In today’s Quick Hits, we explore some new research on social networking habits, ponder changes to COPPA, and discuss what Google may have in store with its Facebook competitor.

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Facebook’s New Member Numbers Dive in June

Inside Facebook has some very interesting data that shows Facebook’s recent privacy slip-ups may have actually cost the website new users. According to the research, the number of US Facebook users climbed by only 320,800 in June, whereas it grew by 7.8 million users in May. Inside Facebook concedes that the big drop-off may be an anomaly, but they also note that the age groups that saw the biggest drops would be among those most aware of media coverage of Facebook’s privacy problems.

Facebook Movie Won’t be Advertised on Facebook

Speaking of Facebook problems, Mark Zuckerberg has a big one coming up in the form of the movie “The Social Network” a dramatized version of Facebook’s inception. Many pundits who have read the script believe the movie could draw further negative attention toward Facebook, even if it little of the plot is true. At least Zuck doesn’t have to worry about people promoting the movie on his own website, though. According to Sony SVP Steve Elzer, “Facebook’s advertising guidelines don’t allow ads to reference the company unless Facebook has cooperated with the object of the ad,” and I doubt Facebook will cooperate.

New Research Shows Contradictions in Facebook Use Among Young Women

New research from Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research reveals a number of interesting facts about the way young women use social networking websites. According to the study, 53 percent of young women post details of their personal problems on Facebook, while a seemingly contradictory 54 percent of women aged 18 to 24 don’t trust Facebook with their information. An even more telling and contradictory finding is that “some 42 percent of women aged 18 to 34 seem to think it’s just fine to post pictures of themselves in a state of ‘visible intoxication’, but 63 percent use Facebook for networking and their careers.”

The research is interesting because it reveals how social network users are still figuring out exactly what is and is not appropriate to share on the web even after more than six years of being online.

The Benefits of Social Networking for Doctors

An article in USA Today weighs the merits of doctors joining social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter for personal branding and patient outreach. One doctor, Kevin Pho who runs the popular website KevinMD.com makes the point that “doctors who are not active online risk being marginalized.”

Google Social Media Presentation Explores the Problem with “Friends”

Since the rumor broke that Google is planning to create its own social network “Google Me,” tech writers have been looking everywhere for information on how Google plans to outdo Facebook. This article from the Wall Street Journal Digits blog discusses a recent social networking presentation from Google that is making the rounds online. The presentation focused on how social networking users rarely have hundreds of personal friends, but rather groups of friends and then acquaintances. Google claims the presentation isn’t a roadmap for things to come, only an analysis of current social media trends.

FTC Weighs Changes to COPPA

The Federal Trade Commission is currently taking a new look at the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and has extended the deadline for public comments on the law through July 12th. COPPA was last examined in 2005, but has not changed since it was passed in 1998. With the growth of social networking and other major Internet developments, however, it seems like the perfect time to make sure the law fits with the times.

UK Information Commissioner Releases Code of Practice for Data Collection

In the UK, Information Commissioner Christopher Graham has released a code of practice for Internet companies seeking to collect user data online. Graham released the code as an e-book through the Information Commissioner’s Office. The e-book “outlines advice for businesses, departments, and charities who collect information that can identify an individual.”

In today’s Quick Hits, we touch on Facebook advertising, Twitter’s newest revenue stream, and the disconnect between tech guys and politicians.

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Facebook Explains How Advertising Works

In a post at the Official Facebook Blog, Facebook COO Cheryl Sandberg explains “the role of advertising on Facebook.” Sandberg writes that user anonymity is always protected on Facebook because advertisers never get to see personal data about users. Rather, advertisers submit their ads, ask Facebook to target a certain demographic of users, and then Facebook finds that demographic and delivers the ads.

Twitter Releases @Earlybird Feature

Twitter released one of its new monetization efforts, an advertising feature called Earlybird. The feature, which is modeled after websites like Woot.com and Groupon, offers followers of the @Earlybird account the opportunity to purchase products and services at a reduced rate for a limited time.

Facebook Most Popular Third-Party Log-in Credentials

According to Gigya, a provider of social sharing and third-party log-in tools, social media users prefer to use their Facebook account information to log-in to third-party websites more than any other alternative credential. The only exception to this is when users log-in to news websites. If a user is logging-on to a news website with third-party credentials, they will most likely use Twitter.

German Privacy Official Takes Legal Action Against Facebook

A German government official has taken legal action against Facebook for “illegally accessing and saving personal data of people who don’t use the social networking site.” According to Johannes Caspar, Facebook changed its privacy settings in April to allow users to block access to the contacts listed in their e-mail, but the previously saved contacts have not been erased and are being used for marketing purposes. The merit of Caspar’s argument has yet to be determined. Even among privacy-conscious Europe, Germany has some of the strictest privacy laws in the world.

Refining the Relationship Between Silicon Valley and Washington D.C.

In his Between the Lines blog on ZDNet, Sam Diaz ponders the relationship between Washington D.C. and Silicon Valley. While many tech experts are critical of politicians for being behind-the-curve when it comes to tech issues, Diaz argues that tech professionals need to do a better job of understanding how politics works and find different ways to appeal to policymakers.

In today’s Quick Hits, we discuss cyberbullying, Google’s plans for a new social networking website, and data privacy laws in the UK.

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Suspicious Facebook App Gains 300,000 Fans

A suspicious Facebook application has already picked up 300,000 fans. While nothing has happened yet, security analysts fear that the initial userbase could be used to launch a major spam campaign on Facebook. This PC World article explains the app.

“The application, called “I will NEVER text again,” lures Facebook users by offering a video, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for security vendor Sophos. When someone clicks on a link advertising the application, the application asks for permission to access their basic information and post to their Wall.”

Google Needs to Think About the Look of its New Social Network

In his Technically Incorrect blog for CNET, Chris Matyszczyk discusses Google’s rumored social networking project, Google Me, and why he thinks Google will have to change the way it thinks about design if it’s going to succeed. Offering the opinion that Google is better at complex engineering challenges than designing things that are intuitive and pleasing to the eye (i.e. function over form AND function), Matyszczyk writes,

“Perhaps the greatest conundrum for the designers of any new social network from Google is that, in order for it to seem more alluring, it should look less like something that comes from Google. Not that it should look like Facebook, but it should certainly offer a design sense that, the minute people set eyes on it, makes them want to come inside, sit down and feel at ease.”

UK Asks Citizens for Feedback on Data Privacy Laws

The UK government wants to take a second look at data privacy laws, and they want UK citizens to help. In a column for the Guardian, Tom McNally, the current head of the Liberal Democrats in the UK’s coalition government, appealed to citizens to review the current European Union laws (1995′s Data Protection Directive and 1998′s Data Protection Act) and offer feedback so that the UK will be prepared to negotiate when the laws are rewritten in early 2011. Whether the government will get the kind of feedback it wants is impossible to know, but the idea of appealing directly to citizens for input is well-founded.

Should Schools Be Allowed to Search Student Cell Phones?

As part of a recent New York Times article on cyberbullying, Elizabeth K. Englander, a professor of psychology and the founder and director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State College, agreed to answer reader questions about the subject in Tara-Parker Pope’s “Well Blog.” The questions are all interesting, but this one in particular is worth noting.

A parent asked if schools should have the right to search a child’s cell phone, or if it violates a student’s constitutional rights. Englander’s answer does not address the specific legal question, but it is still a thoughtful response that balances the needs of school officials to keep kids safe with the rights of students to retain privacy.

Parents, Teachers, and Psychologists React to New York Times Cyberbullying Article

The Times’ cyberbullying article also set-off a flurry of responses in the Letters to the Editor section of the paper. The responses, which come from parents as well as psychologists and other mental health professionals, offer a range of opinions, but are typically unified in the view that cyberbullying is a genuine problem that warrants immediate attention from schools and parents.

Cyberbullying Study Reveals Insight Into Cyberbullies and Cyberbullying Victims

In a last bit of cyberbullying news, a recent Finnish study that will appear in the Archives of General Psychiatry revealed that both cyberbullying victims and cyberbullies have issues outside of their school lives that may contribute to their problems.

From the Health Day Article:

“Teens who were victims of cyberbullying were more likely to come from broken homes and have emotional, concentration and behavior problems. These teens also found it harder to get along with others. In addition, they were prone to headaches, abdominal pain, sleeping problems and not feeling safe at school, the researchers found.

Cyberbullies were not without their own problems, however. Compared to teens who didn’t engage in such behaviors, they were also more prone to suffering from emotional, concentration and behavior problems. In addition, they had trouble getting along with others and often suffered from hyperactivity and conduct problems. Cyberbullies also frequently smoked or got drunk, reported headaches, and were more prone to not feeling safe at school, the study found.”

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about a Justin Bieber YouTube attack, why smart phones are smart targets for cybercriminals, and how the forthcoming Facebook movie may change perceptions about the company.

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Smart Phones Are Easy to Hack

Smart phone users have their whole lives on their phones. It’s too bad, because smart phones are so easy to hack. This article in the LA Times cites a number of computer security experts who explain how something as basic as a phone number is enough to gain access to a wealth of private personal data about a phone user.

Who Runs Facebook?

PC World has an interesting analysis of the movers and shakers at Facebook, from members of the management team to investors. The article is an interesting read for anyone curious about how decisions at Facebook get made, particularly in light of recent privacy-related decisions.

Facebook’s Reputation Back on Track

Speaking of Facebook, the company’s reputation suffered a major blow because of the many privacy problems of the last few months. However, according to the international Internet-based market research firm YouGov, consumer perceptions around Facebook have since turned back around. This is consistent with other data showing Facebook suffered no long-term consequences from its privacy missteps, most notably the fact that few users left the site.

YouTube Hackers Target Justin Bieber Fans

A group of hackers used a cross-site scripting vulnerability on YouTube to mock fans of the popular teen pop singer Justin Bieber. Hackers used the vulnerability to redirect YouTube users to adult sites and send them fake pop-up messages. This is not the first time hackers have targeted Justin Bieber or his fans. The singer has been associated with a wide variety of Internet rumors, ranging from claims that he has died to claims that he has syphilis.

What If People Believe The Social Network

Liz Gannes of GigaOm has an interesting speculative piece about what might happen if people believe what they see in “The Social Network,” the semi-fictionalized film about the founding of Facebook. The movie, which is based on the book “The Accidental Billionaires,” is a none-too-flattering portrayal of Facebook’s early days that is particularly hard on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

In today’s Quick Hits, we talk about the importance of manners both online and offline, Google’s latest bout with China, and debate whether a 10-year-old Internet law needs to be updated.

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Zynga CEO Says He Always Wanted to be a Farmer

The CEO of Zynga says he created the popular Facebook game FarmVille because he always dreamed of having a farm growing up. It’s more likely that he made FarmVille because he dreamed of being a billionaire, but that’s just conjecture.

Socialsklz:-) Offers Kids and Teens Lessons on Internet Manners

Bad manners in real life and online can make it difficult for students to find internships or be taken seriously by teachers. That’s why Faye Rogaski started Socialsklz:-), an interactive class that teaches kids and teens from the ages of four and up how to meet and greet people in person, over the phone, and online. Rogaski also offers classes for adults focused on personal branding online. It’s an interesting concept and one which reflects the importance of maintaining a responsible online reputation in the digital age.

China Threatens Google Over Censorship Issue

The Google vs. China saga has taken a new twist. Several months ago Google refused to continue censoring content on its search engine on behalf of the Chinese government. Yesterday, the company was told by Chinese officials that it would not renew Google’s license as an Internet content provider if it maintained its current policy of redirecting Chinese Internet users to the Google Hong Kong landing page.

Google’s ultimate decision will say a lot about the company. The company has never had a strong foothold among Chinese users in the first place, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy for Google to walk away from the world’s largest Internet market.

Groups File Appeal with FTC to Update Child Privacy Protection Law

A coalition of 17 privacy and child safety groups recently appealed to the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to reflect the realities of the modern Internet. COPPA was originally passed in 1998 and implemented into law in 2000. Since that time, the explosion of social media has greatly changed the way kids and teens interact online. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Consumer Federation of America, the Consumers Union, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, and the World Privacy Forum are some of the groups that filed the appeal.

Facebook Rolls Out Facial Recognition Photo Tagging Feature

Facebook began speeding up testing of its facial recognition technology for tagging photos. According to InformationWeek, the new system will speed up the process of tagging photos by using facial recognition to guess at an individual’s identity and then ask the user to confirm it by entering their friend’s name. Facebook’s new face-detection feature is not available to all users yet.