In today’s Quick Hits, we touch on NCAA social media policies, why the anti-Facebook might not take off, and why 1981 might be a cut-off for privacy expectations.

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University of North Carolina Develops Tough Social Media Policy

The University of North Carolina athletic department has implemented a strict new social media policy to prevent players from ruining their reputations and embarrassing their school online. According to ESPN, the UNC rule stipulates that “each team must identify at least one coach or administrator who is responsible for having access to and regularly monitor the content of team members’ social networking sites and postings.”

Op-Ed: Why Diaspora is Doomed

This op-ed from The Telegraph explains why Diaspora, the so-called anti-Facebook, might be doomed to failure. According to the author, despite Diaspora’s improved focus on privacy, there simply aren’t enough reasons for users to join another social networking site when they are already occupied with Facebook, Twitter, and other online endeavors. Quoting from the article, “There are already too many networks and services fighting for our attention. (Am I really going to log in to yet another social network to upload the photos I don’t want to share on Facebook?) And this fancy new architecture simply doesn’t matter to most people.”

Twitter Begins Using OAuth for Third-Party Authentication

Today, Twitter began using OAuth instead of basic authentication for third-party applications. Twitter’s switch to OAuth will hopefully allow for a more secure user experience and prevent users from getting tripped up by spammy third-party Twitter applications. There is a catch though. With OAuth, third-party applications will not be asking you for your password but that still doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise caution about which applications you approve. Always remember that once you approve a third-party app, you give it total control over your Twitter account.

Teens Log Off from Facebook Because of Parents

This article from CBS News touches on the growing trend of parents following their children on Facebook. Rather than framing this as a good thing that could help parents remain involved in their kids lives, the focus of the article is on how college-aged Facebook users are rejecting their parents and, by default, rejecting Facebook because of the perceived “intrusion” into their lives.

Loopt CEO Says Privacy Expectations Change For People Born After 1981

In a recent article for the New York Times, Loopt CEO Sam Altman said that “the magic age…where we see a big change in privacy settings and user acceptance” is people born in 1981. According to Altman, the difference in user acceptance between those born before 1981 and those born after 1981 explains why the location-based social networking services haven’t taken off to the same extent as other social media technologies.