In case it isn’t embarrassing enough to realize you may have had one drink too many and sent your high school crush a gushing, nostalgia-filled message on Facebook the night before, the company is rolling out a new feature with its Messenger app —the ability to place voice phone calls over a WiFi network. So far the feature is only available for U.S. users so don’t get any ideas about calling your cousin in Australia. [More]
Don’t Call Your High School Crush: Facebook Launches Free Voice Calls On Messenger App
By January 17, 2013
Instagram Reminds Users That Updated Terms Of Service Goes Into Effect This Week
By January 16, 2013
It seems like only last month (because it was) that everyone was threatening to quit Instagram over the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy it introduced in December, and now here we are on the brink of that update happening. Of course, the policies that go into effect Jan. 19 — instead of today as originally planned — don’t include those pesky advertising efforts that caused such a stir. [More]
Report: Your Facebook News Feed Will Soon Know A Lot More About You
By January 14, 2013
The Facebook News Feed is that place where people you haven’t seen since high school post endless photos of their kids, and occasionally share sage wisdom in the form of a quote from Gandhi or Lemmy from Motorhead. But a new report says the Feed is about to become more personalized. Perhaps too much so. [More]
Would You Pay $100 To Give Mark Zuckerberg A Piece Of Your Mind Via Facebook Message?
By January 11, 2013
Here’s a way to make some cash — how about monetizing the ability to send Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg a message on the social network? Facebook says it’s trying out some “extreme price points” to allow people to pay for their messages to be seen by others who aren’t on their friends list. Which means instead of a missive reading “Yo, what up?” going to Zuckerberg’s “Other” folder, he might actually read it. [More]
Could Facebook’s Mysterious Invitation Mean It’s Finally Launching A Phone?
By January 9, 2013
That whirring sound you hear is the rumor mill kicking into high gear, probably splashing water everywhere (it is a mill) while it gets to spinning: Facebook has issued a mysterious invitation for the media to come hang out on its campus in Menlo Park, Calif. next Tuesday and of course, now everyone’s all abuzz as to what it is the social network has to share with us. Could it be a phone? A new superhero? A fancy haircut for Mark Zuckerberg? [More]
List Of Companies With Worst Customer Service Scores Is Full Of Familiar Names
By January 8, 2013
Bank of America, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Delta, Charter, American Airlines — these are just a few of the all-too-familiar companies sitting comfortably in the back of the pack in terms of customer service for 2012. [More]
Hollywood Realizing That Facebook Likes Don’t Result In Box-Office Bonanzas
By January 8, 2013
For years, Hollywood studios have been tossing piles of cash at Facebook in the hopes that getting people to “like” a movie or TV show would somehow translate into box-office returns or high ratings. But some studio executives are reportedly wondering if this might be a waste of money. [More]
If You’re Going To Rig A Sweepstakes, Don’t Give The Prize To Your Facebook Admin
By January 7, 2013
For some reason, some people are still convinced that Facebook “likes” are some sort of currency and will do just about anything to get them. For example, the jewelry store that is now being accused of rigging a sweepstakes and then accidentally outing its misdeeds online. [More]
It Is Apparently Rather Easy To Suspend Someone’s Facebook Account Just By Saying They Are Dead
By January 4, 2013
The process for “memorializing” a deceased user’s Facebook page has apparently been simplified to the point where all it takes to have someone’s page suspended is that they share the name of an actual dead person. [More]
Even Randi Zuckerberg Is Confused When It Comes To Setting Facebook Privacy Controls
By December 27, 2012
Even though Facebook rolled out new privacy control tools to its U.S. users that ostensibly should make it easier for users to figure out what they’re sharing with which people, it seems things are still complicated enough to confused Mark Zuckerberg’s very own sister, Randi Zuckerberg. She was a bit ticked off recently to find that a photo she’d shared on the social network was viewable by a stranger — who subsequently reposted it on Twitter. [More]
Facebook’s New Privacy Controls Rolling Out Soon: Here’s What’s About To Happen
By December 21, 2012
There are plenty of times we’re critical of Facebook — the $1 message from strangers plan, launching auto-play ads — but with its new privacy controls it’s actually kinda sorta seems like the social network is (dare we say it?) making things easier for users. The new settings have rolled out globally and will be hitting U.S. accounts soon as well. They look like they’re easy to navigate, so, high five there, Facebook. [More]
Instagram’s Most Followed User Kim Kardashian Might Totally Break Up With It
By December 20, 2012
Despite the backpedaling Instagram performed on Tuesday night in the wake of a widespread backlash against its controversial new terms of service and privacy policy, the social media service is still facing the prospect of losing a lot of users. And if it loses its most followed user, things could be even worse. Do you really want Kim Kardashian to leave and possibly take a chunk of her 5.7 million followers with her, Instagram? Well, do ya? [More]
Facebook Announces Another Change To Dislike: Letting Strangers Pay To Message You
By December 20, 2012
One of the positive things about Facebook’s messaging system is that you can set it up so that only users you are connected to can send messages directly to your inbox. But now Facebook is testing a service that lets marketers pay to have you receive their messages. [More]
After Backlash, Instagram Backpedals A Bit On Changes To Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy
By December 18, 2012
Yesterday, the folks at Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing service, announced upcoming changes to its terms of service that raised concerns about privacy and content-ownership. With some users already talking about deleting their accounts, Instagram has issued a maybe-we-didn’t-think-this-through update. [More]
So Here’s How You Delete Your Instagram Account
By December 18, 2012
If you’re among the many Instagram users who are taking to the Internets to grumble about the photo service’s new terms of service and privacy policy, both taking effect Jan. 16, you might be considering the next and final step — deleting your account. The bad news is it’s the only way to keep your photos out of the hands of Facebook advertisers. The good news is, it’s easy to do. [More]
Facebook Really Wants To Be Hated, Will Launch Auto-Play Video Ads In 2013
By December 18, 2012
You know how much fun it is when you’re browsing the Internet and you get to a page where a loud video starts playing while you frantically try to stop it or mute your computer? Several hundred million Facebook members should prepare themselves for this thrill when the site launches auto-play video ads next year. [More]
FTC To Investigate What Info Data Brokers Are Collecting & Selling About Consumers
By December 18, 2012
You may remember earlier this fall when Facebook’s new partnership with data broker Datalogix spurred privacy advocates to ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. Now it looks like Datalogix, along with eight other data brokers, will be going under the agency’s microscope. [More]
Don’t Like Instagram’s New Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy? Quitting Is The Only Way Out
By December 18, 2012
It seems like every week users of social network Instagram have been seeing more and more changes, all leading the service down the merry path toward becoming more and more like its parent company, Facebook. There was the Twitter card break-up, followed by the revelation that yes, Instagram would get ads. And now the service has updated its terms of service and privacy policy in ways that might see a whole lot of users fleeing for good. [More]
