social networking

How Instagram became the social network for tweens

I just learned that my 12-year-old daughter is an app scofflaw. So, in fact, are the hordes of her fellow tween-agers -- kept off Facebook by their well-intended parents -- who have turned to Instagram as a seemingly innocuous social-network workaround.

As it turns out, just like Facebook, you technically have to be 13 to have an Instagram account. And, just like Facebook, Instagram is more or less a social network, dark sides included. Kids post photos, their followers comment... and then those not invited to said birthday party or shopping excursion get hurt feelings.

Many of us adults discovered … Read more

LinkedIn adds Facebook-like alerts

LinkedIn hums along on its promised site redesign, rolling out a notifications stream today that may strike a familiar cord with Facebook users.

The professional networking site adds icons to the top left corner of a user homepage, including a little flag that will feature a red circle if you have any new activity, according to a blog post written by LinkedIn Associate Product Manager Angela Yang.

"Launching today is our new notifications feature, which will keep you notified in real-time when someone likes what you've shared on LinkedIn, views your profile, accepts your invitation, and much more,&… Read more

You say Google+ is a ghost land? Time to revisit that one

Compared with Facebook or Twitter, Google+ can seem like a veritable ghost land. I'm finding few posts from friends or interesting people on the service. And it's not just anecdotal observations of there being slim pickings. A recent report by RJMetrics found weak user engagement with the social network. And yet Google+ claims to have an ever-growing number of users. So how has it managed to pull off that neat feat?

The not-so-apparent fact is that Google has aggressively integrated its social network throughout its properties, thus driving users to unwittingly use Google+. This is particularly true of … Read more

Via.Me brings its social-media chops to Android

Previously available only on the iPhone, Via.Me today makes its way onto the Android platform. While it may seem like just another silly social network joining an already jostling crowd, Via.Me's strongest selling point is the ease with which you can use it to post pictures, videos, and even audio clips to Facebook and Twitter, all from a single interface.

To get started, first sign into Via.Me using your Facebook or Twitter account. From there, it will connect you to your friends who are also on Via.Me. Then, just as on Facebook or Twitter, you … Read more

'Eastwooding' meme sweeps across Twitter

First there was "Tebowing," and now there is "Eastwooding."

Twitter users today are flocking to the social network to share pictures of empty chairs in the spirit of "Eastwooding." The name comes from famed actor and director Clint Eastwood, who last night at the Republican National Convention held an interview with an empty chair. In that chair, Eastwood claimed, was President Barack Obama.

A quick search across Twitter reveals dozens of updates every few seconds of people posting their "Eastwooding" pictures. In some cases, an empty chair is shown with folks pointing … Read more

Google Map Maker users can now share their maps via Google+

Those of you who build and tweak your own maps via Google's Map Maker can now share them with your circles on Google+.

Any maps that you share via a post pop up on your Google+ profile, visible to the folks who follow you. They can then see your map and comment on it, according to the latest info from the Google Maps team.

Google has outlined a series of steps for sharing your maps on its social network. It's just as simple as sharing other content. Simply click on the Share button, type your message, and then … Read more

The 404 1,120: Where we pay you in nickels (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- 51 percent of people believe stormy weather can interfere with cloud computing.

- No, Samsung did not try to pay Apple its $1 billion fine in nickels.

- Apple's AirPlay might soon work without Wi-Fi.

- Stop douching your noses, people.… Read more

The 404 1,118: Where we've got the right stuff (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Study finds "about one-third of all consumer reviews on the Internet are fake."

- Why investors (but not consumers) love LinkedIn.

- Meet the people who comment on porn videos.

- Religious sites have more Trojans than naughty ones.… Read more

Facebook for Android updates to help you create events on the go

While iOS users were today treated to a huge Facebook app update, Android users got a little something as well.

With the newest update to Facebook for Android, you can now easily create events from the app, share photos faster with a new upload process, and add photos and emoji to messages.

Sure, the Android update is nowhere near as big as the iOS update. But still, it's nice to see Facebook showing support for both platforms.

The newest version of Facebook for Android is available now on Google Play.

Google+ debuts 'sliders' to help users de-clog their streams

Google Plus launched a new feature today called "sliders" that lets users decide how and when they want to tone down information from their Circles that may be clogging up their stream.

The idea is to give users more control on what they see, learn, and share on Google's social network. It's similar to Facebook's "hide stories" feature where users can decide if they want to see all, most, most important, or no status updates from their friends.

Google+ launched volume "sliders" last year, extending it across the entire social network. … Read more