To break away from some of the more negative aspects of social media that I've been talking about recently, I thought I'd focus on something lighter: comedy.
It is called 'social media', right? What is more social than making people laugh?
Mashable has listed 85 of the best comedians to follow on twitter. Some of these (like @boburnham) are entirely web-based celebrities, using youtube and their blogs to express themselves.
I think that's one of the most fun, and engaging part of the social media tools we have now. Sure, there are all kinds of people out there looking to make a buck by spamming you, stealing your identity, or all kinds of other nefarious things.... but there are just as many people who just want to make you laugh.
Burnham has been posting videos for years, and has grown quite a following. Hollywood celebs like Will Ferrell have launched sites like funnyordie.com which has given him and his collegues a place to express themselves, and entertain us. We all know of sites with hilarious content, free to anyone who might stop by.
With the popularity of Twitter exploding, so are the number of irreverent Twitter profiles (@jackbauerfacts or @Sockington are good examples). In case you're curious, Sockington is a cat. His feed describes his daily activities, and internal dialouge. As of writing, he has over 850,000 followers.
I think my favourite sources of comedy online arethe completely user-driven sites. Places like fmylife.com, and textsfromlastnight.com are two sites that allow users to upload their own short contributions to a database of hilarious content. Fair warning, many of these posts are profane and offensive (as a lot of comedy tends to be) but their are also a great example of how people aren't just consuming comedy online, but are taking part in its production. That's cool! (not to mention a pretty smart business model for the webmasters)
I frankly love sources of brevity throughout the day. These social media tools are supposed to make our lives better, and if nothing else twitter and facebook we have almost made the fwd e-mail chain-letter jokes obsolete. Now THAT is an improvement!
I'm always looking for more hilarious sites? If you know of any, send them to me!
Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Facebook 2014, 2015, and beyond...
Pages promoting class of 2014, and 2015 groups are already popping up, and this time I know what they are up to.
Created by profiles with little or no information, and no ties to the Universities they represent, these have all the signatures of the 'class of 2013' fiasco that garnered so much attention over the past few months.
For background on the fraudulent 'Class of 2013' group phenomenon, check out Brad J. Ward's Blog Squared Peg, my own recap of the Canadian manifestation here, University Affairs' News Blog, or the Globe & Mail.
While this story gained traction because this is the time of year that university and college bound students typically join these groups en masse, the people responsible for these groups are already working to build their networks for next year. Here is what I gathered so far:
At least two Pages have been set up, designed to encourage future high school grads to invite their friends. On the left is a screen capture from: High school Grads 2010: University Grads 2014. This is identical to a second page called: High school Grads 2011: University Grads 2015. While these pages link to important resources for future grads: (The Ontario University Fair Page, as an example), it also links to a page for 'Eruption Productions'. This group claims to be "YOUR SOURCE FOR THE CRAZIEST UNIVERSITY PARTIES".
In my series of interviews, I was asked several times what the motivations of these marketers is/was. I think this is a pretty clear indication of their game. If you can gather thousands, or potentially tens of thousands of student contacts, you have a very valuable resource for event planning and management.
It gets a bit more interesting; this promotion company is linked to another company called 'Neesh Marketing" which claims to have party promoters both "in residence, and off campus" and they are actively hiring girls who can "light up the room". See the group yourself here.
Now, lets see if I can connect some dots to explain how this is all connected:
There is a new Brock 2014 group, run by one of these blatantly fake accounts. The admin is supposedly a young woman, and her display picture is a very suggestive picture of cleavage.
On this group page, there are direct links to the aforementioned pages. While that's no shock, what is interesting is that the 'related groups', a feature facebook uses to connect group members with other content they might be interested in, is only being drawn from this one account. In short, it tells us what other groups 'she' is in.
'She' is also the admin for Brecia University College's class of 2014 group, several residence groups, as well as the Class of 2013 Group for Wilfred Laurier University. Yes, that's right: a class of 2013 group with over 1100 members is still being run by a fake profile. There is however and important distinction between this Laurier group, and the other fake groups: the admin of this group specifically states that:
"**Note: This group is for the students by the students. There is no official association with the university. I'm sure there are others as well."
This is really important. It's a step in the right direction.
Not surprisingly, the only future event scheduled for this Laurier group is the 'Eruptions Productions Frosh Week Countdown'. In fact, the creator of this group is also linked to Neesh Marketing, Silver Platter Inc. (a parent company), and InfiniteSM (a subsidiary Social Media consultation company).
Because the social media world is so interconnected, someone within this group will likely be receiving a link to this blog when I tweet it in a few minutes. So, with that in mind, let me say the following:
The opportunities to market to students using a variety of social media tools is understandably tantalizing. These students live in this space, and what better way to communicate with them than through the very tools they use. That's why I have my job. The only qualms I have with this kind of marketing, is when groups are designed to represent themselves as tied to the University, and official.
I work for the university, and always identify myself as an employee, and an alumni. Being honest and forthcoming is one of the most important tenants of what I do. If these groups followed a similar path and stopped representing themselves as students or as tied to the University, as their note in the Laurier group shows they might be willing to do, then their marketing efforts are really none of my concern.
Created by profiles with little or no information, and no ties to the Universities they represent, these have all the signatures of the 'class of 2013' fiasco that garnered so much attention over the past few months.
For background on the fraudulent 'Class of 2013' group phenomenon, check out Brad J. Ward's Blog Squared Peg, my own recap of the Canadian manifestation here, University Affairs' News Blog, or the Globe & Mail.
While this story gained traction because this is the time of year that university and college bound students typically join these groups en masse, the people responsible for these groups are already working to build their networks for next year. Here is what I gathered so far:
At least two Pages have been set up, designed to encourage future high school grads to invite their friends. On the left is a screen capture from: High school Grads 2010: University Grads 2014. This is identical to a second page called: High school Grads 2011: University Grads 2015. While these pages link to important resources for future grads: (The Ontario University Fair Page, as an example), it also links to a page for 'Eruption Productions'. This group claims to be "YOUR SOURCE FOR THE CRAZIEST UNIVERSITY PARTIES". In my series of interviews, I was asked several times what the motivations of these marketers is/was. I think this is a pretty clear indication of their game. If you can gather thousands, or potentially tens of thousands of student contacts, you have a very valuable resource for event planning and management.
It gets a bit more interesting; this promotion company is linked to another company called 'Neesh Marketing" which claims to have party promoters both "in residence, and off campus" and they are actively hiring girls who can "light up the room". See the group yourself here.
Now, lets see if I can connect some dots to explain how this is all connected:
There is a new Brock 2014 group, run by one of these blatantly fake accounts. The admin is supposedly a young woman, and her display picture is a very suggestive picture of cleavage.On this group page, there are direct links to the aforementioned pages. While that's no shock, what is interesting is that the 'related groups', a feature facebook uses to connect group members with other content they might be interested in, is only being drawn from this one account. In short, it tells us what other groups 'she' is in.
'She' is also the admin for Brecia University College's class of 2014 group, several residence groups, as well as the Class of 2013 Group for Wilfred Laurier University. Yes, that's right: a class of 2013 group with over 1100 members is still being run by a fake profile. There is however and important distinction between this Laurier group, and the other fake groups: the admin of this group specifically states that:
"**Note: This group is for the students by the students. There is no official association with the university. I'm sure there are others as well."
This is really important. It's a step in the right direction.
Not surprisingly, the only future event scheduled for this Laurier group is the 'Eruptions Productions Frosh Week Countdown'. In fact, the creator of this group is also linked to Neesh Marketing, Silver Platter Inc. (a parent company), and InfiniteSM (a subsidiary Social Media consultation company).
Because the social media world is so interconnected, someone within this group will likely be receiving a link to this blog when I tweet it in a few minutes. So, with that in mind, let me say the following:
The opportunities to market to students using a variety of social media tools is understandably tantalizing. These students live in this space, and what better way to communicate with them than through the very tools they use. That's why I have my job. The only qualms I have with this kind of marketing, is when groups are designed to represent themselves as tied to the University, and official.
I work for the university, and always identify myself as an employee, and an alumni. Being honest and forthcoming is one of the most important tenants of what I do. If these groups followed a similar path and stopped representing themselves as students or as tied to the University, as their note in the Laurier group shows they might be willing to do, then their marketing efforts are really none of my concern.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Just Facebook Me
I was reading over some of my Brock Press articles the other day, and with all the attention from the Canadian Facebook 2013 debacle has received, I thought this one was more relevant than ever. A bit more existential than the average Blog about social media, but relevant nonetheless.
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Opinion
There may be few things that all Brock students have in common, but an obsession with Facebook is likely one of them. A quick glance over the shoulder of somebody 'working' in one of the computer labs, or at a laptop screen in lecture and you can see this for yourself.
These unfortunate souls have been trapped by a web application that claims to provide the opportunity to represent yourself however you like, and to do so in front of almost everyone in your life.
What was once just a small social networking site has exploded into a phenomenon that is changing the very way we communicate with each other.
Its amazing that almost everyone you've ever known that is your age is more than likely on Facebook. This kind of networking capacity is exciting, but can also present numerous challenges for people unaware of its power.
If the government had issued a mandate that all citizens needed to upload their personal information into a searchable online database, the outcry would be enormous.
Perhaps it's because Facebook has a variety of privacy settings that many people feel comfortable enough to upload their names, birthdays, job and education information, pictures of themselves, and a whole host of other information onto a web application that is now searchable through Google. This isn't to say that we are all in some grave danger because we post these things, but it is interesting to see how much of ourselves we are willing to put online for the world to see.
Facebook acts as somewhat of an autobiography for some people. It is a forum where people can choose what aspects of their lives they want to publicize, and in so doing they manufacture an image of themselves. I'm sure we all know a few obsessed people who hurriedly return home from even the most mundane events to tag pictures, update their status and write wall postings to as many people as they can to discuss whatever it was that just happened. This is all pretty harmless most of the time, however; dealing with personal issues in a very public way can add a new stressful dynamic to our lives.
If you can believe it, this goes far beyond the dreaded 'relationship status' change that many face from time to time.
Recently, in Ontario, there have been examples of suspected young offenders exposed on Facebook. Harassment charges, expulsion from school and job losses have all occurred because of Facebook in this province alone. This says nothing about sexual predators, murders, and suicides that have been directly linked to social networking sites in the United States. Hopefully these kinds of issues are outside the personal experience of members Brock community, but it is likely they aren't.
An increasing number of employers are searching through online networking sites to learn more about their current or potential employees. This means that when you apply for your next summer job it is possible that the person interviewing you will be creeping your profile looking directly into your personal life to see what kind of employee you might be.
This may not matter for most people, but if you have friends who make vulgar wall posts, you post risqué photos or do anything else that an employer might be interested in, you could be jeopardizing your job and not even know it.
Facebook gives us the opportunity to communicate with an enormous online community made up of the who's who of our pasts. What it also does is create a new avenue for people to feel that they need to constantly construct their public identity. We are rarely free from the lure of adding new information to our accounts and making sure it adequately represents who we think we are. Perhaps the popularity of
Facebook stems from the impossibility of this project. Regardless, it might be wise to gain some perspective on what we decide is important for everyone in our lives to know. Our online actions likely have consequences that we haven't thought about. As Facebook continues to grow, that ripple effect is only becoming larger.
Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Opinion
There may be few things that all Brock students have in common, but an obsession with Facebook is likely one of them. A quick glance over the shoulder of somebody 'working' in one of the computer labs, or at a laptop screen in lecture and you can see this for yourself.
These unfortunate souls have been trapped by a web application that claims to provide the opportunity to represent yourself however you like, and to do so in front of almost everyone in your life.
What was once just a small social networking site has exploded into a phenomenon that is changing the very way we communicate with each other.
Its amazing that almost everyone you've ever known that is your age is more than likely on Facebook. This kind of networking capacity is exciting, but can also present numerous challenges for people unaware of its power.
If the government had issued a mandate that all citizens needed to upload their personal information into a searchable online database, the outcry would be enormous.
Perhaps it's because Facebook has a variety of privacy settings that many people feel comfortable enough to upload their names, birthdays, job and education information, pictures of themselves, and a whole host of other information onto a web application that is now searchable through Google. This isn't to say that we are all in some grave danger because we post these things, but it is interesting to see how much of ourselves we are willing to put online for the world to see.
Facebook acts as somewhat of an autobiography for some people. It is a forum where people can choose what aspects of their lives they want to publicize, and in so doing they manufacture an image of themselves. I'm sure we all know a few obsessed people who hurriedly return home from even the most mundane events to tag pictures, update their status and write wall postings to as many people as they can to discuss whatever it was that just happened. This is all pretty harmless most of the time, however; dealing with personal issues in a very public way can add a new stressful dynamic to our lives.
If you can believe it, this goes far beyond the dreaded 'relationship status' change that many face from time to time.
Recently, in Ontario, there have been examples of suspected young offenders exposed on Facebook. Harassment charges, expulsion from school and job losses have all occurred because of Facebook in this province alone. This says nothing about sexual predators, murders, and suicides that have been directly linked to social networking sites in the United States. Hopefully these kinds of issues are outside the personal experience of members Brock community, but it is likely they aren't.
An increasing number of employers are searching through online networking sites to learn more about their current or potential employees. This means that when you apply for your next summer job it is possible that the person interviewing you will be creeping your profile looking directly into your personal life to see what kind of employee you might be.
This may not matter for most people, but if you have friends who make vulgar wall posts, you post risqué photos or do anything else that an employer might be interested in, you could be jeopardizing your job and not even know it.
Facebook gives us the opportunity to communicate with an enormous online community made up of the who's who of our pasts. What it also does is create a new avenue for people to feel that they need to constantly construct their public identity. We are rarely free from the lure of adding new information to our accounts and making sure it adequately represents who we think we are. Perhaps the popularity of
Facebook stems from the impossibility of this project. Regardless, it might be wise to gain some perspective on what we decide is important for everyone in our lives to know. Our online actions likely have consequences that we haven't thought about. As Facebook continues to grow, that ripple effect is only becoming larger.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Harmonix: Gods of all (social) media
The creators of Guitar Hero and Rock Band have revolutionized the gaming industry. The multi-trillion dollar business (and yes, I said trillion) of rhythm games has opened the world of video games, and perhaps as importantly; downloading add-ons to video games, to an audience never seen before. They made games fun for everyone!
While none of this is news, what Harmonix has been up to recently is. The upcoming launch of Rock Band: The Beatles, has the potential to be one of the highest grossing entertainment vehicles ever. They way harmonix is handling the release of information about this title is intriguing, and a lesson to anyone who dips their toes in the social media marketing world. Build a strong product, and an online-space with real content that will drive people back to your site, and you end up with the thriving community that is www.rockband.com. In this case, it is the weekly announcements of dowloadable content for the games that is a big draw.
The next evolution of this series is teaser site: www.thebeatlesrockband.com which allows people who have pre-ordered the game to view exclusive media releases and information about the forthcoming game. So far, it has been executed very well.
Keep on eye on these guys. Not only are their games clever and revolutionary, but their ability to create a real online community with emotional investement is too.
Check out @HarmonixSean to see what they are up to these days.
While none of this is news, what Harmonix has been up to recently is. The upcoming launch of Rock Band: The Beatles, has the potential to be one of the highest grossing entertainment vehicles ever. They way harmonix is handling the release of information about this title is intriguing, and a lesson to anyone who dips their toes in the social media marketing world. Build a strong product, and an online-space with real content that will drive people back to your site, and you end up with the thriving community that is www.rockband.com. In this case, it is the weekly announcements of dowloadable content for the games that is a big draw.
The next evolution of this series is teaser site: www.thebeatlesrockband.com which allows people who have pre-ordered the game to view exclusive media releases and information about the forthcoming game. So far, it has been executed very well.
Keep on eye on these guys. Not only are their games clever and revolutionary, but their ability to create a real online community with emotional investement is too.
Check out @HarmonixSean to see what they are up to these days.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
put the fun back in social media!
With all of the excitement over the wonders of social media, what might be the most overlooked aspect of these outlets is the spontaneous peanut gallery that is out there. It might just seem like noise to the professionals out there, but these comedians are showing us something about how to view this online world.
We've seen the political influence that bloggers, friends, and followers can have. And we all know about the exploding interest in social media marketing opportunities (especially in fields that naturally lend themselves to this environment, like higher-ed).
While this is all fine and good, I find the irreverent corners of this brave new world so much more fun. For every institution that is trying to harness the power of all these new vehicles for their own gain, there are dozens who just want to anonymously express themselves, and frankly they are hilarious.
With the twitter feed full of links to the next ‘new social media marketing tool’, its fun to get a tweet from @darthvader telling me about the daily frustrations of being the sith lord of the darkside. The same is true about facebook, youtube, and the rest. Just check out the nearly three-quarters of a million people who are fans of ALF on facebook for evidence.
Why does this matter?
I think it shows that the no matter how many millions of dollars and man-hours are spent trying to keep up with the social media tsunami, the people who populate these places (and ultimately drive it forward) are far less serious about it. They are just in it for the fun.
That really is the point of all these tools anyway. You have to make it fun first. It you can pull that off well, then you already well on your way to making it work for your interests.
Here are some funny and fake twitter accounts to follow, if you're into that sort of thing:
http://tinyurl.com/blfsov
(thanks to @karlfoxley @myTweetElite)
We've seen the political influence that bloggers, friends, and followers can have. And we all know about the exploding interest in social media marketing opportunities (especially in fields that naturally lend themselves to this environment, like higher-ed).
While this is all fine and good, I find the irreverent corners of this brave new world so much more fun. For every institution that is trying to harness the power of all these new vehicles for their own gain, there are dozens who just want to anonymously express themselves, and frankly they are hilarious.
With the twitter feed full of links to the next ‘new social media marketing tool’, its fun to get a tweet from @darthvader telling me about the daily frustrations of being the sith lord of the darkside. The same is true about facebook, youtube, and the rest. Just check out the nearly three-quarters of a million people who are fans of ALF on facebook for evidence.
Why does this matter?
I think it shows that the no matter how many millions of dollars and man-hours are spent trying to keep up with the social media tsunami, the people who populate these places (and ultimately drive it forward) are far less serious about it. They are just in it for the fun.
That really is the point of all these tools anyway. You have to make it fun first. It you can pull that off well, then you already well on your way to making it work for your interests.
Here are some funny and fake twitter accounts to follow, if you're into that sort of thing:
http://tinyurl.com/blfsov
(thanks to @karlfoxley @myTweetElite)
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