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April 20, 2007

My Week on MySpace

Yesterday, I wrote a blog post about the safety of social networks. I would personally like to rescind that and talk about how I have since been violated by the lack of security on MySpace. While I am still a firm believer in Facebook and the precautions that site takes to protect its users, my prior apprehensions about joining MySpace have been reaffirmed by today's events. (Prior qualms included lack of security and overabundance of advertising)

I logged on to MySpace this morning as I have been everyday this week. It was becoming as natural as checking my email every morning and I was finally starting to grasp some of the nuances of using the site. Although, I quickly became frustrated when I could not post a comment to a friend's wall and the site continued to redirect me back to my homepage. That is where I found the message from "Tom", the universal MySpace friend, that has set this blog in motion.

Continue reading "My Week on MySpace"

Posted by Lisa LaMotta at 4:36 PM | 15 Comments

April 19, 2007

MySafety: Teen Privacy on MySpace

In the era of social networks, many media outlets have focused on issues of privacy and it is not uncommon to hear older adults aghast at what kids or younger adults like myself make available as public information. Kids are putting there sexual orientation out there for anyone to see, posting every up and down in their relationships, and showcasing pictures of drunken nights in places like MySpace and Facebook.

I have been a member of Facebook since 2004 and recently caved to some friendly peer-pressure and joined the MySpace revolution. As someone who is so visible online I sometimes feel that the whole world can follow my every move. I often worry about what a potential employer might think or if some creepy person is checking me out without my knowledge. It makes me feel safer to know that these sites have given me the resources to only let certain people become part of my cyber life. (Although I find Facebook's privacy settings a little more secure than MySpace). While I do put a lot of personal information on these sites, I think I've been careful not to post anything I wouldn't feel comfortable with my mom viewing (the ultimate test of decency in my eyes).

The Pew Research Center has been concerned about the same issues and released a study this week from the Pew Internet and American Life Project that focuses on what teens are doing to protect their privacy in the Internet world and if they even consider things like privacy as they pimp out pages on MySpace with the latest design or widget.

Continue reading "MySafety: Teen Privacy on MySpace"

Posted by Lisa LaMotta at 11:24 AM | 4 Comments

April 18, 2007

Community Censorship

Is free speech an absolute right in online communities? Yes, suggest Resource Center Columnists David Teten and Scott Allen -- but community owners have the right to establish and enforce codes of conduct.

Read Teten and Allen's latest column to learn more about "Free Speech and Censorship in Online Communities."

Posted by Lynne d Johnson at 7:13 PM | 1 Comment

December 14, 2006

Social Software's Growth

More and more of your social interactions are moving online. David Teten and Scott Allen, authors of The Virtual Handshake uncover 10 major cultural implications of social software's growth in their lastest installment in the Networking Resource Center.

For instance:

" Basic computer skills really matter...and fortunately the next generation is much more technologically skilled than the current generation. It is harder and harder for blue-collar professionals, let alone white-collar professionals, to do their job without basic computer literacy. Think how often people of all socioeconomic backgrounds email one another, participate in web-based training, or apply for a job via an Internet portal. Just to get a job in the first place, you need to know how to type and how to learn new software programs reasonably rapidly. The good news: given that 33 percent of online teens share content (artwork, photos, stories and videos) on the Internet, the next generation will have an even higher comfort level with this technology than the current generation working in corporate America." Read more.

Posted by Lynne d Johnson at 12:31 PM | 4 Comments

November 8, 2006

In Search of A-List Bloggers

"Traditional search is broken. It simply does not work for blogs," cautions Fast Company Networking Resource Center Columnists David Teten and Scott Allen, authors of "The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online."

In their latest column, Teten and Allen weigh the pros and cons of various blog search engines, including PubSub, Technorati, Bloglines, Feedster, IceRocket, and Google Blog Search.

Speaking of A-List bloggers, Fast Company.com, many of them have used their blogs to start a new career. Read "How to Launch a Career With Your Blog," to find out how.

Posted by Lynne d Johnson at 1:05 PM | 1 Comment

October 18, 2006

Brand Yourself

How do you become a public expert?

Keith Ferrazzi, CEO of FerrazziGreenlight, a consulting and training and development company, author of Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets To Success, One Relationship At A Time, and Fast Company Networking Resource Center columnist, outlines the steps for furthering your individual career and the success of your company through writing and speaking.

In his latest installment, Ferrazzi says, first, you have to build expertise. That's the easy part. The more difficult aspect is getting people to recognize it.

Posted by Lynne d Johnson at 7:04 PM | 4 Comments

November 10, 2005

Gym, Meet Keith. Keith, Gym

Fast Company networking resource center contributor Keith Ferrazzi is featured in today's New York Times. He suggests that rather than doing business over the traditional working lunches, people pursue working workouts.

Opening with a lead that recalls an earlier column on golf, Keith says that you can learn a lot about someone's work style based on their workout style. And another source in the story had this to say: "With the increased oxygen flow to the brain, it's amazing how the brain works when you're in a physically active environment."

How physically active is your workplace?

Posted by Heath Row at 1:53 PM | 8 Comments

August 8, 2005

The Future of Mentors

Last week's Women's Leadership Exchange featured a panel of successful women: leading women's rights attorney Gloria Allred; founder and CEO of Global Smarts and former Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology Dr. Cheryl Shavers; and founder of the newest Berkshire Hathaway sweetheart, The Pampered Chef, Doris Christopher. Given the importance of mentoring in entrepreneurial success, the moderator asked who each panelist would consider her most influential mentor. And none picked a former boss, colleague, or even anyone in her field.

Continue reading "The Future of Mentors"

Posted by Jennifer Warwick at 2:50 PM | Add Comment

New Rules for Wikipedia?

CNET reported on Friday that Wikipedia, the massive user-collaborated online encyclopedia, is planning on imposing stricter editorial rules and "freezing" pages that contain stable, undisputed content.

This move stems from founder Jimmy Wales' desire to prevent vandalism of the information on the site. He cites a recent example of a vandal replacing Pope Benedict's photo with the evil emperor from Star Wars on the Wikipedia site. The issue here is who defines undisputed? A "commission" set up to determine "undisputed content" is being discussed as a viable option.

Continue reading "New Rules for Wikipedia?"

Posted by Miss Rogue at 9:35 AM | 1 Comment

Like a Ruby on Rails

Last week Techcrunch.com reported on the soon to be released Chalk, a "real time collaborative environment thats accessible from any computer in the world."

It will include Web 2.0 features like buddy lists, instant messaging, and community hubs within the collaborative network (powered by Ruby on Rails and AJAX). It is also cross browser compatible.

From their website:

Continue reading "Like a Ruby on Rails"

Posted by Miss Rogue at 9:03 AM | Add Comment

July 6, 2005

The Forgotten Woman

I watched this morning's too-close-to-call International Olympic Committee (IOC) vote with friends in London and while these normally self-deprecating Londoners are elated to bag the $3bn prize of hosting the 2012 games, there's also a feeling that the city's rivals choked on the final lap. French president Jacques Chirac may have delivered the coup de grace to Paris with some tactless comments this week about the Brits, while state authorities knocked-out New York's chances by nixing Mayor Bloomberg's plan to build a stadium near Madison Square Gardens.

But London owes a debt of thanks to another American, Boston-born Barbara Cassani. The forgotten woman of the London bid, Cassani -- former CEO of no-frills airline Go! -- put together the concept and assembled the bid team. I interviewed an ebullient Cassani a few weeks into her appointment when she and her skeleton crew were still awaiting office furniture. A year later, having laid the foundations, Cassani stepped aside, admitting that she wasn't up to the schmoozing and flesh-pressing needed in the latter stages of an Olympic bid. She wasn't schooled in the unofficial rules of Olympic bar-fly lobbying, such as the unspoken obligation never to leave a bar while there's still an IOC member in it.

It was the right decision and since she took a back seat, London's campaign has gone from strength to strength. But the episode says as much about the ridiculously arcane machinations of the IOC voting process as it does about Cassani's capacity for candid self-assessment.

Posted by Ian Wylie at 3:12 PM | 2 Comments

January 7, 2005

Networking for a Living

Not long ago, Networking resource center Keith Ferrazzi offered his ideas on the future of networking. Now Effective Networking Inc.'s Diane Darling shares what she considers the top 10 professional networking trends for 2005. Wo whit:

• Quality vs. quantity The number of people you know does not matter. It is the quality of your contacts that does. (Shades of David Teten and Scott Allen's recent column!)
• Slow down No one gets married on their first date. Business relationships take time too!
• Go low tech In some cases, a quick phone call can be more efficient than many emails. Email is excellent when sending documents or directions -- don't overuse it.
• Diversity The old boy's network is alive and well -- but so are many others. In the financial community, a diversified portfolio is preferable. The same is true with your network.
• Introductions rule! This is the ultimate in flattery when someone takes time out of their day to make the effort to introduce you. This separates name droppers from the genuine networkers.

Continue reading "Networking for a Living"

Posted by Heath Row at 3:26 PM | 8 Comments

March 18, 2004

Working the Net

Of all the transcripts I posted while at SXSW Interactive, the sessions attracting the most online discussion and response are the panels focusing on social network software and its application to business.

Scott Allen, coordinator of the Networking Company of Friends group, helped develop an online guide to online social networks, social software, and business communities. Might be a useful tool.

Posted by Heath Row at 12:11 PM | 1 Comment

March 16, 2004

What the Heck Is Social Networking?

Jonathan Abrams is founder and CEO of Friendster, one of the leading online social network services. With more than 4 million members, the company attracted $13 million in VC money last year.

In his well-attended SXSW Interactive keynote, Abrams shared some stories about how to build a successful online company in the aftermath of the dot-com bust. What follows is a partial transcript of his talk.

Continue reading "What the Heck Is Social Networking?"

Posted by Heath Row at 3:50 PM | 17 Comments

March 15, 2004

The Aesthetics of Social Networks

Danah Boyd is an information management PhD student at the University of California, where she researches how people negotiate their presentation of self in online communities and other social contexts. Jon Lebkowsky serves as CEO of the Web technology consultancy Polycot. Honoria Starbuck works as education director for Polycot. And Molly Steenson teaches interaction design at Institute Ivrea in Italy.

At SXSW Interactive, the panelists explored the explosion of Net-based social networks and the opportunities for group forming, analysis, and intent connections. What follows is a partial transcript of their discussion.

Continue reading "The Aesthetics of Social Networks"

Posted by Heath Row at 5:12 PM | 1 Comment

Mobile Communication, Pervasive Computing, and Collective Action

Howard Rheingold was one of the creators HotWired, as well as editor of The Whole Earth Review and editor-in-chief of The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog. More recently, Rheingold wrote the book Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution.

After an introduction by Jon Lebkowsky, Rheingold's SXSW Interactive keynote touched on the topics of the new commonwealth created by the Net and cellphones, how people are leveraging those technologies, and some of his concerns about the future. What follows is a partial transcript of his talk.

Continue reading "Mobile Communication, Pervasive Computing, and Collective Action"

Posted by Heath Row at 3:48 PM | 2 Comments

Urban Tribes and Social Dark Matter

Ethan Watters wrote the book Urban Tribes: A Generation Redefines Friendship, Family, and Commitment.

His SXSW Interactive addressed how our self-chosen communities are nodes in large, complex networks of such groups. What follows is a partial transcript of is session.

Continue reading "Urban Tribes and Social Dark Matter"

Posted by Heath Row at 11:40 AM | 1 Comment

November 11, 2003

Networking, but Not Really

A friend of mine who works in knowledge management is pretty introverted. Even though I think he does himself a disservice in rating his people skills, he's expressed concern about and confusion with most traditional business networking practices. So as soon as he came across Penelope Trunk's recent Brazen Careerist column Networking for Introverts, he fired off an email to me.

Trunk comes close to confusing introversion for shyness, but if you don't jive with most networking resources, her five-step plan might be useful. The short form:

• Use e-mail. You don't have to speak to contacts. You can write and rewrite your message until it's right.
• Read everything. When something is published about someone you know, send a congratulatory email.
• Go to parties rather than dinners. You can kill more birds with one stone by making one of your rare social appearances in front of lots of people.
• Help others. They'll remember the favor and view you as a friend.
• Send New Year's cards. Include a short note to each person.

And the advice is useful to extroverts, too. After reading a short item about Tim Sanders in another magazine earlier this week, I sent him a catch-up email. Of course, since he's a fan of Bill Jensen's CLEAR model for managing email, he's yet to respond. But that's OK.

Posted by Heath Row at 1:57 PM | Add Comment

October 30, 2003

Deja Vu All Over Again? III

More fodder for FC Now readers' consideration of social software and its potential business benefits: BusinessWeek recently took a look at Friendster's success.

Posted by Heath Row at 1:45 PM | 1 Comment

August 8, 2003

Working Your Network III

So I just visited Linda's pick, Eliyon's CorporateAlumni. It BLEW ME AWAY. How do they know all this stuff? They remember people from my old company that I don't even remember. It's stunning.

But of course, it's not perfect. I have to ask, Who is Laci Leichliter? It implies she was on the board of my old company, but I looked up her picture (I told you this was scary.) and I've never seen her before in my life.

Hmm...

Posted by at 3:23 PM | 10 Comments

Working Your Network II

Like many folks, I'm a refugee from a failed dotcom, in this case, one with an active alumni list of folks trying to help each other find jobs. A guy on that list just forwarded me the URL for the coolest new networking site: Eliyon's CorporateAlumni. I think it's still in beta, but it's worth looking into if you're interested in tracking alumni of various companies to their new jobs. Right now, it tracks 15 million business people.

You type in a company name, and it tells you who works (or once worked) there, with links to information about where they might have gone. You can also search by function. A great way to find old colleagues, or to figure out who, say, the marketing person is at a company where you'd like to work. A boon for job seekers!

Related resources: Hire Today, Gone Tomorrow | Gone, but Not Forgotten | The Ex-Files

Posted by Linda Tischler at 2:47 PM | Add Comment

Working Your Network

How do you use the various professional associations, networking organizations, and work groups you participate in?

New York City Company of Friends member Jon Myers, managing partner of Balance Technologies distinguishes between broadcast and directed searches for connections and resources.

Drawing on the research of Duncan Watts at Columbia University, Myers says, "Broadcast searches can produce results, but some may argue this is an inefficient way of conducting a search and disseminating a message. In a directed search, I would utilize a specific contact within that network whom I felt may be involved with or know someone who is the target of my message. The hope is to produce the most direct connection. How does one find the most direct connection?"

Company of Friends membership is required to participate in CoF-related discussions.

Posted by Heath Row at 1:39 PM | 2 Comments