Can Facebook Challenge Google in Online Advertising?
Citing recent research from Hitwise that showed a 185% increase in visits to Facebook from a year ago, Tony Bradley at CNET discusses the possibility of Facebook becoming a viable challenger to Google in the world of Internet advertising. Given the extensive range of personal info that users share in their Facebook profiles, the number of companies using Facebook more and more frequently to target hyper-specific audiences is only going to grow.
Nestle Criticized Over PR Response on Facebook
After being criticized in a Greenpeace report for sourcing palm oil from a distributor that allegedly destroyed rain forests, Nestle exacerbated its problems when a company representative was less than courteous to some of the unhappy eco-activists who flooded the company’s Facebook page.
In this new world of social media, companies that engage with their customers and are proactive in managing their online presence are lauded for being innovative and transparent. Simultaneously, if a company spokesperson acts too independently online, they run the risk of embarrassing their brand. This is particularly dangerous if the company is already experiencing a PR crisis.
If you are using social media to communicate with your customers, it is important that the individual responsible for managing your social media communications is well-trained and understands how to address any given issue.
Social Networking Use Can Raise Your Insurance Premiums
Last month, we discussed how using social networking websites like Foursquare, Twitter, and Facebook to talk about where you’re going and when could raise your insurance premiums. Now a new report is echoing that same concern. In a recent news report with the Daily Star, an anonymous insurance representative is quoted as saying, “Under the terms of most insurance policies, people have a duty to make their home secure. If they have told the world they are out and not coming back for a while, they might as well put a sign outside saying: ‘Burgle Me.’ You can’t blame the insurance industry for refusing to pay the bill for such irresponsibility.”
New Phishing Attack Hits Twitter
Twitter was hit over the weekend with another phishing attack using the popular “You’re on here?” direct message to trick users into clicking a link and then signing into a phony Twitter portal. If you get a direct message using this language or other similar phrasing, such as “Is this you?”, disregard the message and do not click on the link.
Google Street View Snaps Shots of British Security Bases
Google was forced to remove images of secret British security bases taken by its popular, but highly-criticized Street View cameras. In the UK, where Google Street View is already viewed warily by the government and the public, this kind of bad publicity is especially distressing. According to Google spokespeople, Google drivers are trained not to take photographs of certain areas and if there was a mistake they would remove the images quickly.
It’s been a couple of weeks since our last edition of Meet the Reputation.com Team, but we’re back in a big (and international) way. Last time out, we said hello to Tom Thompson, one of our dedicated client solutions managers. Today, we want to introduce you to Marketing Manager Adam Faughnan.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Adam Faughnan and I am a Marketing Manager here at Reputation.com. If a person sees our ads online or hears us on the radio, there is a good chance my sweat and toil went into creating it…and analyzing it…and refining it.
What did you do prior to joining Reputation.com?
I’m Irish and got my Masters in E-Commerce. After meeting my wife in San Francisco, while visiting as a student, I took the plunge and decided to live the “American Dream” (I got a big screen TV) and worked with a marketing company, MyPoints, for three years. I then worked as a Product Manager for an online casino in Ireland, managing both the product offering (Blackjack loses its charm after five hours of testing) and technical support.
What attracted you to Reputation.com?
I came to RD because of the people that work here and the overall goal of the company, which is to help and protect individuals online. That, and the free lunches on Friday.
Why do you think it’s important for people to manage their reputations online?
We are truly living in a world where everyone has a presence online, whether you like it or not. Managing your reputation is crucial in your life, whether it is the difference between getting a job or promotion, or just in how people think of you in general. Your life is shaped by your reputation and we help you shape it in the right way.
When you’re not helping individuals control and protect their good names online, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I play football (soccer for most Americans, but we called it football first and actually kick the ball with our feet) a couple of times a week. Also, my new born baby is keeping me busy.
According to the Wall Street Journal, a judge has approved a $9.5 million settlement over Facebook’s failed Beacon program. The settlement, which is supposed to go toward the creation of a new non-profit agency focused on privacy issues, had been challenged by preexisting privacy non-profits for not awarding monetary damages to any of the suit’s plaintiffs.
Video: Google as the Evil Empire
Today, TechCrunch featured a very interesting video from the Australian television program Hungry Beast. While TechCrunch believes that the 2:45 minute clip, which is critical of Google’s overwhelming presence in all aspects of our digital lives, is overly dramatic, but I think it paints an effective picture of why Google makes Internet privacy advocates nervous. Check it out for yourself below.
California Appeals Court Rules Online Threats Are Not Protected Speech
According to Wired, a California appeals court has ruled this week that online threats and homophobic slurs left on a teen’s website do not constitute free speech, and that the teen’s father is allowed to pursue legal action against the individuals who posted the comments. The case may not be over yet, as the attorney for the defendants has indicated plans to appeal the decision to the California state supreme court.
Internet Addiction Clinic for Teens Opens in the UK
This article from AOL News discusses a new clinic in the UK aims to help teens suffering from Internet addiction, particularly teens who are addicted to online gaming. The issue of Internet addiction has become more prevalent in recent years and has even drawn comparisons to substance abuse. It is important to monitor your child’s Internet habits closely to ensure that they are not suffering from any addictive tendencies.
Massachusetts House of Representatives Approves Cyberbullying Legislation
In an amazing 148 to 0 vote, the Massachusetts House of Representatives has approved cyberbullying legislation that will legally obligate teachers and other school staff to report bullying when they see it. Additionally, the legislation requires that school officials undergo training to be able to identify bullying in schools and also on the Internet.
The quick turnaround on the House bill, which must now be reconciled with a Senate bill that was also passed recently, comes no doubt in response to the recent cyberbullying-related suicides of two Massachusetts students, 15-year-old Phoebe Prince and 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover.
Facebooking in Bed?
Do you check your Facebook account when you wake up in the morning? How about before you go to bed? How about while you’re in bed? According to new research, “48 percent of social media users check or update Facebook and/or Twitter after they go to bed and 56 percent feel compelled to check Facebook at least once a day.”
If you’re spending that much time on the web, you have to be extra careful not to post anything that could damage your reputation. Of course, if you had MyReputation from Reputation.com, you wouldn’t have to worry quite so much since your customized monthly reports would show you exactly where your name appears online, and in what context.
Who needs a marriage counselor when you have Facebook? At least that’s the thinking for many couples who use the site as a way to share their private arguments in public. An article from the New York Times discusses why some couple use Facebook to air their grievances with their spouse, mostly to air “their side of the story” as if Facebook were a court of public opinion, but it also cautions that sharing arguments online is a good way to lose the support of friends and family, which can then weaken the relationship further.
Facebook Has “No Objection” to Panic Button
According to the BBC, Facebook has told British government officials that the company has no objection to installing a “panic button” to help users report sexual predators. The “panic button” discussion intensified recently with the murder of 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall, who met her killer on Facebook. Facebook will enter more serious discussions about the safety feature on April 12th.
Outgoing FTC Commissioner Criticizes Facebook and Google
In a blistering indictment of Internet companies such as Google and Facebook, Pamela Jones Harbour, the outgoing commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, said “Even the most respected and popular online companies, the ones who claim to respect privacy, continue to launch products where the guiding privacy policy seems to be, ‘Throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks.’”
Harbour went on to say, “I realize that companies continue to take a testing-the-water approach to privacy because no regulatory agency has sent a clear message that this behavior is unacceptable. I would like to see the commission take the position of intolerance toward companies that push the privacy envelop, then backtrack and modify their offerings after facing consumer and regulator backlash.”
While her comments do not reflect the official position of the FTC, they are a strong reminder that government regulators haven’t completely rolled over on the issue of consumer privacy, which is definitely a good thing for consumers.
How Much Information Do You Share Online?
In a follow-up post to an article in yesterday’s New York Times about privacy online, Katherine Schulten asks students to consider their social networking profiles and whether or not they’re giving too much personal information away. Sharing too much information online can open up the possibility of identity theft and other cyber crimes that can cause significant reputation damage.
Massive Spam Run Hits Facebook
From PCWorld: “Facebook’s 400 million users have been targeted by a spam run that could infect their computers with malicious software designed to steals passwords and other data, according to security researchers at McAfee.” If you get an e-mail from Facebook saying that they have reset your password and you must download a file to retrieve it, do not open the file. Facebook will never automatically reset your password for you, they will require you to go through a process to change it. That is how you know that this is a spam attack.
Why You HAVE to Talk to Your Kids About Online Privacy
In an article for St. Louis Today, Dr. Bob Wilmott discusses why parents should talk to their kids about the Internet. From the article: “Are children mature enough to make good decisions about their online privacy? Most experts think that kids are smart enough by their early teens to know what, and who, to avoid. Younger kids, though, need more parental supervision — for instance, parents should make sure their children’s accounts are set to provide as little personal information as possible, and that their activity can be seen only by confirmed friends.”
With MyChild from Reputation.com, we can help you monitor your child’s activity online by providing customized monthly reports tracking their name on the web. To learn more about MyChild, call one of our experienced Online Reputation Management Consultants today at 877-720-6488.
Recently, Facebook improved its search experience even more by providing a drop-down menu of suggestions for users based on what they’re typing in. This may not seem like a big deal, but it’s an important improvement for the Facebook user experience. While Facebook may have been able to eclipse Google in site visits last week, the website has a long way to go before it can compete seriously with Google on search. That is to say, Facebook can’t compete in pure search. With social search, however, it’s a different story. While Google has waded into the social waters with Google Buzz and other tools, Facebook’s large userbase allows it to search through millions of user profiles, fan pages, Facebook groups, and more, allowing for a more personalized search experience.
Mafia Hitman Tracked Down Through Facebook
An Italian mafia hitman, Pasquale “Scarface” Manfredi, was tracked down by Italian authorities through Facebook. The man was on Italy’s 100 Most Wanted List and is wanted in connection with multiple murders. According to the story, “Manfredi would log on under the Facebook name Georgie. Officers said they believed he received coded orders via the site and also kept in touch with mobsters. Manfredi had more than 200 friends on his Facebook site and police are going through them systematically to see if any others are involved in Mafia activity or are wanted.”
Miley Cyrus Warns Kids About the Dangers of the Web
If you can’t convince your kids that they shouldn’t be sharing their life on Twitter, maybe Disney’s Miley Cyrus can help. Cyrus, who made headlines for removing herself from Twitter many months ago, recently advised kids, “Don’t go on the Internet. It’s dangerous, it’s not fun, it wastes your life and you should be outside playing sports or something.” While the majority of kids won’t be subjected to the same kind of media scrutiny as Cyrus, she has a good point. Overuse of the Internet can be dangerous for kids, or anyone for that matter, and that’s not even going into the reputation risk of sharing too much of your life online.
David Greenfield Recaps Privacy Concerns at SXSW
In a recap of the South by Southwest technology conference, David Greenfield recalls some of the privacy-related issues that came up, particularly concerns around Google, Facebook, and Foursquare.
New York Times Discusses the Problem of Privacy
The general understanding of privacy data is that in small forms it may be difficult to form an accurate image of someone, but if you look at massive data sets, you can begin to draw generalizations, which can then be broken down into specific identifiers. This well-researched and well-written article from the New York Times discusses the problem of privacy online and how seemingly insignificant data, such as movie preferences on Facebook, can be reinterpreted in conjunction with other data to form a “distinctive social signature” of an individual.
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