantages that are possible with social media marketing? In an article by Fox News entitled "How Small Buisnesses Can Use Social Media for Branding" they dicusss need to know basics for small buisness oowners to succesfully use social media. First and foremost know your target audience. Successful marketing hinges on the fact that you as a buisness owner know exactly who you are trying to reach with your marketing. Once you know your target audience, entrepreneur can use Facebook for advertisement. Small business owner Johnson Bailey is hard at work getting the word spread on his unique scented candle company. Using sites like Facebook, Bailey is able to direct advertisements toward certain groups that will appreciate his product rather than waste money in general advertising where only a small portion of the audience will find interest. With social media Bailey is constantly able to keep ads up to date and edgy. With unlimited uses, social media seems to be the best way for small businesses to jump into the big world of marketing.
http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2011/05/20/small-businesses-use-social-media-branding/

The second article I selected discusses social medias influence on religion. In an article done by USA today, we are asked the question, Are Social Media Changing Religion? As the boundaries between public and private become blurrier due to the ever growing use of social media sights, what is happening to these religious communities? With the sharing of information at the forefront of everyones mind, there has been a major shift in what society considers private. Congregations everywhere have turned to sharing and networking in small groups. Churches have always been a places where people can go to find sanction. They have always been sacred and holy places used for worship, not sites used for group therapy and social networking. This shift in the way we worship has some people beginning worries. While many feel comfortable with sharing there life struggles, beliefs and hope with those around them, what happens to those who still prefer to worship alone? Problems surface when open worship becomes a badge of faithfulness. Are those who choose not to share left feeling inadequate or marginalized? Is the use of social media in the world of religion such a good idea? Some believe it's not, other welcome the change, either way social media is changing our world in more ways then one.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-06-21-column21_ST_N.htm

Social Media: The Big Seven

How many of us use twitter? I personally haven't jumped on the twitter train quite yet. Who is really interested in the day to day activities of my life? After all isn't twitter simply one more social tool we use to keep in contact with friends and family? Well according to a Times article by Steven Johnson twitter has taken on a much more important role in our world today. With only 140 character posts twitter has amazingly become one of the largest platforms for government, large corporations and us as citizens to get our opinions and messages out there. Twitter has given a voice to those who may never have had a voice before. Online debates over twitter are constantly on going. One messages is posted and next thing you know it has gone viral. Opinions and ideas are pouring in. People who may never have expressed their thoughts before are now actively involved in the issues they find important. Twitter has opened up our world of communication like never before.

With the popularity of twitter on the rise all eyes are watching. Messages posted through twitter spread like wild fire, so what better way to get your message out there. Twitter itself has led to even more virtual technology. The #hashtag and @tag were created after Twitter, to further allow users to include information in their posts. We see apps and twitter programs that have been developed so users can tweet from their cell phones. Twitter has become so accessible and easy to use that it cant help but gain new users every day.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1902818-4,00.html

In the world of social media, such as facebook and twitter, we have almost unlimited access to information about our friends and family in just the click of a button. Where they are, what they're doing, who they're with, these questions are all easily answered thanks to the wide spread of social media. But when is all the information maybe just a little "TMI"? With facebook trends like "25 things about me" where users post 25 things about themselves on their feed, are we taking the sharing of our personal information just a little to far?

According to a Times article by Claire Suddath entitled "25 Thing I Didn't Want to Know About You" she discusses the issue of too much information. With social media tools opening the world of communication and sharing have we as a society crossed that line between public and private? Are we making ourselves look bad by posting things like "I like to sing in the shower" or "I eat Cheerios in bed"? Is this type of information sharing really necessary or beneficial? Some might argue that it is all in good fun, and millions of facebookers out there will defend these type of activities. With a society that is living our lives online we need to asks ourselves when is it all just a little "TMI"?

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1877187,00.html