Archives: December 2009

Google gave a shout-out to Twitter in a post on the Google Blog that wrapped up the year and touted the blog’s accomplishments since its 2004 launch.

Google Blog Team editors Emily Wood and Jordan Newman wrote about Twitter:

Beyond the blogs, in February, we jumped head-first into the Twitterverse, starting our @google account with a geeky tweet. Since then, we’ve tweeted more than 1,000 times and are grateful to have gathered 2 million or so followers. That puts us in the company of @algore and @ashsimpsonwentz and (today, at least) just 65,000 or so followers behind a certain @ladygaga (although we’re pretty sure that gap is only going to grow—no way we can compete with her outfits). Around 75 other Google entities and teams have gotten into the Twitter act this year, as well, so we built a directory to help you keep up with all the action. Twitter also was our biggest non-Google referrer to the blog in 2009, a clear sign of its rapid growth in popularity.

Join Baratunde Thurston (left), The Onion’s Director of Digital and author of How to Be Black, for an entertaining look at creative social media campaigns in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. Other speakers include Morin Oluwole (Facebook), Tim Devane (bitly), and SocialTimes' writer Devon Glenn.   Register now.

synchtube allows YouTube users to invite up to four other people to simultaneously watch and discuss YouTube videos, ReadWriteWeb reported.

The first person to enter the room created on the site controls playback and selection of videos, according to ReadWriteWeb, and the room offers basic chat features.

The word Twitter was used far more often on television than Facebook or MySpace, according to SnapStream, which launched SnapStream TV Trends to track keywords used during TV programs, TechCrunch reported.

According to SnapStream, TV programs mentioned Twitter three times more often in December than in late 2008 or in January 2009, TechCrunch reported.

SnapStream’s top 10 overall for 2009, as reported by TechCrunch: Iran, Michael Jackson, swine flu, North Korea, AIG, pirates, Hamas, (the) inauguration, Ted Kennedy and balloon (boy).

Facebook hackers bagged a high-profile target last Friday: Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski, The New York Times‘ Bits reported.

Genachowski’s Facebook friends received Facebook messages at around 10:30 a.m. saying, “Adam got me started making money with this,” with a link to an inactive Website, Bits reported, adding that his account was temporarily suspended and Genachowski was on vacation.

Facebook emailed the following statement to Bits:

We take security very seriously and have devoted significant resources toward helping our users protect their accounts. We’ve developed complex automated systems that detect and flag Facebook accounts that are likely to be compromised (based on anomalous activity like lots of messages sent in a short period of time, or messages with links that are known to be bad). Because Facebook is a closed system, we have a tremendous advantage over email. That is, once we detect a phony message, we can delete that message in all inboxes across the site.

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Mediabistro’s parent company, WebMediaBrands Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBM), today announced that it has acquired 3rd Power LLC from Charles Hudson. 3rd Power’s main assets are three social media trade shows, the Virtual Goods Summit, Social Gaming Summit and iGames Summit.

WEBM chairman and CEO Alan Meckler plans to expand the shows nationally and internationally.

“We expect these shows to continue their growth trajectories and we plan to add east coast and European versions in 2010,” said Meckler.

Earlier this month, WebMediaBrands acquired Social Times which produces two Websites and two trade shows. “These acquisitions, along with mediabistro’s existing events and blogs, make WebMediaBrands a leading provider of social media tradeshows and content,” said Meckler.

Hudson remains with WebMediaBrands as a consultant. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Following the acquisition of Social Times Inc, WebMediaBrands (Nasdaq: WEBM) has acquired Charles Hudson’s 3rd Power LLC. With that acquisition comes a portfolio of conferences including Social Gaming Summit, Virtual Goods Summit, and iGames Summit. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed but this is definitely an exciting announcement. Our company was acquired weeks ago and this acquisition will help expand WebMediaBrands’ social media portfolio.
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TV.com is revealing its Top 100 Everything of 2009 list 10 entries at a time, starting from the bottom, so fans will have to hold out until Dec. 31 for the site’s top 10.

Nos. 11-20 follow:
20. Aaron Paul as Jesse on Breaking Bad.
19. Discovery Channel’s “I Love the World” promo.
18. Mad Men‘s January Jones.
17. Susan Boyle‘s first performance on Britain’s Got Talent.
16. Adam Lambert singing “Mad World.”
15. Bones undresses Booth.
14. Stephen Colbert sponsors the U.S. Speedskating Team.
13. Glee.
12. Saturday Night Live‘s “Mother Lover.”
11. Joaquin Phoenix on Late Show.

Looking for a free meal in Charlotte, N.C.? Simple: Just join geolocation-based check-in game foursquare and become the mayor of organic restaurant blynk organic, according to TechCrunch.

blynk organic became the first establishment to allow its mayor, or the person who checks in to a place the most, to eat free, and all gym rats (frequent check-ins) also receive 25% off egg sandwiches, TechCrunch reported.

foursquare director of business development Tristan Walker told TechCrunch:

Right now we’re just focused on getting as many venues running promos on the platform as possible before we think about monetizing. We’d like to understand a bit more about how venue owners would like to leverage our platform in interesting ways first.

If Facebook was angered by Seppukoo, how will it respond to Web 2.0 Suicide Machine?

Seppukoo, from imaginary Italian art group Les Liens Invisibles, assists Facebook users in making their accounts disappear.

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine, from new-media lab Moddr, takes it to another level, erasing users’ existence on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, TechCrunch reports.

According to TechCrunch, Web 2.0 Suicide Machine removes Facebook friends one at a time, leaves groups and allows users to leave some parting words. As for Twitter, the app deletes all tweets and removes all followers and followed accounts.

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine runs a python script that launches a browser session automating the process, and it even allows users to watch their virtual suicides via a Flash app (see below), TechCrunch reported.

web 2.0 suicide machine promotion from moddr_ on Vimeo.

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The year couldn’t possibly come to an end without yet another athlete having to apologize for a tweet. This time it was New Orleans Saints defensive end Bobby McCray, who responded to his arrest on charges of driving under the influence with a flurry of tweets, according to ProFootballTalk.com.

As reported by ProFootballTalk.com, some of the tweets from McCray’s now-canceled Twitter account:

trying to deal with this Bogus charge of DWP .. driving with Pizza.

I had cuffs on me with in 3 minutes.

This was a short guy with Napolean complex.

He got upset because I asked him why did I need to get out the car on a routine traffic stop.

He starving ranting and raving saying I think I know it all and threw me in cuffs.

Lawyers mount up, we got some work to do!!!!!

ProFootballTalk.com reported that McCray canceled his Twitter account and released the following statement:

I regret that my private messages were unintentionally posted on Twitter. I have respect for the men and women who serve the New Orleans Police Department, and I never meant to convey otherwise. My attorneys are now handling the matter, and I have faith that the legal process will rectify the situation in my favor.