In today’s Quick Hits we talk about Facebook advertising, how Twitter rallied around a dying boy, and what’s going on in the world of privacy and politics.

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Facebook Advertisers Increased Spending by 10 and 20-fold

According to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s biggest advertisers have increased spending by at least 10-fold in the past year, with some advertisers increasing their spending by more than 20-fold. With Facebook’s steady user growth and high-level of user engagement, the social networking website is the ideal vehicle for delivering targeted advertising. Now that companies have seen how effective advertising can be on Facebook, it is no surprise that they are increasing their presence on the site. The question is, as more and more advertisers and more and more users flock to Facebook, will the company keep privacy at the forefront or will it be put on the back-burner for revenue?

Terminally Ill Boy’s Plight Stirs Twitter, Earns Condemnation for Airline

A 10-year-old Canadian boy fighting a terminal form of Muscular Dystrophy flew to New York to fulfill his wish of seeing Central Park. Unfortunately, during his trip, Air Canada accidentally damaged his electric wheelchair, which is the only way the boy can get around. To compound the problem, Air Canada was not readily available to replace the damaged chair immediately, leaving he and his mother and aunt essentially stranded. However, the story took a positive turn thanks to the power of Twitter.

Many Twitter users were already aware of Tanner’s plight from a previous Twitter fundraiser to help him pay for his trip. When those same Twitter users saw the trouble he was having, they sprung into action to try and find a replacement wheelchair. Eventually, a company stepped up to donate the essential equipment, thus saving the weekend. While that company has since earned raves on Twitter, Air Canada has been roundly criticized for not doing enough to help the family. Though this story has a happy ending for the time being, Air Canada’s inattention to public sentiment online may cost the company business and is an important reminder that brand monitoring online is essential to running a successful business.

Woman Robbed by Facebook Friend

One woman in New Albany, Indiana, recently learned the hard way that some Facebook friends aren’t friends at all. After posting an update saying she and her fiancee were going out, the woman came home to find her apartment had been robbed. Security camera footage later showed the culprits: two men, one of them the woman’s Facebook friend. The thieves planned the robbery because of the information she shared on Facebook, showing why it is important to never share when you are leaving your home in a public forum.

Police Use Facebook to Crack Underage Alcohol Sales

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, all of the underage kids knew where to go to buy alcohol without an ID. It was common knowledge on Facebook. Of course, that meant the police knew where to go too. This local news story details how the police tracked down underage drinkers via their Facebook accounts and followed them to a local liquor store where they busted several more teens and issued citations to the store owners.

Government Internet Privacy Regulation Round-Up

Government and technology reporter Alex Howard has an excellent wrap-up of the various online privacy issues being debated on Capitol Hill. In his exhaustive analysis, Howard touches on the Wall Street Journal’s recent privacy coverage, last week’s Senate committee hearing on behavioral advertising, and how the FTC fits into the privacy regulation puzzle.