Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[MySpace, Apparently Still Around, Loses 10 Million Users in Month]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/myspace-apparently-still-around-loses-10-million-users-in-mont/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/myspace-apparently-still-around-loses-10-million-users-in-mont/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/25/myspace-apparently-still-around-loses-10-million-users-in-mont/#comments myspace MySpace -- wait, what? yes -- lost more than 10 million users in a matter of weeks. ComScore reported the drop came in a single month, between January and February. The fall follows a larger trend; the social network has bled some 50 million users in the last year.

The timing has a bit of chicken/egg feel to it, these numbers come right on the heels of January's massive layoffs, when nearly half of the staff was axed. The BBC report reads a little like an obit ("It was the social network site that helped launch the careers of artists like Arctic Monkeys, Kate Nash and Lily Allen.") You almost gotta feel for the site. Almost.

SwitchedMySpace, Apparently Still Around, Loses 10 Million Users in Month originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kindasadmyspacemyspace+loses+usersmyspacelosesusersobitsrupert murdochRupertMurdochsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopwebsiteFri, 25 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/01/facebook-most-blacklisted-site-in-2010-opendns-says/#commentsWeb security firm OpenDNS has just released its annual list of the most blacklisted sites across homes, businesses and schools. And, perhaps not surprisingly, Facebook came out on top.

OpenDNS' 2010 report on 'Web Content Filtering and Phishing' (PDF) shows that a full 14.2-percent of networks using the company's services have blacklisted Facebook, 9.9-percent blocked access to MySpace, and 8.1-percent flagged YouTube. According to the firm, consumers or companies normally use blacklists when they don't want to filter an entire category of sites, but only want to cherry-pick those within a specific area. That would explain why the top few spots doesn't go to porn sites, because 85-percent of networks already blocked 'pornography' as a general category -- the highest percentage of any genre.

Continue reading Facebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says

SwitchedFacebook Most Blacklisted Site in 2010, OpenDNS Says originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blacklistemployersfacebookmyspacenetworkopendnsreportsecuritySocialNetworkingstatisticstopWebwebsiteyoutubeTue, 01 Feb 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Bandcamp Decoded: An Indie Musician's Best (and Most Profitable) Friend]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/bandcamp-review-music-publishing-sharing-site/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/bandcamp-review-music-publishing-sharing-site/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/24/bandcamp-review-music-publishing-sharing-site/#commentsbandcamp For starving musicians and champagne-sipping mega-stars alike, a strong digital presence is essential. The ways in which artists can present and sell their work online are constantly expanding, changing the face of the music industry in the process. The need for intermediaries between artist and audience, such as record labels and publicists, is a thing of the past.

Enter Bandcamp, a service that allows musicians to price and sell their work as they see fit, in whatever digital format they choose. This user-defined pricing scheme puts a great deal of control in the hands of artists, albeit at the cost of a profit percentage that goes to the site. In essence, a user's sales fund the service's operations, which in turn aim to help market and sell the musician better. It's a trade-off that has proven to be a powerful tool for accomplished musicians such as Sufjan Stevens and Amanda Palmer. But Bandcamp can benefit the less established as well -- as long as they're willing to accept the compromise. Read on to see if Bandcamp's innovative business model is your key to freedom from the shackles of iTunes' uniform pricing, or just another shady tactic from the record industry.

Continue reading Bandcamp Decoded: An Indie Musician's Best (and Most Profitable) Friend

SwitchedBandcamp Decoded: An Indie Musician's Best (and Most Profitable) Friend originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandcampfeaturesindieIndieMusicmusicMusicIndustrymyspaceplayroomsocialnetworkingstreamingStreamingMusictopwebMon, 24 Jan 2011 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Staff Cut Nearly in Half]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/12/myspace-staff-cut-nearly-in-half/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/12/myspace-staff-cut-nearly-in-half/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/12/myspace-staff-cut-nearly-in-half/#commentsMySpace The story of MySpace appears to be racing toward its inevitable conclusion. The site more or less exited the social network business in November to become what the AP has called an "entertainment site." Now comes news that 47-percent of the staff is getting a post-holiday reward in the form of a pink slip. A total of 500 employees worldwide are being laid off, an action that follows a 30-percent staff reduction in June 2009. Rumor has it that News Corp. is putting increased pressure on MySpace to turn a profit. The site was purchased for $580 million back in 2005, and has consistently lost money since then, including $156 million in the quarter ending in September 2010. We wouldn't be shocked if, by this time next year, MySpace was just a distant memory.

SwitchedMySpace Staff Cut Nearly in Half originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>myspaceNewsCorpSocialNetworkingtopWebWed, 12 Jan 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[With 'Mashup,' MySpace Gives Up, Becomes Conduit for Facebook]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/myspace-mashup-with-facebook-gives-up/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/myspace-mashup-with-facebook-gives-up/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/myspace-mashup-with-facebook-gives-up/#commentsWhen we imagined the fall of MySpace (or is it My____ now?), we never envisioned this. 'Mashup With Facebook' essentially announces the end of MySpace as a social network. Right on the front page, you'll now find a 'Connect with Facebook' button. As expected, clicking on it will ask you to grant MySpace (and its associated Facebook App) access to your Facebook account. Give it the go-ahead, and MySpace will soon be pulling in your profile data, status updates and Likes.

What MySpace really wants here is your "Likes." Using what you list in your profile, or like around the Web, MySpace will create a customized stream of entertainment news and content. MySpace is now just an uglier place for you to look at your Facebook profile while being bombarded with requests to "Like" bands. We suppose MySpace is not really dead, and it will continue to function as a social network, but this announcement constitutes a surrender to the current king -- Facebook. Without explicitly stating it, MySpace is acknowledging that, unless it learns to play nice with Mark Zuckerberg (who couldn't be bothered to appear alongside MySpace CEO Mike Jones for the announcement), it will only continue to race towards the graveyard of social networks. We bet Tom is glad he sold out when he did.

Continue reading With 'Mashup,' MySpace Gives Up, Becomes Conduit for Facebook

SwitchedWith 'Mashup,' MySpace Gives Up, Becomes Conduit for Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmashup with facebookMashupWithFacebookmyspacesocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopwebThu, 18 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Rolls Out New Redesign, Says It's No Longer Competing With Facebook]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/27/myspace-new-redesign-not-compete-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/27/myspace-new-redesign-not-compete-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/27/myspace-new-redesign-not-compete-facebook/#comments
MySpace
Remember that MySpace makeover that was in the works over the summer? Well, it's finally arrived, and, as expected, the new MySpace focuses more heavily on music and entertainment -- the bread and butter, apparently, of the once-mighty social network.

Taking its cue from Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, MySpace's home page will now feature a steady stream of tidbits about musicians, movies or TV shows that the community is discussing at any given moment. Members will also be able to subscribe to news feeds about their favorite bands and celebrities, and follow other MySpace members with similar tastes (based on the site's recommendations). Of course, members will still be able to customize their profiles with migraine-inducing graphics, but every profile will now have consistently placed navigation buttons, making it easier to jump from one user page to another. Users who spend a lot of time putting together playlists or commenting on TV shows will soon be rewarded for their hard work with these new things called badges. We're told they're irresistible.

Continue reading MySpace Rolls Out New Redesign, Says It's No Longer Competing With Facebook

SwitchedMySpace Rolls Out New Redesign, Says It's No Longer Competing With Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbadgescelebritydemographicsdesignentertainmentfacebookFourSquaremoviesmyspaceNewsCorpredesignSocialNetworkingtoptwitterWed, 27 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WSJ: Your MySpace Data Is Leaking to Advertisers]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/myspace-data-leaking-to-advertisers-wall-street-journal/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/myspace-data-leaking-to-advertisers-wall-street-journal/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/25/myspace-data-leaking-to-advertisers-wall-street-journal/#commentsAccording to an investigation conducted by the Wall Street Journal, MySpace and some of its applications have been leaking user data to third-party advertisers, just months after the social network pledged to change its data-sharing ways. Advertisers reportedly obtained user information via advertisements placed on the site. Each clicked ad gave companies access to that user's MySpace ID, the unique number that can be used to find a person's MySpace profile. Some MySpace applications -- including TagMe, GreenSpot and RockYou Pets -- were also leaking user IDs, according to the Journal's investigation.

A MySpace spokesman acknowledged that a leaked user ID could indeed locate a person's profile, but it wouldn't necessarily provide advertisers with his or her full name. MySpace, after all, allows users to hide their real names on their profiles, which are assigned under customized 'display names.' Essentially, then, the only data a user ID holds is whatever information a user has already chosen to make public. The spokesman added that MySpace would be "taking appropriate action" against app developers mentioned in the Journal's report.

SwitchedWSJ: Your MySpace Data Is Leaking to Advertisers originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adsadvertisingmyspaceNewsCorpprivacySocialNetworkingtopwall street journalWallStreetJournalMon, 25 Oct 2010 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Good News: MySpace Unveils New Logo. Bad News: It's Still MySpace.]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/good-news-myspace-unveils-new-logo-bad-news-its-still-myspac/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/good-news-myspace-unveils-new-logo-bad-news-its-still-myspac/http://www.switched.com/2010/10/11/good-news-myspace-unveils-new-logo-bad-news-its-still-myspac/#comments
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In July, MySpace revealed it was working on a sparkling new site redesign, in the hopes that a new look would give the social network a boost in traffic. Instead of throwing in the towel and wallowing in self pity, however, the once-proud site is taking another shot at online relevance -- with a new logo.

The logo, which was unveiled at Friday's Warm Gun Design conference in San Francisco, takes a blatantly literal approach to the social network's name, with the word 'my' followed by a symbol denoting a space. According to MySpace VP of User Experience Mike Macadaan, the idea is for MySpace's users to fill in the space with their own artwork. "MySpace is a platform for people to be whatever they want, so we've decided to give them the space to do it," Macadaan tells TechCrunch. Kitsch as the concept may be, the site's users may actually appreciate having a new corner to personalize -- assuming, of course, that MySpace still has any users.

Continue reading Good News: MySpace Unveils New Logo. Bad News: It's Still MySpace.

SwitchedGood News: MySpace Unveils New Logo. Bad News: It's Still MySpace. originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artworkbrandingbusinessweekcustomizedesignlogomarketingmyspaceredesignSocialNetworkingtopwebdesignMon, 11 Oct 2010 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[NY Judge Says Facebook Posts Can Be Used as Court Evidence -- Even if They're Private]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/30/ny-judge-says-facebook-posts-can-be-used-as-court-evidence-ev/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/30/ny-judge-says-facebook-posts-can-be-used-as-court-evidence-ev/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/30/ny-judge-says-facebook-posts-can-be-used-as-court-evidence-ev/#commentsFacebook users in New York may have an entirely new reason to mind their online p's and q's, thanks to a state judge's decision to allow private Facebook posts as court evidence.

As Forbes explains, the Suffolk County, New York case involved a woman who was personally injured after falling out of an office chair in 2003. Claiming that the incident was due to the chair's defective construction, the plaintiff, Kathleen Romano, filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, seeking damages for the injuries she sustained. The chair company's lawyers, however, were skeptical of the true extent of her injuries, citing public photos on Romano's Facebook profile that showed the defendant smiling in front of her home, instead of suffering from, say, a hospital bed. Her public Facebook history, moreover, revealed that she'd taken a vacation to Florida shortly after sustaining the allegedly severe injuries. On these grounds, then, the defense argued that there may be more salient evidence to be culled from the private areas of her profile, and requested a subpoena to access both her Facebook and MySpace accounts.

Continue reading NY Judge Says Facebook Posts Can Be Used as Court Evidence -- Even if They're Private

SwitchedNY Judge Says Facebook Posts Can Be Used as Court Evidence -- Even if They're Private originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>courtevidencefacebooklawlawsuitmyspaceNewYorkprivacyPrivacySettingsSocialNetworkingtopThu, 30 Sep 2010 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Twitter Tops MySpace in Traffic, We Yawn]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/29/twitter-tops-myspace-in-traffic-we-yawn/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/29/twitter-tops-myspace-in-traffic-we-yawn/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/29/twitter-tops-myspace-in-traffic-we-yawn/#commentsWell, it looks like MySpace's makeover hasn't done a lot to slow its inevitable slide into online obscurity. According to the Wall Street Journal, Twitter has now surpassed the once-popular social network in unique visitors, cementing its position as the third most popular social network in the world. According to data from comScore Inc., the site received almost 96 million unique hits last month, marking a 76-percent increase from the same month last year. MySpace, on the other hand, suffered a 17-percent decrease in visitors over the same period, falling to 95 million unique hits last month.

Both sites, of course, have a long way to go until they catch up with Facebook, which enjoyed a 54-percent growth spurt in unique visitors during August. But with Twitter's new redesign expected to attract even more visitors in the next few months, it doesn't look like MySpace will catch up to either competitor anytime soon. As long as Papa Murdoch continues to write the checks, though, it may not even matter.

SwitchedTwitter Tops MySpace in Traffic, We Yawn originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessfacebookmyspacesocialnetworkingtoptraffictwitterwebWed, 29 Sep 2010 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[News Corp. Hopes 'Idol' Tie-in Will Resurrect the Glittery Ghost of MySpace]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/09/18/news-corp-hopes-idol-tie-in-will-resurrect-the-glittery-ghost/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/18/news-corp-hopes-idol-tie-in-will-resurrect-the-glittery-ghost/http://www.switched.com/2010/09/18/news-corp-hopes-idol-tie-in-will-resurrect-the-glittery-ghost/#commentsIdol Auditions on MySpace MySpace is a digital Detroit. What once was a gleaming social networking metropolis, demonstrating how the Web could connect us all, is now an Internet ghetto and the butt of countless jokes. But its owner, News Corp., is hoping to leverage its seemingly bottomless coffers and other successful properties to resurrect the once-king of the social networks. Last year, the company hosted auditions for 'Glee' on the site, and now it's pulling the same trick with 'American Idol.'

The glorified talent show that simply refuses to die is entering its tenth season and asking for potential contestants to submit videos to MySpace in hopes of landing a spot on the show. 'Idol' hopefuls can post their auditions until October 6th, as long as they're between the ages of 15 and 28. The judges will then review tens of thousands of entries, and pick the best submissions for callbacks and an appearance on the program. We just hope News Corp. isn't expecting a miracle; you probably couldn't pay us enough to revive our MySpace accounts.

SwitchedNews Corp. Hopes 'Idol' Tie-in Will Resurrect the Glittery Ghost of MySpace originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american idolamerican idol auditionsAmericanIdolAmericanIdolAuditionsnews corpNewsCorprupert murdochRupertMurdochtoptvSat, 18 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Florida Teachers Barred from Friending Students on Facebook]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/florida-teachers-barred-from-friending-students-on-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/florida-teachers-barred-from-friending-students-on-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/florida-teachers-barred-from-friending-students-on-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , ,

screenshot of new lee county school district guidelines
School officials in Lee County, Florida have issued a new set of guidelines for the upcoming academic year. This go-round, they're cracking down on Facebook.

As the AFP reports, the newly published protocol explicitly warns district teachers against interacting with their students via social networking sites, in order to avoid the kinds of legal or professional pitfalls that have plagued so many. "It is inappropriate for employees to communicate, regardless of the reason, with current students enrolled in the district on any public social networking Web site," the guidelines read. "This includes becoming 'friends' or allowing students access to personal Web pages for communication reasons." The guidelines also warn against posting personal information or photos, and now prohibit educators from posting any information about their students.

Continue reading Florida Teachers Barred from Friending Students on Facebook

SwitchedFlorida Teachers Barred from Friending Students on Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>educationfacebookfloridalee countyLeeCountymyspaceschoolschoolssocialsocial networksocial networkingsocial-networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingstudentstudentsteacherteacherstoptwitterwebThu, 19 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Preps for 'Full Relaunch,' PlayStation Android Device Coming Soon?]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/myspace-preps-for-full-relaunch-playstation-android-device-co/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/myspace-preps-for-full-relaunch-playstation-android-device-co/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/myspace-preps-for-full-relaunch-playstation-android-device-co/#commentsMySpace Relaunch
Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • MySpace continues to roll out site alterations in preparation for its "full relaunch" this fall, and the latest upgrades include a streamlined home screen and a more pronounced user stream. But will all this be far too late? [From: Boston.com]
  • Sony Ericsson may drop the essential mobile for gamers this fall -- in the body of an Android 3.0 gaming phone that will reportedly feature controls instead of a keyboard, a large screen and PlayStation content. [From: Engadget]
  • The BlackBerry Podcasts service officially launches for almost all models today, finally allowing BlackBerry owners -- via the App World -- to download and view content through their (previously not-so) smartphones. [From: Electronista]
  • Microsoft experienced a dubious milestone this week, as Patch Tuesday witnessed the release of a record-breaking 14 security patches for 34 vulnerabilities, including 14 "critical" ones. [From: Digital Trends]
  • Despite the nation's unimpressive broadband rankings, most U.S. consumers reportedly think that a federally endorsed broadband plan is "not too important," or that it shouldn't be pursued at all. [From: Reuters]
  • Joining the Smoking Gun and MySpace, Craigslist has become the latest (prehistoric) site to implement alterations in order to create a more navigable and aesthetic user experience. [From: TechCrunch]

SwitchedMySpace Preps for 'Full Relaunch,' PlayStation Android Device Coming Soon? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple security updateAppleSecurityUpdateblackberrycraigslistgamingmicrosoftmorningxtramyspacenationalbroadbandplanplaystationsocialnetworkingSonyEricssontopThu, 12 Aug 2010 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Even More Reviled Than the IRS, Study Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/20/facebook-even-more-reviled-than-the-irs-study-says/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/20/facebook-even-more-reviled-than-the-irs-study-says/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/20/facebook-even-more-reviled-than-the-irs-study-says/#commentsFiled under: ,

users rate facebook lower than irs
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Everyone hates the IRS. And, when it comes to universal loathsomeness, Facebook ranks even lower. According to results from the 2010 American Customer Survey Index (ACSI), Mark Zuckerberg's social networking goliath scored a 64 out of a possible 100 points, putting it below the IRS (which scored a 79 earlier this year), airlines and cable providers. In a statement, Facebook spokesman Jonny Thaw said the site didn't have much of a chance to look over the survey's methodology, but admitted that "clearly we have room to improve."

Larry Freed, president and CEO of ACSI sponsor ForeSee Results, believes that a lot of Facebook's consumer complaints stem from the site's demographic expansion in recent years. As the network has opened its doors to more age groups, Facebook has been forced to deal with a substantially larger consumer base, many of whom don't take kindly to the company's persistent site renovations. Although the social network's privacy policy remains controversial, Freed tells the Wall Street Journal that many consumers had issues with Facebook's expanded online advertising strategy, as well. "Their monetization strategy is not meeting the expectations of consumers," Freed claims.

Continue reading Facebook Even More Reviled Than the IRS, Study Says

SwitchedFacebook Even More Reviled Than the IRS, Study Says originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACSIadvertisingbusinessCustomerSatisfactionfacebookFacebookPrivacyIRSmyspaceSocialNetworkingstudysurveytopwebTue, 20 Jul 2010 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Profile Redesign in the Works, Welcomes Site to Post-2005]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/16/myspace-profile-redesign-in-the-works-welcomes-site-to-post-200/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/16/myspace-profile-redesign-in-the-works-welcomes-site-to-post-200/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/16/myspace-profile-redesign-in-the-works-welcomes-site-to-post-200/#commentsFiled under: ,

New MySpace Profiles
If any of you out there still use MySpace, you'll be excited to know that MySpace is getting its first significant makeover in ages, according to Mashable. Taking cues from Facebook, and its own MySpace Lite experiment, the new MySpace profiles being tested strip out some of the bloat, streamline navigation and de-emphasize comments from other users.

You'll notice upon visiting one of the redesigned pages that the navigation buttons have been shifted into a column on the left side, under the profile photo. Next, you'll see the center of the page has been overtaken by the MySpace Stream, an index of a user's recent activity similar to Facebook's News Feed, ready for visitors comments. You'll also notice that there is improved integration with other social networking services like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Continue reading MySpace Profile Redesign in the Works, Welcomes Site to Post-2005

SwitchedMySpace Profile Redesign in the Works, Welcomes Site to Post-2005 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmyspacemyspace mobilemyspace redesignmyspace.comMyspaceMobileMyspaceRedesignNews Corp.NewsCorp.profileredesignsocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[White Flight: The MySpace/Facebook Racial Divide]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/15/white-flight-the-myspace-facebook-racial-divide/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/15/white-flight-the-myspace-facebook-racial-divide/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/15/white-flight-the-myspace-facebook-racial-divide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

myspace logo
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In a compelling article (PDF) titled 'White Flight in Networked Publics -- How Race and Class Shaped American Teen Engagement with MySpace and Facebook,' Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd argues that race and social class were significant factors in the 2006 teenage exodus from MySpace to Facebook. As Technology Review reports, the author uses statistical and anecdotal evidence to persuasively argue that white and Asian teens from higher socio-economic backgrounds were more likely to flock to Facebook in 2006, when the social network was still restricted to colleges and universities. Their black, latino and working-class counterparts, on the other hand, tended to stick with MySpace, which Boyd dubs the "digital ghetto."

Perhaps the most fascinating part of Boyd's article, though, is her take on the role that mainstream media played in perpetuating the real or perceived myth of a MySpace exodus. In 2009, for example, the New York Times ran a piece titled 'Do You Know Anyone Still On MySpace?' despite the fact that, at the time, both Facebook and MySpace had about the same number of members. "The New York Times staff was on Facebook and assumed their readers were too," she claims. The author goes on to cite a few user comments on the Times article that dovetail perfectly with her argument. "My impression is that MySpace is for the riffraff and Facebook is for the landed gentry," writes one reader. "Compared to Facebook, MySpace just seems like the other side of the tracks -- I'll go there for fun, but I wouldn't want to live there," opines another.

Continue reading White Flight: The MySpace/Facebook Racial Divide

SwitchedWhite Flight: The MySpace/Facebook Racial Divide originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asianblackclasscollegedanah boydDanahBoydEconomicsfacebookHighSchoolMicrosoftmyspaceracesocialSocialNetworkingtopwhiteThu, 15 Jul 2010 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Relativity Media Adding Premium Content to Netflix, Daily Deals Landing on Twitter]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/06/relativity-media-adding-premium-content-to-netflix-daily-deals/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/06/relativity-media-adding-premium-content-to-netflix-daily-deals/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/06/relativity-media-adding-premium-content-to-netflix-daily-deals/#commentsnetflix and relativity media logos
 Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • Netflix has already bolstered its streaming catalog with the premium network Starz Play service, and a new deal with Relativity Media, which should continue to pressure movie channels like HBO and Showtime, now gives Netflix broadcasting rights to a growing library of recently released content. The first Relativity titles to appear will reportedly include 'Season of the Witch' with Nicolas Cage and 'The Fighter' with Christian Bale. [From: Paid Content and Engadget]
  • Twitter's recent additions of an @anywhere feature and a "promoted tweets" scheme both generate needed revenue for the site. A new "Early Bird" daily deal should help build on that successful pattern, but if you want to find out specific information, Twitter PR has reportedly stated, "Keep waking up early, and you might be the first to find out what they are." [From: Business Insider]
  • The robot and acronym wizards at DARPA, who previously unleashed the GUARD-DOG (Analysis for Rapid Detection - Deployed on the Ground) and RATS (Robust Automatic Transcription of Speech), are appealing to both biologists and comic nerds with two new creations. The group's BaTMAN (Biochronicity and Temporal Mechanisms Arising in Nature) will study "the spatio-temporal universe," while its RoBIN (Robustness of Biologically Inspired Networks) will investigate human behavior and "biological design principles." [From: Wired]
  • Foursquare's recent privacy debacle certainly hasn't tempered user enthusiasm, as the site experienced its first "million-check in" day last Friday. Then it promptly happened again on Saturday. For Foursquare to host 1 million user check-ins during a single day, an average of 11.58 must occur every second. [From: Geekosystem]
  • The witty and wily Woot crew increasingly cements itself as one of the Web's most admirable and hilarious group of merry pranksters. After the Associated Press apparently lifted comments pertaining to Woot's recent Amazon deal from the Woot blog, the online retailer required the AP to adhere to its own quotation-payment plan. Woot is charging those staid old scriveners $17.50 for the used material, but is also willing to waive that debt if the AP produces an "email receipt from today's two pack of Sennheiser MX400 In-Ear headphones." [From: Tech Crunch]
  • Despite a recent admission of MySpace failure from chief Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. is reportedly soliciting major corporations for advertising help. A current deal with Google ends in August, and News Corp. hopes someone, specifically Google, Microsoft or Yahoo!, can help to fill the void. [From: Reuters]

SwitchedRelativity Media Adding Premium Content to Netflix, Daily Deals Landing on Twitter originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Associated PressAssociatedPressBatmanCheckIndarpaearly birdEarlyBirdFourSquaremorningxtramyspacenetflixNewsCorpPromotedTweetsRelativity MediaRelativityMediarobinRupertMurdochstarzplaytoptwitterwootTue, 06 Jul 2010 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Chiefs Dwayne Bowe Says Players 'Import' Facebook Girls to Hotel Rooms]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/chiefs-dwayne-bowe-says-players-import-facebook-girls-to-hotel/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/chiefs-dwayne-bowe-says-players-import-facebook-girls-to-hotel/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/25/chiefs-dwayne-bowe-says-players-import-facebook-girls-to-hotel/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dwayne Bowe Talks Facebook
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe could be in for a long season after some comments he made last week. According to Pro Football Talk, Bowe told ESPN Magazine that his veteran teammates would meet girls on Facebook and MySpace, and fly them to hotel rooms in cities they visited during the season. Bowe said there's even a name for it -- importing.

"You hear stories about groupies hanging out in hotel lobbies, but some of my teammates had it set up so there was a girl in every room," Bowe said to the magazine. "The older guys get on MySpace and Facebook a week before we go to a city; when a pretty one writes back, they arrange to fly her in three or four days in advance. They call it importing."

Continue reading Chiefs Dwayne Bowe Says Players 'Import' Facebook Girls to Hotel Rooms

SwitchedChiefs Dwayne Bowe Says Players 'Import' Facebook Girls to Hotel Rooms originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 25 May 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dwayne boweDwayneBowefacebookfootballKansas City ChiefsKansasCityChiefsmyspaceNFLSocialNetworkingsportstoptrollingWebTue, 25 May 2010 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Get NBC 'Swag' by Tweeting, Facebooking About Network Shows]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/05/17/get-nbc-swag-by-tweeting-facebooking-about-network-shows/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/17/get-nbc-swag-by-tweeting-facebooking-about-network-shows/http://www.switched.com/2010/05/17/get-nbc-swag-by-tweeting-facebooking-about-network-shows/#commentsFiled under: , ,

nbc's new affiliate program 'fan it'NBC's marketing team is either full of geniuses or really, really lazy. The network's new affinity program, called Fan It, asks MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and myNBC users to promote and discuss the network's shows in exchange for NBC merchandise, store discounts, "virtual goods" and early previews of new episodes.

We don't really like the term "affinity program," because it's nothing more than the network enlisting potentially thousands of fans to do the company's flack-work by offering some NBC-branded baubles. Don't get us wrong -- we love us some '30 Rock' (even if 'The Marriage Ref' ruins the experience right after, like eating a delicious crème brûlée followed by warm dose of stale asparagus and anchovy water). This just feels a bit icky to us.

Continue reading Get NBC 'Swag' by Tweeting, Facebooking About Network Shows

SwitchedGet NBC 'Swag' by Tweeting, Facebooking About Network Shows originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 17 May 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30 rock30Rockaffiliate-marketingcrowdsourcingfacebookmarketingmynbcmyspacenbcnbc universalNbcUniversalSocialNetworkingtelevisionthe marriage refThe OfficeTheMarriageRefTheOfficetoptvtwitterMon, 17 May 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Jobs Suggests Android for Porn, Apple iPad 3G Lands on April 30th]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/04/20/steve-jobs-suggests-android-for-porn-bloombergs-redesign-looks/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/20/steve-jobs-suggests-android-for-porn-bloombergs-redesign-looks/http://www.switched.com/2010/04/20/steve-jobs-suggests-android-for-porn-bloombergs-redesign-looks/#comments

Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....

  • The ever-present iPhone-Porn War continues to rage, and, in his latest anti-smut salvo, Steve Jobs also managed to assault another longtime Apple rival. In a purportedly authentic e-mail, Jobs contended that Apple not only has a "moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone," but that consumers who "want porn can buy and [sic] Android phone." Way to take the "moral" high road, Steve. [From: Tech Crunch]
  • Apple has officially announced that in-store sales of its iPad 3G will begin April 30th in the U.S. Consumers who opted to pre-order the WIFI + 3G tablet, prior to yesterday at least, will also begin receiving their gadgets on the same date. [From: Engadget]
  • Bloomberg's website reigns as one of the ugliest, blurriest and most migraine-inducing sites on the Web. Apparently, Bloomberg's operators have decided to drop the garish orange-on-black Halloween theme, though, and -- while still not perfect -- it definitely appears to be much easier on the eyes. The preview of the redesign does happen to posses a striking and troubling resemblance to a certain tech blog, though. [From: Tech Crunch]
  • Facebook's implementation of a 'Like' button prompted assertions that the site's new content-sharing feature would track users' Web histories in order to garner information for behavioral advertising practices. The site has responded in order to dispel those accusations, though. A Facebook spokesperson reportedly stated that the site has no "changes planned to our ad offering or ad policies." [From: The Telegraph]
  • A new detail in the winter Google hack has emerged, and the alarming revelation concerns a secretive password system known as Gaia. According to the New York Times, the hackers reportedly compromised the system which "controls access by millions of users worldwide to almost all of the company's Web services." The breach, which Google almost immediately sought to rectify, reportedly won't affect Gmail users or their individual passwords. [From: The New York Times]
  • Facebook passed rival MySpace in terms of Internet traffic last year, and the popularity disparity between the two sites continues to increase. Facebook, which now outnumbers the U.S. in terms of population, currently owns a 41-percent share in social media trafficking, compared to a lagging 24-percent for MySpace. [From: Mashable]

SwitchedSteve Jobs Suggests Android for Porn, Apple iPad 3G Lands on April 30th originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbloomberg.comfacebookgaiagmailgoogleipad 3gIpad3gmorningxtramyspacepornredesignsteve jobsSteveJobstopTue, 20 Apr 2010 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Packed With Tweens and Bands, MySpace Not Dead, Just Slow]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/03/10/packed-with-tweens-and-bands-myspace-not-dead-just-slow/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/10/packed-with-tweens-and-bands-myspace-not-dead-just-slow/http://www.switched.com/2010/03/10/packed-with-tweens-and-bands-myspace-not-dead-just-slow/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Admit it. You'd pretty much given up on MySpace. Struggling to keep pace with the two-headed monster of Facebook and Twitter, the once proud social network seems to have both feet in the grave. But don't go signing that death certificate just yet; MySpace may be slow, but thanks to a new surge of younger users, it's far from dead.

Despite enduring the resignations of two CEOs last year, MySpace, according to USAToday, has managed to carve out a social media niche for itself, and is even expected to haul in a handsome $350 million in revenue this year. By going back to its roots, MySpace has made a conscious effort to distinguish the site as a place for younger audiences to "discover and be discovered." With a greater selection of games, and a more pointed emphasis on entertainment news for the 'Twilight' crowd, the site has amped up its campaign to draw in more of the 13-to-34 age demographic -- which, by the way, comprises a whopping 84-percent of MySpace's total user base.

Continue reading Packed With Tweens and Bands, MySpace Not Dead, Just Slow

SwitchedPacked With Tweens and Bands, MySpace Not Dead, Just Slow originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demographicsmarketingmyspaceMyspaceMusicsocialnetworkinSocialNetworkingtopwebWed, 10 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace Coming to Outlook]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/linkedin-facebook-and-myspace-coming-to-outlook/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/linkedin-facebook-and-myspace-coming-to-outlook/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/18/linkedin-facebook-and-myspace-coming-to-outlook/#commentsFiled under: ,

LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace Coming to Outlook

There has been some grumbling around the Internet about how Google's Buzz merely adds noise to the sanctity of your Gmail inbox. But, like it or not, combining social networking and e-mail is the future. Even Microsoft agrees, hence today's announcement that the company has struck deals with LinkedIn, Facebook, and MySpace that will bring your disparate networks of friends and colleagues to Outlook.

Outlook 2010, when combined with Outlook Social Connect, will have the power to bring status updates and user photos to your e-mail. The MySpace and Facebook plug-ins won't be coming out till later this year, when Outlook 2010 is officially launched, and details about exactly how they'll function haven't been revealed. But, starting today, users can download the beta of Outlook Social Connect, and start integrating LinkedIn with their daily e-mail use.

Continue reading LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace Coming to Outlook

SwitchedLinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace Coming to Outlook originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebooklinkedinmicrosoftmyspaceoutlookoutlook 2010outlook social connectOutlook2010OutlookSocialConnecttopThu, 18 Feb 2010 06:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Average Social Networking Gamer in the U.S.? Your Mom.]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/17/average-social-networking-gamer-in-the-u-s-your-mom/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/17/average-social-networking-gamer-in-the-u-s-your-mom/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/17/average-social-networking-gamer-in-the-u-s-your-mom/#commentsFiled under: ,

Share
Who do you think is most likely to send new livestock or crops your way on Farmville? According to GigaOM, your friend's mom (or even your own) is the typical social gamer. A recent survey of the U.S. and U.K. by Info Solutions Group (ISG) showed that the average person who plays games like Farmville, Bejeweled or Mafia Wars is a 43-year-old woman. In the U.S., 55-percent of people who play these games are women, and the average age is 48-years-old. On top of that, 38-percent of these female gamers say they play several times each day. In other words, moms are taking over the basement gaming lairs of their nerdy kids.

This shouldn't be much of a surprise when you consider the number of women who have flocked to Facebook. Besides that, these social networking games appeal to an older crowd because they don't require huge chunks of time and have no complicated equipment to worry about, either.

Continue reading Average Social Networking Gamer in the U.S.? Your Mom.

SwitchedAverage Social Networking Gamer in the U.S.? Your Mom. originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfarmvillegamesmommyspacesocialnetworkingsurveytopwebWed, 17 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Steve Jobs Authorizes Biographer, Tom Ditches MySpace]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/16/steve-jobs-authorizes-biographer-tom-ditches-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/16/steve-jobs-authorizes-biographer-tom-ditches-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/16/steve-jobs-authorizes-biographer-tom-ditches-myspace/#comments
Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • The first authorized Steve Jobs biography is reportedly in the works, and Jobs has apparently (and somewhat surprisingly) cooperated with the man tabbed to chronicle his life. Jobs has invited writer Walter Isaacson, who has previously penned biographies of Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein, to take a tour of the Apple mogul's childhood home. [From: The New York Times]
  • As Facebook's popularity has continued to grow, MySpace has been left behind as the forgotten former flame. The dwindling interest also apparently applies to everyone's oldest MySpace friend, the sheepishly smiling Tom. Tom Anderson, the co-founder of MySpace, is unceremoniously dumping the site, as he has reportedly not posted since Christmas and hasn't signed in since January 24th. [From: The Consumerist]
  • Worldwide cell phone usage has skyrocketed over the last 10 years. According to the U.N. telecommunications agency, that explosion of growth has resulted in a total of 4.6 billion cell phone subscriptions, a number which is expected to hit 5 billion within the next year. [From: CBS News]
  • Back in 2006, Floyd Landis became only the third U.S. cyclist to conquer the Tour de France, but his reign as champion was brief; he was quickly dethroned due to accusations of doping. A French judge has now issued a national arrest warrant for Landis because of a 2006 hacking incident at the drug lab where Landis's samples were being analyzed. Landis categorized it as "another case of fabricated evidence." [From: The Associated Press, via: Slashdot]
  • The infancy of Google Buzz has been marked by fluidity and mild controversy, and the company recently revealed why its social networking service has needed such constant tinkering. Google reportedly never offered a beta version of Buzz for public testing, so the company has been forced to adapt as people become more familiar with the service's features (and failures). [From: The BBC]

SwitchedSteve Jobs Authorizes Biographer, Tom Ditches MySpace originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfloyd landisFloydLandisgoogle buzzGoogleBuzzmorningxtramyspacesteve jobsSteveJobstomtopwalter isaacsonWalterIsaacsonTue, 16 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Infidelity Used By Lawyers in Divorce Cases]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/12/facebook-infidelity-used-by-lawyers-in-divorce-cases/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/12/facebook-infidelity-used-by-lawyers-in-divorce-cases/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/12/facebook-infidelity-used-by-lawyers-in-divorce-cases/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's no question that the social networking boom has led to an increase in cheating spouses. But what might be surprising is that social networking is being more commonly used in the courtroom -- as evidence.

According to the New York Post, a recent survey from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers shows that 81-percent of the lawyers questioned said they've used evidence from social networking sites more and more often over the past five years. Of those surveyed, 66-percent have used incriminating evidence from Facebook, 15-percent from MySpace, and just 5-percent from Twitter. "Every client I've seen in the last six months had a Facebook page," AAML vice-president Ken Altshuler told the New York Post. "The first piece of advice I give them is to terminate their page immediately."

Continue reading Facebook Infidelity Used By Lawyers in Divorce Cases

SwitchedFacebook Infidelity Used By Lawyers in Divorce Cases originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheatingdivorcefacebookinfidelitylawmarriagemyspacesocialnetworkingtoptwitterwebFri, 12 Feb 2010 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Judge Rules Students Can Be Suspended for Fake MySpace Pages]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/06/judge-rules-students-can-be-suspended-for-fake-myspace-pages/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday that schools can legally suspend students for creating fake MySpace profiles, but only if the fabricated online personas poses some sort of school disruption. A three judge panel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania came to their decision after a student posted a sexually explicit parody of her principal on her fake MySpace page. The panel ruled that the school could legitimately expect the post to disrupt normal school activities, and thus granted authorities the right to suspend the student. As HuffPo reports, though, another Pennsylvania court in Mercer County ruled, in a nearly identical case, that high schools don't have the right to regulate a student's digital activity at home, arguing that a child's MySpace posts fell under the umbrella of his or her right to free speech.

As social networking has become more prevalent in middle and high schools around the country, school authorities have been seeking some sort of definitive ruling on whether or not they have the right to police students on the Internet. As Witold Walczak of the ACLU tells the Washington Post, "The law was unclear and now it's in a state of chaos." To make matters worse, a case of this nature hasn't yet reached the Supreme Court, so lower courts are forced to use older high court rulings on the boundaries of school jurisdiction as their only legal compass.

Continue reading Judge Rules Students Can Be Suspended for Fake MySpace Pages

SwitchedJudge Rules Students Can Be Suspended for Fake MySpace Pages originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free speechfreespeechlawmyspaceschoolsocial networkingSocialNetworkingwebSat, 06 Feb 2010 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA['Delete Your Account' Helps You End Your Facebook, Myspace Account]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/02/03/delete-your-account-helps-you-end-your-facebook-myspace-accou/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/03/delete-your-account-helps-you-end-your-facebook-myspace-accou/http://www.switched.com/2010/02/03/delete-your-account-helps-you-end-your-facebook-myspace-accou/#commentsFiled under: ,

Online companies have slowly made account deletion exasperatingly difficult (if not impossible) to accomplish, and success may only follow hours of trial-and-error-induced hysterics. While GetHuman has been guiding frustrated consumers through the maze of support lines for sometime, it was only recently that we spotted a similar service that walked users around the hair-pulling experience of expunging profiles, or accounts, from clingy Web sites.

The plainly titled Delete Your Account does exactly what you think: shows you the steps required to remove your presence from various Web sites. Wherever possible, it offers a link to the page where the deletion process begins.

Continue reading 'Delete Your Account' Helps You End Your Facebook, Myspace Account

Switched'Delete Your Account' Helps You End Your Facebook, Myspace Account originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delete your accountDeleteYourAccountfacebookfriendstermyspacetoptwitterwebWed, 03 Feb 2010 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Romantic Profile Pic Study: Sneer, and Remove the Ed Hardy Shirt]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/22/romantic-profile-pic-study-sneer-and-remove-the-ed-hardy-shirt/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/22/romantic-profile-pic-study-sneer-and-remove-the-ed-hardy-shirt/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/22/romantic-profile-pic-study-sneer-and-remove-the-ed-hardy-shirt/#commentsFiled under: ,

Share
When trying to attract future romantic partners, colorful adornments and displays of athletic prowess tend to be the accepted and expected methods for animals and people, alike. Those practices definitely materialize on the Web, and the most effective way to demonstrate that readiness to mate may just be the social networking profile photo.

Some stat geek sociologists over at the online dating site OK Cupid have performed an anthropological study of over 7,000 of its own members' profile photos. By judging the photos and examining the amount of new messages those members received, the photo-scientists have attempted to determine which posing style tends to most effectively lure interested and willing partners. The sample was limited to members between the ages of 18 and 32, and focused primarily on three points of analysis: Facial Attitude (e.g., smiling, pouty emaciated model look); Photo Context (e.g., location, presence of alcohol); and Skin (e.g., boobs, abs, biceps).

Continue reading Romantic Profile Pic Study: Sneer, and Remove the Ed Hardy Shirt

SwitchedRomantic Profile Pic Study: Sneer, and Remove the Ed Hardy Shirt originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datingfacebookmyspaceokcupidprofileromancesocial networkingSocialNetworkingtwitterFri, 22 Jan 2010 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Android to Serve Up 'Froyo,' Uncle Sam Wants You (to be a Geek)]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/01/18/android-to-serve-up-froyo-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-be-a-geek/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/18/android-to-serve-up-froyo-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-be-a-geek/http://www.switched.com/2010/01/18/android-to-serve-up-froyo-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-be-a-geek/#comments
Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • Apparently, the Android marketing department suffers from a collective case of the munchies whenever it hold its brainstorming sessions. Following Cupcakes, Donuts, and Eclairs, the next Android serving will reportedly be known as Froyo, short for 'frozen yogurt.' [From: Engadget]
  • The U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) frequently makes headlines for its cerebral contests and incredibly awesome technical achievements. The organization is also trying to make sure future generations can continue to come up with similar ingenious ideas. Worried about a lack of budding young nerds, DARPA is currently investigating methods of luring kids into science in order to mold them into computer geeks. [From: Wired]
  • The Apple iSlate rumors have dominated the recent e-reader discussions, but the loaded ASUS DR-570 should start generating its own media hoopla. The color e-reader will reportedly have Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities, and will load pages at an astonishing rate (about 23-times faster than the Kindle). [From: Engadget]
  • MySpace may have become the neglected social networking blacksheep, but the site has been taking steps to ensure its relevance and success. After purchasing music service Imeem last month, MySpace has finally allowed members to upload their old Imeem playlists. [From: CNET]
  • While most of the Apple conjecture is focused on the iSlate, some new revelations have surfaced about a possible 22-inch iMac. The expected model will supposedly be equipped with a Sintek Photronic touchscreen. [From: Engadget]
  • The Internet in Italy is about to become incredibly boring and absurdly lame. Government officials have reportedly proposed a decree that would ban people from uploading videos without prior government authorization. Um, Mr. Berlusconi? Is it okay to upload a video to YouTube so we can repeatedly RickRoll the jerk who came up with this idea? [From: The Standard]

SwitchedAndroid to Serve Up 'Froyo,' Uncle Sam Wants You (to be a Geek) originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidAppleberlusconidarpafroyoimeemislateitalymorningxtramyspacetopMon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy Generously Gives Away Free App... For Free!]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/29/best-buy-generously-gives-away-free-app-for-free/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/29/best-buy-generously-gives-away-free-app-for-free/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/29/best-buy-generously-gives-away-free-app-for-free/#commentsFiled under:

Best Buy Generously Gives Away Free App for Free
We've spent a decent amount of time ragging on Best Buy for its rather questionable business practices, but we've got to hand it to the retailer this time. It's offering such a sweeeeeet deal on the (already) free social networking application TweetDeck. That's right. Pop into any participating Best Buy, snatch up one of several select CDs for $9.99, and get the free downloadable Twitter/Facebook/MySpace app... for free!

So, you can pick up Lady Gaga's album, or the latest plastic platter of pop dreck from the Black Eyed Peas, for 10 bucks. Then, as a bonus, you can get the free Adobe Air app, and featured free Switched Download, TweetDeck, so that you can "follow the hottest artists." It's really generous of the electronics outlet to just give away a free application like this.

Continue reading Best Buy Generously Gives Away Free App... For Free!

SwitchedBest Buy Generously Gives Away Free App... For Free! originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbestbuydealsfacbeookfreemyspacetoptweetdecktwitterTue, 29 Dec 2009 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[NY Sex Offenders Stymied on 13 Social Networking Sites]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/11/ny-sex-offenders-stymied-on-13-social-networking-sites/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/11/ny-sex-offenders-stymied-on-13-social-networking-sites/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/11/ny-sex-offenders-stymied-on-13-social-networking-sites/#commentsFiled under:

New York Sex Offenders Banned from 13 More Sites
For the past few years, social network mega-sites Facebook and MySpace have been getting a little safer thanks to each making efforts to block sex offenders. Now, much of the rest of the Internet is getting the similar treatment, with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announcing that 13 more sites are finally following suit, hooking into the state's database of sex offenders and filtering them out. In a statement, Cuomo said, "It is no secret that sexual predators abuse social networking websites to find and manipulate victims and to insinuate themselves into their victims' lives."

Facebook and MySpace are the biggest of the social networks online, but sex offenders have been officially banned from New York since August. This move by sites like Google's Orkut.com and Aol's Beebo.com to block offenders will make it much harder for them to register, at least in the state of New York, where they must not only register their home address but also any e-mail, instant messenger handles, and other online personas they may be using. Other states have yet to follow suit in opening up sex offender databases, but it's hard to see any politician not getting behind this sort of measure. [From: Office of the Attorney General, via: CNET]

SwitchedNY Sex Offenders Stymied on 13 Social Networking Sites originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beebofacebookmyspacenew yorknew york stateNewYorkNewYorkStatenyorkutsex offendersSexOffenderssocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopFri, 11 Dec 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T Slashes BackBerry Prices, Pope Claims Westside With 2Pac]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/12/04/atandt-slashes-backberry-prices-pope-claims-westside-with-2pac/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/04/atandt-slashes-backberry-prices-pope-claims-westside-with-2pac/http://www.switched.com/2009/12/04/atandt-slashes-backberry-prices-pope-claims-westside-with-2pac/#commentsFiled under: ,


Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....
  • Call it BlackBerry Friday. Beginning today, all AT&T BlackBerrys with a two-year contract will be 50-percent off after a mail-in-rebate. [From: Techland]
  • According to a MySpace page where celebrities reveal what's on their iPods, the Pope likes to get down with some Tupac, specifically the track "Changes." Can we now expect a tattoo? Maybe "Papal Life" or "God ain't mad atcha?" [From: The Daily Mail]
  • Twitter is unveiling a new, capitalized mobile app that is "built from scratch, using only Twitter APIs." The new, so-called 'M' is designed to function more like the actual Web page, and while it's ready for Webkit browsers (like the iPhone and Android), the site says it's still fine-tuning a version for BlackBerrys. [From: TUAW]
  • iPhone owners living wherever parking is scarce now have two app options to help find those elusive, and highly coveted, primo parking spots. With Twitter's new upgraded mobile app, those successful spot hunters can also immediately, and more effectively, share their parking conquests with the world. [From: TUAW]
  • Microsoft's Bing search engine suffered an outage yesterday, as a "configuration change" temporarily disabled the site. Some might claim this will thwart Bing's efforts to compete with Google, which is definitely no stranger to outages, but Microsoft did have the problem fixed within 30 minutes. [From: BBC]
  • The aging social networking site Friendster predates most of today's other, more well-known choices, like MySpace and Facebook, but the site still claims to have a whopping 100 million members. Approximately half of those folks live in Asia, so it's only fitting that an Asian firm will reportedly be purchasing the site for at least $100 million. [From: Reuters]
  • The iPhone may be huge in the States, but it's having serious trouble making headway in certain foreign markets. During the few weeks that it has been available, China Unicom has managed to sell just five models through a major online store. [From: PC World]

SwitchedAT&T Slashes BackBerry Prices, Pope Claims Westside With 2Pac originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbingfriendsterhggiphonemorningxtramyspacepopetoptupactwittervaticanFri, 04 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Girls, ACLU Sue School Over Punishment for Racy MySpace Photos]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/girls-aclu-sue-school-over-punishment-for-racy-myspace-photos/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/girls-aclu-sue-school-over-punishment-for-racy-myspace-photos/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/02/girls-aclu-sue-school-over-punishment-for-racy-myspace-photos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Two teenage Indiana girls have sued their high school after the administration punished them for posting sexually suggestive photos of themselves on MySpace, the Associated Press reports. The ACLU, which is representing the two sophomores, argues that the school overstepped its bounds by handing down the punishment and, in so doing, violated the girls' rights to free speech. Attorneys with the ACLU also pointed out that the photos didn't involve the school, and that officials needlessly humiliated the two by making them apologize to an all-male board of coaches. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that schools do have the right to punish students for off-campus behavior, so long as the school can justify that the behavior was disruptive and that similar activities were likely to occur at the school, itself.

In this particular case, the girls took photos during a sleepover held during their summer vacation and posted them on MySpace, adjusting the privacy settings so that only their friends could see them. Eventually, though, the photos circulated throughout the school, and, as some of them showed the lingerie-clad girls licking a phallic lollipop, Principal Austin Couch banned the girls from fall sports, and made them apologize and undergo counseling. According to Couch's attorney, he was simply enforcing the school's athletic code, which allows a principal to punish student athletes for any activity that "creates a disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, moral or educational environment at Churubusco High School."

Continue reading Girls, ACLU Sue School Over Punishment for Racy MySpace Photos

SwitchedGirls, ACLU Sue School Over Punishment for Racy MySpace Photos originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aclufacebookfacelosslawlawsuitmyspaceschoolteenstopMon, 02 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Users Are Richer Than MySpace Users, Study Finds]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/facebook-users-are-richer-than-myspace-users-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/facebook-users-are-richer-than-myspace-users-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/30/facebook-users-are-richer-than-myspace-users-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We can hear the schoolyard taunts already: "You're so poor, you can't even afford to use Facebook!" Strangely enough, this statement might be pretty close to the truth. According to Computer World, a Nielsen study found that more affluent people use Facebook, while less affluent users are on MySpace. In the study, users of seven social networking sites were split into three groups based on affluence. The results showed that the richest group was 25-percent more likely to use Facebook than the least rich group. On the other hand, the least rich group was 37-percent more likely to use MySpace than the richest group.

Could it be because more middle-aged people, who might have steady jobs, are flocking to Facebook? Quite possibly. According to ReadWriteWeb, the study also found that Facebook users are more likely to use business networking site LinkedIn. Just because you have a MySpace profile doesn't mean you're bound for destitution. After all, if Tila Tequila used the site to climb the social networking caste system, you can, too. [From: Computer World and ReadWriteWeb]

SwitchedFacebook Users Are Richer Than MySpace Users, Study Finds originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebooklinked inLinkedInmoneymyspacenielsensocial networkingSocialNetworkingstudytopwealthWed, 30 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Being Used to Track Down Tax Evaders]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/facebook-being-used-to-track-down-tax-evaders/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/facebook-being-used-to-track-down-tax-evaders/http://www.switched.com/2009/09/01/facebook-being-used-to-track-down-tax-evaders/#commentsFiled under: ,


At this point, after years of warnings, everyone should be firmly aware of the dangers of publicly posting incriminating photos or status updates on social networking sites. Exes, parents, current and potential employers, teachers, and coaches have all earned recognition as social networking stalkers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, an ominous and more terrifying entity is beginning to stealthily observe its targets through sites like Facebook and MySpace. In order to collect outstanding revenue, the feared Taxman has been monitoring social networking home pages of evasive debtors in order to track down, and effectively shake, shadowy deadbeats.

Although the IRS hasn't publicly commented on its investigative Web practices, state tax collection agents in Minnesota, Nebraska, and California have all reportedly located, and collected thousands of dollars from, elusive swindlers and shysters based on ill-conceived status updates or public posts. Other states said to be considering the implementation of these surveillance techniques include Oregon and Wisconsin.

Some states restrict their departments' collection of Web information to that taken from publicly accessible pages. So, if you want your affairs to remain private (especially if those affairs are illegal), keep your profiles locked. Unless, of course, you just want to make the next 'Facebook's Dumbest' list. [From: The Wall Street Journal]

SwitchedFacebook Being Used to Track Down Tax Evaders originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MySpace may have finally figured out its niche for combating the Facebook onslaught: music, which the almost-obsolete site nails, way better than its shinier competitor. TechCrunch writes that MySpace is close to an agreement in the purchase of the music-based social networking service iLike.

iLike would not only bring a new pool of members to the NewsCorp-owned site, but would also likely expand its music-centric social features. Plus, it has the potential to put Facebook and other competitors in the awkward position of having a popular, MySpace-run application on their sites. iLike rose to prominence based heavily on the strength of its Facebook application, which lets users share their current music listenings with friends. It also has popular applications on sites like Hi5 and Bebo (owned by our parent company, AOL). The purchase of iLike would reinforce MySpace's push to become a hub for media and entertainment.

Continue reading MySpace In Talks to Purchase iLike Music Service?

SwitchedMySpace In Talks to Purchase iLike Music Service? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessilikemusicmyspacesocial networkingSocialNetworkingtopMon, 17 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Young Hipsters Leaving Social Networking Sites, Research Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/u-k-youngsters-leaving-social-networking-sites-research-says/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/u-k-youngsters-leaving-social-networking-sites-research-says/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/06/u-k-youngsters-leaving-social-networking-sites-research-says/#commentsFiled under: ,



"Since when did Facebook become Mombook?" a friend asked us not too long ago, in regards to the social networking site's increasingly aging clientele. It's been anecdotally proven, time and time again, that there's no quicker way to make something uncool than for parents to catch on to it -- whether it's certain slang words or a particular style of dress.

The Guardian reports that research by media firm Ofcom suggests this adage holds true for social networking sites, too. According to the findings, just 50-percent of 15-to-24-year-olds in the United Kingdom have a profile on a social networking site in 2009, compared to 55-percent in 2008. This is the first time that number has dropped since the Facebook and MySpace boom a few years ago. Conversely, the number of 25-to-34-year-olds that use these sites has risen from 40-percent in 2008 to 46-percent now.

View Poll


If the past is any indication (think music and fashion), this trend will soon hit U.S. shores. Looks like the secret's out, and now young folks will have to find a new way to communicate. Who knows? Maybe they'll start to, you know, actually meet face-to-face and talk. What a novel idea, right? [From: The Guardian]
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Banned Facebook Groups
Surrey, BC Terrorist Group
A Facebook group supporting the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist organization, was taken down by Canadian Police. Authorities were tipped off to the group because its page depicted a young person holding a prohibited gun, which was eventually traced back to 49-year old Bahadur Sandhur. Police seized it and two others when they investigated his home.

Banned Facebook Groups

    Facebook is a great venue for humiliating oneself with ranting and raving, but, like most things, people can take things too far. Give someone a soapbox (or in this case, a Facebook group) and there are sure to be others crazy enough to follow them. Here are some examples of Facebook groups that crossed the line and were banned from the site.

    Assasinate Evo Morales
    Here's a good way to get your group banned -- call for the assassination of a political leader. Titled 'Global Collection to Hire a Sharpshooter to Liquidate Evo Morales' was taken down by Facebook since it bans threatening violence. No surprises here.

    Getty Images

    Surrey, BC Terrorist Group
    A Facebook group supporting the International Sikh Youth Federation, a banned terrorist organization, was taken down by Canadian Police. Authorities were tipped off to the group because its page depicted a young person holding a prohibited gun, which was eventually traced back to 49-year old Bahadur Sandhur. Police seized it and two others when they investigated his home.

    Dead Babies Group
    Facebook took down a group called 'Dead Babies Make Me Laugh' after the UK Sun was flooded with outraged calls and emails. A running joke on campuses, the group included fake anecdotes about killing babies, but mothers weren't laughing even though the group was created and classified as being "just for fun."

    I Need Sex Group
    Laura Michaels of Bristol, England, created a Facebook group called 'I Need Sex.' According to the UK Sun, the group had more than 100 members after being up for only one hour. Michaels claims to have ended up sleeping with 50 of the group's members -- literally half of the group. Facebook opposes this type of personals-ad use, so the group was taken down.

    KKK group
    Facebook recently shut down a group called the 'Isle of Man KKK.' The group called for the elimination of newcomers from the UK island and featured a picture of a hooded Ku Klux Klan member. Thankfully, Facebook's terms of service prohibits content that is hateful or threatening.

SwitchedYoung Hipsters Leaving Social Networking Sites, Research Says originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmyspacesocialnetworkingteenstoptrendsunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwebThu, 06 Aug 2009 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook, MySpace Cause Teen Suicide, Says Archbishop]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/archbishop-warns-of-social-network-suicide-risk/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/archbishop-warns-of-social-network-suicide-risk/http://www.switched.com/2009/08/03/archbishop-warns-of-social-network-suicide-risk/#commentsFiled under: ,


Social networking sites may have finally met their match. The head of the UK Roman Catholic Church Vincent Nichols warns that social networking sites' emphasis on fleeting relationships may leave teens without strong social ties.

Archbishop of Westminster Nichols ruffled some feathers when he told the Sunday Telegraph that the Internet and cell phones are "dehumanizing" community life. His comments come on the heels of the death of a 15-year-old girl who overdosed on painkillers after being taunted on social networking site Bebo. Nichols went on to say that while these sites do build a community, it's not a well-rounded one. The sites create 'transient relationships' and place too much of an emphasis on popularity, as determined by the number of 'friends' a person might have. Nichols told the Sunday Telegraph, "Among young people often a key factor in their committing suicide is the trauma of transient relationships. They throw themselves into a friendship or network of friendships, then it collapses and they're desolate."

Continue reading Facebook, MySpace Cause Teen Suicide, Says Archbishop

SwitchedFacebook, MySpace Cause Teen Suicide, Says Archbishop originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Highlights from this morning's other big tech headlines....

SwitchedMorning Xtra: The Pope's HandyCam, Twittering From Space originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>internetmorningxtramyspacenasanascarnewsnielsentoptwitterThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Police Officer Forced to Resign Over Old MySpace Pics]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/07/06/police-officer-forced-to-resign-over-old-myspace-pics/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/06/police-officer-forced-to-resign-over-old-myspace-pics/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/06/police-officer-forced-to-resign-over-old-myspace-pics/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This February, Abigail Keller -- a 27-year-old, full-time reserve officer on Altoona, Iowa's police force -- resigned over controversy surrounding questionable pictures posted to her MySpace account. Keller was in her fifth month of reserve duty, the Des Moines Register reported today, when a local businessman showed print-outs of the page to a city officer.

Police Chief John Gray, testifying at Keller's recent hearing for unemployment benefits, said: "In one photograph, she is displaying her naked buttocks or mooning the person who is taking the picture. In another, she is performing simulated sex acts on both males and females." In response, Keller said that the mooning picture was taken down before she was hired, and that the "simulated sex acts" constituted her making "kissy faces" and sticking her tongue out with a group of girls at a bar.

Continue reading Police Officer Forced to Resign Over Old MySpace Pics

SwitchedPolice Officer Forced to Resign Over Old MySpace Pics originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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