Using Social Networking to Better Your Business

Ask any self-proclaimed Web 2.0 guru, and he'll advise you to use social networking to better your business. How? In whatever way you can! While social networking carries the reputation of allowing you to reach the youth audience, it has quickly grown to become much more than that, attracting members of every age group. So while reaching the up and coming young 'ens is definitely an advantage, don't rule out being able to reach others that way as well.

Take Barack Obama, for example, the President-elect of the United States of America. A major part of his campaign strategy involved utilizing Websites like Facebook.com to reach potential voters. I don't think anyone will argue that his influence with the youth crowd was and is stronger than with any other recent U.S. President. Retailer Future Shop is using the same social networking Website to promote upcoming events, show off photos and videos, and engage shoppers. Plenty of musical artists use social networking site MySpace to expose their music and gain feedback that becomes helpful in starting their careers. Even video-centric sites play a significant role. Major issues have arisen, or even been discussed, through widely popular video sharing Website YouTube. If you think your business doesn't apply, think again. Even book seller Chapters Indigo has an enticing online community where readers can share book reviews, make suggestions on new titles, and even join virtual book clubs. Come on! If a company who's primary focus is selling you printed, paperback books can join the "web revolution", so can you!

Given all of this, I find it odd when people shrug off social networking as just being a fun thing for kids or people with too much time on their hands. The Web and online social communities have the potential to foster relationships, promote brands, and keep you connected with what's going on in a specific area of interest or interests. You might even find that a fan has beaten you to the punch: type any popular company name into a social networking site, and you're bound to find that a happy (or perhaps even unhappy) person has already created a group centred around your products.

Remember: there is no age requirement for social networking. You don't need to be a teeny-bopper, or even just in your 20s or 30s. I know people in their 40s, 50s, and yes, even 60s that are members of social networking Websites. Some people use them for business, on sites like LinkedIn or Facebook, to connect with colleagues and business groups. Others use them for personal reasons, to stay in touch with out of town family members. Many use the sites for both purposes.

The bottom line: if the next President of the United States of America realizes, and in many ways, has proven, the powerful influence that the Web and social networking can have on important decisions that people make, you shouldn't be afraid to do so as well.

Facebook, MySpace, Hit With Virus

It was only a matter of time. Popular social networking Websites Facebook and MySpace, have reportedly been hit with a virus that sends an infected message to people appearing to come from one of their "friends". The message asks that the member click on a link to watch a video on YouTube. Supposedly the fake redirect site is really convincing, even including the name and profile photo of the perceived sender.

This virus totally nullifies heeded warnings not to open e-mails from unknown senders since the e-mail masks itself as originating from someone you do know. We have come to a point where you're almost always flinching as you open an attachment, fearful that it might harm your PC and compromise sensitive personal or business information.

The best advice? Invest in a well-known anti-virus application, and make sure that updates are constantly downloaded. And always keep yourself informed about the latest viruses and hacks by reading reports (like this one!)

While the Web and all that it can offer can be tempting, never believe everything you read. When in doubt, pick up the phone and call the perceived sender of an e-mail to ensure that he really did send you something before you open it. The extra minute it takes to do this will be worth the avoidance of a whole lot of worry and headache.

Fun, Time-Wasting Websites

Canada is one of the most "connected" nations in the World. Canadians love to do things like read news stories online, update personal blogs, download or stream music and video, and e-mail. But there's one activity that's often overlooked: basic, time-wasting, web surfing. You might engage in such activity on a mobile device while you're waiting in the doctor's office or on a road trip; or perhaps at home while you unwind from a long day at the office or in class. Then, of course, there are times when you might just want to take 10 minutes to check out what's out there in that big world wide web. Given this, I've decided to provide some interesting Websites that are great "time-wasters" or stress relievers.

http://www.icanhascheezburger.com/: While I'm still stumped as to the reason behind the Web address, I was recently made aware of this Website, and it had me in stitches. All it contains is photo upon photo of cats in various states of mischief, along with witty, purposely misspelled captions that dictate what they're likely thinking. It's all clean fun, and the images, which are uploaded and captioned by both the owners of the site and contributing web users, change constantly, so there's always something new to enjoy.

http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_billbord1.html: Have you ever wondered what song was the top tune on the Billboard charts on the day that you were born? I came upon this Website the other day, which lists the top tune for every day from 1950 up until 2007! It's a neat one for curious minds, and you might find it fun to send your friends and family members their "top" song.

http://brochuresonline.net/sayings/sayings.php: Ever wonder where a popular saying originated? This Website lists tons of famous sayings like "close, but no cigar" and "cold turkey" and discusses their origins. While it isn't as comprehensive as some of the other online databases I've seen, the list includes many of the most commonly uttered sayings.

http://www.dreammoods.com/: Everyone has had a weird dream at some point in their life, and wondered what it could mean. Type any search term into this site, and it will provide you with a number of possible scenarios and what the dream could have meant. While you have to take such results with a grain of salt, it can be fun to analyze your thoughts and figure out what could be going on in your subconscious mind.

http://www.gizmodo.com/: There's no denying that Gizmodo has struck a cord with web surfers, offering tidbits of information about weird, and sometimes comical, gadgets that you might not have heard of elsewhere. The clever captions and propensity to jump on the rumour mill of technology has also made this site a favourite among techies.

http://www.facebook.com/: Social networkers will know what it's like to have that urge to log in just to check out "what's going on" with all of your friends. Need to kill some time before a flight? Sign in and sift through your friend's latest photos, browse new groups, or post your own comments and notes.

http://www.youtube.com/: Visiting YouTube is like eating potato chips: you can't open up the site and not have just one! Often times, people will have a purpose for visiting the video site, but once you're there, interesting other search terms pop into mind. Before you know it, you've spent 20 minutes watching funny Mac commercials and user-generated content.

While one should always make sure not to spend too much time on the Web, it can be fun to sometimes move away from your typical "top 5" sites when you do and check out some hidden (or not so hidden) gems of the online world.

Media Convergence is a Reality

The convergence of all sorts of media, from TV to print to online, and even radio, is an undeniable reality. But ever so often, I'll experience something that really opens my eyes to how much crossing over is actually taking place, in large part, due to emerging technologies. This time, my eye-opening experience came from two e-newsletters about a pair of my favourite TV programs, both of which appear on the pay-TV Showtime network.

The primary purchase of each e-newsletter was to advise me that the new season would begin in September. But this wasn't the only focus: I was also informed on the many ways I could catch up on or review older episodes. The first method was one I already know about: watching them on-demand through my cable TV provider. Of course, I can also purchase the first season on DVD at my local retailer; or pre-order the second season DVD. But other, not-so-typical options included downloading the first two seasons on iTunes (U.S. customers only, of course); and joining the official Facebook fan page. So while the e-mail clearly advises that Showtime is the only place I'll be able to access the new season once it starts in September, the network has found multiple ways to keep me engaged before then, as well as monetize its existing product.

In a separate newsletter for the second show, the options became even more tech-savvy. I was told about things like a behind-the-scenes blog; and a neat Wiki where fans can do things like write their own episode guides, add to character profiles, and add images or stats on the actors.

It's a far cry from the days when I would handwrite a fan letter and mail it to an actor I had a crush on, only to receive a photocopied letter and signed photo in the mail 6-8 weeks later. Now, avid TV watchers can actively interact with the shows, and have multiple ways to catch up on old episodes. This emphasizes not just the rapid convergence of media industries, but also the reason why: consumers want choice in the way they interact with and consume content. I won't be entering any Wiki information, nor downloading episodes via iTunes (even if I could). But knowing that the options are there, and that people who do prefer those methods can engage in them, is satisfying in itself.

What Will They Think of Next?: Facebook Photos go Straight to Digital Frame

eStarling's WiFi digital photo frame now works with the Facebook.com social networking Website: enter your Facebook log-in information into the eStarling frame management Website just once. Then any time thereafter, photos you post to your Facebook account will automatically appear on your photo frame, as long as it's connected to the 'net. Photos that you friends upload can also be set to appear on the frame.

While this is a great way to keep families and friends up-to-date on your going's on (especially if they aren't techie enough to take and display their own images), this is also a great way to play jokes on people. Imagine setting a frame back home to display embarassing photos of your spouse while you know he/she has friends over. The possibilities are endless!

In addition to Facebook, the eStarling photo frame is also compatible with Photobucket; RSS feeds from sites like Flickr, Picasa, and AOL; and text messages from compatible mobile phones. Another neat feature is that the frame has its own e-mail address, so images can be sent to it directly from PCs or mobile phones (a filter is said to "protect against unwanted photos").

IM For Facebook?

It's 5 p.m. on a Friday night, and I logged into Facebook from the office to post some details on our new photo contest (you could win a great Nikon digicam!) I noticed a tiny, icon on the bottom, right of my screen that said "online friends" but didn't think much of it. Perhaps it's a quick, one-button method of seeing who's currently online? Whatever. That was until a box magically popped up with a message from one of my colleagues.

"Working hard, I see," he said. What? Huh? How did THAT happen? For all you Facebook members, apparently instant messaging capabilities have now been added to the service, whether you've asked for them or not. I clicked on the link to discover a list of all my contacts that were currently online. Interesting.

So, as I entered our contest information, my colleague and I got to chatting. When I was done, he asked: "Did you just post that in here?" Post what in here? Without my asking it to, he received an IM letting him know what I had just posted in the Marketnews & here's how Magazines - About Tech group. Geez. Is it going to let him know when I take a sip of my coffee and get up for a bathroom break as well?

It seems a bit too invasive, if you ask me. Mind you, my posting in the All About Tech group would have eventually appeared in everyone's News Feeds anyway. Shortly after, I received an IM that told me he just posted two notes himself. Gotcha! It's sort of like Big Brother is watching. Scary stuff.

Hollywood Gossip Goes Mobile

The more content you can access on the go, the better, right? It's great that I can surf the Web with my phone. Even better that some models will optimize the view, and perhaps also permit one-button access to social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. Multimedia packages that let me watch YouTube videos on a phone are pretty neat as well. But do we really need access to Hollywood gossip on the go? Um, yes!

I just received an announcement that popular Hollywood gossip site TMZ.com will be offering an ad-supported, "mobile" version of its Website, allowing mobile phone users to get their daily gossip "fix", including breaking news, photos, and even TMZ videos, on the fly. Need to know if Britney Spears had another breakdown? TMZ can send you a text message as soon as a story breaks. Where's Paris Hilton now? TMZ can help you keep tabs on the socialite no matter where you are!

Quattro Wireless is building the site, while Sony Picture's Home Entertainment has signed on as the first sponsor. AT&T will be the first wireless carrier partner in Q2. To get to the site, just punch in "TMZ.com" in your mobile phone's browser; or send a text that says TMZ to short-code 52662.

"There is an insatiable consumer appetite for the breaking entertainment news that TMZ is famous for delivering, so having a presence on mobile plays perfectly into the behaviour of TMZ's core 18-34 demo," said Brett Bouttier, Senior Vice President, Digital, Warner Bros. Television Group (TMZ.com is a joint venture between this Group and AOL).

He's absolutely right. The whole idea really does baffle me. But I have to admit that even I have fallen into the trap. I don't actually own a "smart" phone, per se (believe it or not!), but every single time I review one, I find myself surfing sites like TMZ.com and Perezhilton.com while I'm driving home from the office (I know, it's horrible) or just waiting around for something.

TMZ's core audience is indeed the younger crowd, who also happen to be heavy mobile phone users. This decision is just pure genius on the company's part, as crazy an idea as it seems.

Netflix, Facebook Get a Little Dose of Irony

Isn't it ironic when you use the Internet to make your business processes more efficient, and then it ends up breaking down and causing the exact opposite effect? This is exactly what happened with U.S. movie rental provider Netflix.

If you're not familiar with Netflix, it's a modern-day DVD rental service that lets customers rent DVDs online, and have them mailed directly to their homes. But yesterday, the site experienced a major outage that left customers all over the U.S. literally in the dark...or at least with dark TV screens. According to the Associated Press, DVDs that were to be delivered on Monday were likely delayed until today. Ahh, there's nothing like sitting down with a bowl of popcorn and sodas to watch a movie that isn't there!

Sure, glitches happen, and customers will always have to be aware of that when dealing with any form of technology. But I can see old-school supporters all over pumping their fists in the air yelling: "and you laughed at me when I said I'd walk to the video store to rent my movie!"

But Netflix isn't alone. Over in the Web world, there's another company facing some technical nightmares: Facebook.com, which just can't seem to stay out of the news these days! A security issue yesterday led to hundreds of photos being exposed for anyone to see, including private photos from Hollywood socialite Paris Hilton; and even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg! (Hey, if there's ever an argument for sympathy, it's to say "look, I was affected by this glitch as well!") To put the ironic icing on the cake, the loophole to gain access was discovered as a result of the company's attempt to ramp up privacy controls!

Supposedly the issue was fixed within the hour. The Associated Press noted that "Some members of social networks like Facebook post photos of themselves or others in potentially embarrassing or compromising situations that include illegal drug use or underage drinking that can cause trouble at school or work." Sorry, but if you're posting images like that, Facebook isn't the problem.

As for "normal" members, you can rest easy that computer hackers (likely the only people that would have figured out how to bypass security) were probably more interested in seeing Paris Hilton's photos than pix of you with your little puppy, or your little kid's b-day party!

Are Facebook's 15-Minutes Up?

A U.K. study claims that social networking Website Facebook's 15-minutes of fame might be up because there has been a decline in user numbers there. Fortunately for Facebook, there are plenty of users in other areas (especially Canada, and, according to a recent study, mainly Toronto!) Also fortunate for the site, it appears that what was formerly known as 15-minutes of fame seems to be extending far beyond that today: so-called reality TV "stars" are a perfect indication of that.

As a member of the Facebook online community, I can admit that the site's appeal has somewhat run dry. As with anything, the initial excitement has faded into the "regular"; and the site has become just another part of the daily or weekly routine. However, this doesn't mean that Facebook has lost its purpose; nor its appeal. It's still a great way to send mass messages to people; upload and share photos (as I've said before, it's one of the easiest photo sharing sites I've seen); share similar interests, like movies and books; buy/sell items locally; keep in touch with old and out-of-town friends; and collaborate in special "groups". In fact, our magazines have a dedicated Facebook group called Marketnews & here's how! magazines - All About Tech where we include headlines from this very blog, along with other information, like monthly contests, new videos, and so forth (any member can join!)

So although it appears that the honeymoon is over, it still remains to be seen whether Facebook can live happily ever after, or will end up in divorce as the "next big thing" takes over. I believe that as long as the site maintains its easy usability and interface, and doesn't fall victim to overdoing it with useless applications and annoying new "features", it'll be around for a long time to come.

Is Sharing Study Notes on Facebook Cheating?

The power of the Internet and the ability to quickly disseminate information is now sweeping into the education system...but not in a good way. A Toronto Ryerson University student is set to be expelled because of a study group he set up on social networking Website Facebook.com. The school is calling the action "academic misconduct" because students were sharing notes, tips, and study question answers on the site.

My first thought is who cares? Not about the student, but about the study group. How is this any different than a group of students getting together in the local coffee shop or at someone's house to do their homework together? Sure, it's on a much larger scale (the group supposedly had upwards of 125 students in it), but once again, who cares? The students are studying together, helping each other out, and engaging in conversation (albeit of the virtual kind) in order to understand the course material. And after all, isn't the whole point of education to learn?

Perhaps in finding out answers to questions within this group, it ends up striking up a conversation that goes something like: "Wow, how did you get that answer? I've been stumped on this all day!" Followed by: "Well, you do X, Y, and Z." And voila. The student has learned something! Maybe it wasn't from the professor. Maybe it wasn't from the text book. But he learned it.

I'm not naive enough to think that there won't be "cheaters" who will just log on, ask questions and copy the answers, then hope for a passing grade. But when it comes down to test time, there's no Facebook to tell you the answers in a classroom. Chances are, if someone is cheating via a Web group, they probably would have found a way to do it without that group anyway. And if someone wants to pay for a non-education, which will most certainly be discovered later in life, well, that's a whole other issue altogether.

Should this 18-year-old student, Chris Avenir, who claims to have had good intentions with the group, be expelled? Absolutely not. And if he is, it'll lead me to believe that the education system is stuck in an archaic state of non-growth, unable to understand how to embrace technology instead of fear it. I'd also suggest that Avenir gather all 100+ group members in a local venue and they all study together live, and in the flesh. What will the school have to say then?

Facebook Takes the Cake in T.O.

According to a recent study conducted by ZINC Research, Canadians are flocking to social networking Website Facebook.com in droves. Not only are half of all online Canadians now members of the Facebook community, but Toronto has been awarded the honour of the first North American city to achieve over one-million subscribers to the service! Facebook currently has about seven-million Canadian subscribers in total, which means that Torontonians account for almost 15% of the total number of Canadian members

"2007 is the year that Facebook took Canada by storm," said Brian F. Singh, Managing Director at ZINC Research. "Canadians love the Facebook book platform for its simplicity and ability to connect with and stay in contact with friends and family."

Anecdotal reasons I've heard from fellow Canadians for jumping on the Facebook bandwagon are, indeed, to keep in touch with family and friends in different provinces (or even countries); and to stay in touch with long-lost friends whom they can't often visit in person. However, the site also serves as one of the easiest, and most attractive, photo sharing Websites I've ever used; not to mention the creation and distribution of event invitations. It is also successful at helping "friends" share interests in everything from the latest novels to movie ratings.

But for its recent Beacon advertising platform debacle, Facebook is likely on its way to becoming a very profitable venture; especially with financial backing from large corporations like Microsoft, and an increased focus on online advertising of a more favourable ilk.

"Facebook appears to be bridging the gap with our online and real lives," Singh added.

I'm not sure if I would go so far as to say that, but Facebook certainly adds a new flavour to the way we communicate and interact with one another on a day-to-day basis.

Facebook Gets Big Slap on the Wrist for New Ad Program

Popular social networking Website Facebook.com (for which Microsoft now owns a $240M equity stake) has been in the news lately, but not for good reason. It was recently revealed that, when a member purchased an item from one of Facebook's new advertising partner Websites, the information was automatically posted in the "news feeds" section of the site without the person's permission...sort of.

Here's how it supposedly worked: I buy something from a Website that's part of Facebook's new Beacon ad program (there are 44). A pop-up appears asking if I'd like the information to appear in my news feed on Facebook, a page that summarizes the most recent activity on of the site. If I click "no thanks" the information doesn't appear. However, if I quickly close that pop-up (which, let's face it, many of us do) then it's automatically assumed that I want everyone to know what I just bought online.

This, as you can imagine, is extremely intrusive, not to mention that it could have detrimental effects. The biggest example of such an effect is of one Facebook member who bought his wife a diamond ring from overstock.com (a Beacon partner Website), only to find out that the purchase appeared in the news feed for all his Facebook "friends" to see...including his wife.

Facebook has reportedly fixed the issue, requiring that a member now opt-in if he wants the informaiton published, rather than opt-out if they don't. Too little, too late for the aforementioned guy; and likely many others.

This brings us to an even bigger issue, which is how best to handle advertising in the social networking arena. The concept of Beacon is indeed a good one: if I just got a fantastic deal on a pair of designer shoes from some Website, of course I'd love for all my friends to know about it; and that partner Website would certainly love for me to tell them. It's like virtual word-of-mouth, so to speak. But it goes without saying that I, and no one else but me, should be in control of what gets published and what doesn't.

The situation can, in a way, be likened to spam mail, telemarketers, and even text messaged ads from cellular phone providers (yes, I've received a few of those!) In most cases, the companies obtained your information through legitimate means, but are using it to serve a purpose that benefits them, whether it be sending you targeted flyers in the mail, calling you about products for which they know you use, or sending you information about deals from stores you like. Facebook added a new variable: using your interests to generate interest from those who are like you (i.e. your "friends").

I'm not sure what Facebook was thinking: the company couldn't possibily have assumed that the 44 Beacon member companies would actually appreciate pissing off its customers for the sake of forced advertising. Nevertheless, the site appears to be cleaning up the situation, and making the appropriate adjustments to the Beacon system. In fact, eBay is reportedly set to sign up with the Beacon program in 2008: however, it will only publish information from sellers of products, not buyers. Smart move on eBay's part.

On another note, the bad press obviously hasn't hurt Facebook too much: according to the Associated Press, a billionaire in Hong Kong, Li Ka-shing, just paid $60 million for a 0.4% stake in the company. Ka-shing? Sounds more like Ka-ching for Facebook to me.

[Photo: Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.]

The Social Networking Stigma

Social networking has a sort of stigma attached to it, especially with the baby boomer and older generations. But I think if one can get past the idea of partication being "kid's play" that consumes too much time, the real benefits will eventually be realized by web surfers of all ages.

Much of the stigma, I believe, relates to people taking the "social" aspect a bit too seriously. They envision Websites like MySpace and Facebook as places where the younger generation can share way too much information about each other with way too many people. I've had this discussion with several anti-social networking co-workers and friends, who feel the entire idea of putting yourself out there for everyone to see is invasive, voyeuristic, and self-involved. I do agree that some people get carried away, offering up private details like home addresses, mobile phone numbers, and even dates they'll be going on vacation! If this information was shared with a few close and personal friends, that's a different story. But with 500+ so-called "friends" (which, judging from some lists, many kids claim to have), are you just asking for trouble? More so, what's the point?

That said, if you move past the juvenile attraction to these Websites, you'll surprisingly find a surplus of benefits for adults and even business professionals.

First, no one has the time to connect socially with each and every person in their life that they'd like to. Why not share things like recent photos, movie choices, and stories online quickly and easily, with people with whom you simply don't often get the chance to call or see? Old co-workers, friends with which everyday life has just made it impossible to remain in constant contact with? It's a great way to "catch up" while not having to spread your in-person time so thin that it's almost invisible!

Furthermore, what about friends and family that live in other countries, or even provinces? E-mail is great, but why go through the trouble of resizing and attaching hundreds of pics in an e-mail when you can reach everyone you want through one Website? This is the same justificatoin that dedicated photo sharing Websites have made for years; and it applies just as much to social networking sites with photo sharing capabilities.

From a business perspective, what other cost-effective method can you think of to reach hundreds of members in your industry all at once? Sure, there are plenty of e-blast programs, servers, and the like that can aid in maintaining a large database of names. But these cost big bucks, and require constant maintenance. With many social networking sites, you can send a note, a story, anything you wish to whomever you like with one click of a mouse, and no money out of your pocket.

When it comes to creating content that one wishes to promote, like a struggling music artists new demo recording, or an amatuer videographer's latest creation, what better way to spread the word and gain exposure for your product?

Recently, I discovered an application on Facebook that would allow me to share my book choices with friends. I can see what they're currently reading, read their book reviews, and browse through a list of recommendations. I'm always asking around for book recommendations, so having all of this information at my fingertips, from people who I know I share similar interests, is absolutely wonderful.

As for the online networking-haters, I have tried and tried to refute their arguments until I've been blue in the face. There are people who will never wish to participate, and that's perfectly fine. But for those who have been on the fence, I encourage you to try it out. As long as you're mindful about what information you share, and who you share it with, it's a neat way to both stay in touch with technology, while also, in a strange way, going back in time.

Strike While the Social Networking Iron is Hot!

It's no secret that sites like MySpace and Facebook lead the online social networking world, the latter of which finds much of its appeal in the level of control each member has over how much of his information is made public, and to whom. The latest service to enter the foray is from Yahoo!: a site called Mash that will supposedly allow friends to alter each other's profiles.

Yahoo! is certainly making a concerted effort to differentiate itself from the pack, but I can't imagine why on earth I'd ever want to give someone free reign to update my information. In Yahoo!'s defense, the site is reportedly geared at the younger generation (so is Facebook and MySpace, although both appear to have picked up steam by the 25+ crowd). I would argue this target audience is actually worse for such a feature. Here's why:

Kids today change BFFs ("best friends forever", for those who aren't hip to the lingo) like they do socks. Imagine permitting your "BFF Sally" to update your profile. A fight ensues one day, and by the next, all your dirty laundry, embarassing pics, and nicknames are aired on your Mash profile. Thanks, but no thanks.

I don't blame companies for wanting to strike an iron that's hot: if they didn't do so, we wouldn't see half as many iPod accessories as we do today. But sometimes the ideas seem a little "out there". Mind you, consumers have been known to take to strangest ideas and concepts, so I might be out in left field on this one. I guess we'll just wait and see.

Students File Suit Claiming Facebook Founder Stole Their Idea

I’ve covered the topic of social networking several times over the course of the past few months, but it’s such a popular topic lately that I can't seem to go one day without seeing a hot new story all over the media about it. Recently, it's all about popular Website Facebook. And this week’s hot news follows the standard path that most successful new start-ups end up walking down: the lawsuit. Three college students have filed a lawsuit against 23-year old Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, claiming that he stole their idea. When one reaches the top, rest assured that people will try to cash in on your fame. It’s a classic "kick 'em when he's up" scenario.

The lawsuit alleges that the three men in question concocted the idea for a site, and had originally called it ConnectU, with the idea that it would help connect Harvard students. Zuckerberg was brought on for the technical aspects: these guys were athletes, not tech geeks. The three allege that Zuckerberg eventually stopped working on the site while he went ahead with his own site that followed the same premise.

If Zuckerberg was the one who was able to take the idea and run, he deserves the credit. But in all fairness, if he stole someone else's idea, well, that's just wrong.

The students filed a suit against Zuckerberg and Facebook in 2004 that was quickly dismissed. As Facebook grew in popularity (it currently claims over 30 million active members!), the three men became more red-faced, and finally filed again in March 2007. A hearing today will determine whether this suit will proceed, or be dismissed yet again. Stay tuned!

As a sidenote, it's funny (but increasingly common) that a small, college project has evolved into a company that could soon file for an IPO, and might just be worth millions. It just goes to show that no matter how small an idea you think you have, and no matter how young or old the “inventor” is, protect your properties. What seems like nothing could very well be the "next big thing" in new business.

[Photo: Mark Zuckerberg].

CBC Tests Power of Social Networking

CBC has really taken the reigns when it comes to technological innovation, partnering with mobile phone companies and Websites, alike to offer its content through various means of distribution. But the broadcaster is receiving some flak as of late for its attempt to use a popular social networking Website to “poll” Canadians on their wishes for the country. The project, in celebration of Canada Day, was aptly named the Great Canadian Wish List, and could be found on widely popular site Facebook.com. Was this an innovative approach to reaching an audience; or rife with issues?

Many argue the obvious: how can you confirm that legitimate people are submitting responses, and not fake accounts set-up by lobbyists to promote their own cause? What’s more, how can you confirm that the people responding are even Canadian? Not to mention: how many people are actually taking the poll seriously? One of the most “recently created” wish lists was to “bring back the McDeal”. Need I say more?

On a more serious level, the top “wish” on the list is to abolish abortion in Canada (9,753 respondents); followed by (ironically) for Canada to remain pro-choice (8,302). Rounding out the top five are a spiritual revival in our nation (4,608); to restore the traditional definition of marriage (4,590); and to lower or altogether eliminate tuition fees (3,507).

CBC says that the exercise was not meant to be an actual poll, but rather an experiment to gauge how social networking Websites could be used to reach an audience, and to help build support for a cause that one believes in.

Some journalists have called the experiment “embarrassing” for the CBC; while others have commended the broadcaster on its innovative tactics. I agree with the latter: whether the experiment worked or not is irrelevant. After all, that's why it’s called an experiment. The Great Canadian Wish List represented a fresh, creative approach to expression, and deserves some applause in my opinion.

The final CBC report on the Great Canadian Wish List, for those who are interested, can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhZJgZfsGW8

Social Networking Continues to Grow

I’m revisiting the social networking topic, since it has been the subject of a lot of media buzz these days (with what room remains after extensive coverage of Paris Hilton’s latest order-to-and-subsequent-release-from-jail debacle). Last month, you might recall that I was debating whether or not to join a social networking Website. Despite my reluctance to do so, I eventually surrendered to the power of the ‘net. I subsequently received a lot of flak from many who thought it juvenile, “stupid”, and unnecessarily time consuming. But I persevered, nonetheless.

A month has passed, and about 90 per cent of my critics have now joined, albeit not without a push. When confronted, each grudgingly admitted to having caved in for various reasons: some claimed friends/family members were on their cases to join; while others simply said that eventually, their curiosity got the best of them.

Interestingly enough, these “converts” have become the best spokespeople in favour of social networking. Many have admitted that, although they have no interest in communicating with 98% of the people who attempt to contact them, the 2% of people they are glad they found make it all worth it. Interesting…

Even more interesting is the results of a recent poll by TNS Canadian Facts. The survey found that, although teens and young adults dominate the social networking world, the doors are slowly opening up for the 30+ crowd: and even those 50 and above. Six in 10 of those in their 30s have visited a social networking site; 45 per cent of those in their 40s, and one-third 50 and older.

And why not? From a personal perspective, social networking sites have become the easiest way to locate a long-lost friend or colleague. These sites are also a great way to enjoy a relationship with business contacts that goes beyond the suit and tie. And relationships are always a good thing, no matter how you build them.

Click Here for more results from the TNS survey: http://www.marketnews.ca/news_detail.asp?nid=2862

FaceBook - Should I, or Shouldn't I?

It started with AOL. Then MySpace. Now all the rage in social networking is through a Website called Facebook (www.facebook.com). I can't count on both hands how many requests to join I've received over the last few months. Each one, I quickly passed over, thinking I spend waaay too much time online as it is. I don't have time for this now. . Every time I caught up with friends, and even family, I was asked if I'm "on facebook", and told how highly addictive it is. Old friends enthuse to me that they've located an old elementary school classmate, and he's living in China now! My best friend calls one night excited: you'll never guess who I found on facebook!. What on earth is so fascinating about this Website?

So last night, I decided to bite the bullet and join. Within minutes, I had notes on what they call my "wall" (looks sort of like an open forum) welcoming me to this highly addictive social community. I quickly added some of my friends (those dozens who had sent the requests over the months), and looked through THEIR friends, many of which I also knew. I got excited as I scrolled through the lists and recognized faces: Oh my gosh! I remember him from grade school! Wow, that is what so and so looks like now? She got married? Moved to BC. Is engaged. I was flooded with all of these faces from my past. Is this a good thing?

Some tend to think not. One person described the site to me as a place for "losers who can't let go of their past." Another said he started receiving requests to be "friends" with old schoolmates that he had "spent years trying to get away from in the first place!"

Why are these sites so popular? Is it a need for affirmation that one has friends? It's certainly a good feeling to have someone "confirm" their "friend" status with you. Is it a need to know you're remembered by those you've crossed paths with in your life? Or is there a voyeuristic tendency to learn whatever came of that guy that you hated in high school, or the girl you had a crush on in kindergarden?

Whatever the reason, it seems like everyone I know, or have ever known, is "on" facebook. I haven't figured out the inner workings of the site yet, but I'll definitely be visiting again to see what new faces pop up. Whether it's curiousity, or simply the fact that I'm sicking of being asked if I'm on the site, it looks like I've jumped on the bandwagon. Until the next "hot" site comes along....