Microsoft’s Bing gets a social lift from Facebook
Facebook and Microsoft announced a partnership on Wednesday that will give the results on Microsoft’s Bing search engine a social twist--and could help both companies compete against a…
social networking
Students dependent on technology—for better or worse
Technology has become so entwined with college students' often frantic lives that most in a new survey say they'd be more frazzled without it. Yet the poll also…
Facebook ‘Groups’ could boost privacy, collaboration
A new Facebook feature unveiled Oct. 6 gives users more control over which information is shared with certain groups of people, and it also offers an easy platform…
How to avoid committing social media gaffes
With social media use nearly universal, school districts need to develop guidelines to help employees navigate this new terrain successfully. Here are some tips to avoid committing major…
Facebook Places: Marketing tool or educational asset?
The University of Kentucky, if all goes according to the campus’s marketing plan, could pop up in 1.3 million Facebook news feeds during the fall semester—and students might…
Students: Social media blackout eye-opening, ‘annoying’
Students at Harrisburg University, where technology officials recently deprived students of social media access for one week, said the restriction was a minor inconvenience for many on campus,…
Newark, NJ, schools to get $100M Facebook donation
Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old wunderkind behind Facebook, is making a move to become a player in philanthropy just before the opening of a film that portrays him as…
Facebook founder to donate $100 million to remake Newark’s schools
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive and a founder of Facebook, has agreed to donate $100 million to improve the long-troubled public schools in Newark, and Gov. Chris Christie will…
Diaspora, Facebook’s potential rival, offers a peek
Mark Zuckerberg is having a bad publicity day. Despite a flattering New Yorker profile of the founder of Facebook (both in writing and in a rather Roman statue-esque…
University declares a week without social media
What if one day Facebook, Twitter, and Instant Messenger just weren't there? Provost Eric Darr of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania wanted his students to…
Web search takes a social turn
Web sites are trying to make search more helpful by showing what your friends—or other people like you—like, reports the New York Times. Turning to friends is the…
Facebook backs more funds for science and math education
Facebook sent a letter Thursday to key lawmakers emphasizing the company's support for strong investments in science, technology and mathematics education for children, according to The Hill.
Social media site an ‘academic supplement’ to Facebook
Instead of a Facebook news feed cluttered with tidbits about friends’ FarmVille progress, Boris Revsin wants a social media site that alerts college students to the latest in…
Teens sue Facebook over ‘like’ button
Two Los Angeles County teenagers are suing Facebook, claiming the social networking giant effectively sold their names and images to advertisers without parental permission.
To boost security, Facebook adds remote logout
The social-networking giant Facebook is rolling out a new security feature that lets users see which computers and devices are logged into their Facebook accounts, then remove the…
Facebook pokes start-up Teachbook with lawsuit
Facebook is concerned that a start-up social network for teachers with the word "book" in its title is infringing on its own trademarks, CNET reports.
Social networking your way to a new job
The job-search process has undergone a revolution since the advent of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites, reports the New York Times.
Schools grapple with social media policies
Dallas-area schools open their doors today to tech-savvy students who probably spent their summer texting their friends and updating their Facebook pages, reports the Dallas Morning News—but should…
Facebook Places could meet skepticism on college campuses
Facebook’s opt-in feature that lets friends check each other’s locations could be useful for colleges and universities tracking the most ... Read more
School administrator resigns over Facebook posting
A Massachusetts school administrator has resigned after she called residents of the town where she worked “snobby” and “arrogant” in a Facebook posting, reports the Boston Globe.
Schools, tech companies tailor social sites for students
Colleges and universities across the United States are going beyond simply creating web sites and pages on Facebook for students to "friend" or "fan"; they’re also working with…
Beware of fake Facebook ‘dislike’ button
Lots of people have clamored for a “dislike” button on Facebook, which so far only officially allows people to "like" content on its site. Now, some social-media spoilers…
Companies turn to social media for grant-giving
As celebrities, politicians, and students alike increasingly use social media to stay connected, education experts say they have noticed a growing number of companies turning to social media…
How online research can make the grade
Not too long ago, the golden rules for high school and college students turning to the web as a research tool were simple: Treat digital content that's never…
Study: Students do care about Facebook privacy
A close look at college students’ reaction to Facebook privacy policies revealed concern about online identities as news outlets pushed the issue to the forefront with increasing coverage…
Should students ‘friend’ teachers online?
As teachers increasingly connect with their students online, school districts are working to define appropriate ways for teachers and students to communicate outside the classroom, reports the Chicago…
Google’s march toward social networking
Google this week confirmed its acquisition of online entertainment company Slide, PC World reports.
College students sound off on social networking likes and dislikes
Google is talking to several top online game developers about creating a broader social networking site that would offer social games and could compete with Facebook—and in interviews…
Study: Excessive internet usage linked to teen depression
According to a new study, teenagers who log at least five hours a day online are one-and-a-half times more likely to become depressed than those who use the…
New OSU social media network helps students connect
Classes don't start for another three weeks at Oklahoma State University, but freshman Tandrea Lambert already has found dozens of future classmates with similar interests, reports NewsOK.com. Lambert…
Disney to buy social-gaming site Playdom
The Walt Disney Co. is buying online social-gaming company Playdom for $563.2 million, the latest sign the company is becoming a formidable player in the digital gaming industry,…
Facebook to hit 500 million users, but meteoric rise has come with growing pains
Facebook is expected to say this week that it has reached 500 million users, making it the biggest information network on the internet in a meteoric rise that…
Grades don’t drop for college Facebook fiends
According to new research out of Northwestern University, students who use social networking sites don't seem to suffer academically, Ars Technica reports.
Researchers find privacy flaws in Chatroulette
Perhaps there is finally something to deter Chatroulette.com users from their more offensive behavior, PC World reports: University researchers say that users of the popular video-chat site might…
On Facebook, telling teachers how much they meant
People who have been out of school for decades are expressing sentiments on social-networking web sites that they dared not express in their youth, reports the New York…
Google rumored to be building a Facebook competitor
Silicon Valley is speculating that Google is working on a social network to compete with Facebook, called Google Me, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Facebook launches ‘permissions’ for apps, web sites
Facebook is rolling out a new feature that requires outside applications and web sites to tell users exactly what parts of their profiles have to be shared for…
PTA-endorsed SocialShield keeps kids safe on Facebook and more
A company called SocialShield has launched new technology aimed at keeping children and teens safe on social networking sites like Facebook, ReadWriteWeb reports.
Software helps schools monitor athletes’ postings
Roughly two dozen college athletic departments are using a software program that tracks the Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace pages of athletes for inappropriate posts.
Political fundraising tool taps social networks
The Associated Press reports that candidates in some top political races are raising big sums of money using software that taps donors' social networks, an endeavor that lets…