Social networking is an innovation that has exploded in usage in a very short time span. You can now enjoy constant correspondence with friends from all parts of the world without ever having to leave your seat. In many ways, social networking is much better than all other forms of communication put together because of the wealth of information that can be exchanged in a very short time For instance, you can keep in touch with a friend who is travelling around the world; you can use smartphones to chat and the occasional video stream when said friend comes across something whose beauty cannot be aptly put into words e.g. a sunset, a colorful festival etc. This will allow you to experience a part of the world you never knew existed without ever having to heave your house.People have really taken to this form of instant communication, something that’s seen in the fact that social networks are the largest growing types of websites around. The growth of social networking has been accelerated by the fact that the programmers design very intuitive interfaces that allow people with virtually no prior online experience to easily become experts. While this in itself is a good thing, it causes people to ignore what is happening in the background. This is better explained with an illustration:Margret sits in front of her computer, switches it on and loads her browser. She then loads the URLs for her preferred social networks, logs into her accounts and starts communicating with her friends. These communications involve uploads of pictures and videos, commenting on her friends’ posts, making her own posts and the like. She then realizes that John, her globetrotting brother is currently online. She loads the instant messenger and John decides to show her the Roman coliseum using the inbuilt video feature on his smartphone. While this real time online tour is going on she decides to read up on the news. Being a news junkie, she has added all the fan pages of popular news outlets to her friends list so that she can get all important updates without having to go to all individual sites. So far so good.While she is immensely enjoying herself, all the information being transmitted through cyberspace is available to all her friends and the owners and administrators of the servers. Since she is not web savvy, she thinks (much to her detriment) that the persons handling her information are intrinsically benevolent. What she does not realize is that most social networks need money to run their servers, pay the employees, satisfy funders, and improve the architecture, R&D and the like. This means that they (social networks) find ways of selling off user information. This therefore means that within no time, she will start noticing ads about travel, news aggregators and all other things she showed an interest in, even in passing. Unbeknown to her, her naivety sets her up as the perfect victim for the numerous cyber stalkers and trolls always on the prowl.What most people don’t realize is that web technologies are first and foremost designed to make a profit. The most successful social networks and websites are those that made enough money to fine tune their marketing endeavors and to attract the attention of venture capitalists. This therefore means that the bottom line becomes the prime motivator; the Margrets of the world are just the minions being used to make that number bigger and bigger.When you go through the most popular social networks, you’ll just find a network of products and services being marketed by taking advantage of people’s desires. The end result is a mass of unsatisfied clients with a lot of useless information about products and services they do not want or need because of the constant bombardment from admen. Most people visiting social networking sites usually just want news updates and targeted marketing campaigns about the latest technological trends, music, developments in the automotive industry and whatever else tickles their fancy. They want to be able to willingly spend their resources on beneficial products and not to be forced to buy things by the aggressive marketing tactics being blatantly flaunted in the social networks of today.At the same time they would like to be able to have a modicum of control about which ads get to them. This can be equated to that strong desire to be able to select when a television commercial will be shown. You find that most people will not have a problem with listening or seeing an infomercial pitching a useful product; what people have a problem with is having a commercial about a car just when Jeremy Lin is about to make a slam dunk. Savvy advertisers and media managers saw this trend and therefore developed on-demand television. On demand television caused an immediate paradigm shift; first off people started enjoying the viewing experience more while advertisers were forced to be more creative when creating their commercials in a bid to draw in more converti

"This book provides an overview of the major questions that researchers and practitioners in this area are addressing at this time and by outlining the possible future directions for theory development and empirical research on social networking and eDating"--Provided by publisher.

Terrorism. Why does this word grab our attention so? Propaganda machines have adopted modern technology as a means to always have their content available. Regardless of the hour or time zone, information is being shared by somebody, somewhere. Social media is a game changer influencing the way in which terror groups are changing their tactics and also how their acts of terror are perceived by the members of the public they intend to influence. This book explores how social media adoption by terrorists interacts with privacy law, freedom of expression, data protection and surveillance legislation through an exploration of the fascinating primary resources themselves, covering everything from the Snowden Leaks, the rise of ISIS to Charlie Hebdo. The book also covers lesser worn paths such as the travel guide that proudly boasts that you can get Bounty and Twix bars mid-conflict, and the best local hair salons for jihadi brides. These vignettes, amongst the many others explored in this volume bring to life the legal, policy and ethical debates considered in this volume, representing an important part in the development of understanding terrorist narratives on social media, by framing the legislative debate. This book represents an invaluable guide for lawyers, government bodies, the defence services, academics, students and businesses.

This sparkling Handbook offers an unrivalled resource for those engaged in the cutting edge field of social network analysis. Systematically, it introduces readers to the key concepts, substantive topics, central methods and prime debates. Among the specific areas covered are: Network theory Interdisciplinary applications Online networks Corporate networks Lobbying networks Deviant networks Measuring devices Key Methodologies Software applications. The result is a peerless resource for teachers and students which offers a critical survey of the origins, basic issues and major debates. The Handbook provides a one-stop guide that will be used by readers for decades to come.

The Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics explores how the rise of social media is altering politics both in the United States and in key moments, movements, and places around the world. Its scope encompasses the disruptive technologies and activities that are changing basic patterns in American politics and the amazing transformations that social media use is rendering in other political systems heretofore resistant to democratization and change. In a time when social media are revolutionizing and galvanizing politics in the United States and around the world, this encyclopedia is a must-have reference. It reflects the changing landscape of politics where old modes and methods of political communication from elites to the masses (top down) and from the masses to elites (bottom up) are being displaced rapidly by social media, and where activists are building new movements and protests using social media to alter mainstream political agendas. Key Features: This three-volume A-to-Z encyclopedia set includes 600 short essays on high-interest topics that explore social media’s impact on politics, such as "Activists and Activism," "Issues and Social Media," "Politics and Social Media," and "Popular Uprisings and Protest." A stellar array of world renowned scholars have written entries in a clear and accessible style that invites readers to explore and reflect on the use of social media by political candidates in this country, as well as the use of social media in protests overseas Unique to this book is a detailed appendix with material unavailable anywhere else tracking and illustrating social media usage by U.S. Senators and Congressmen. This encyclopedia set is a must-have general, non-technical resource for students and researchers who seek to understand how the changes in social networking through social media are affecting politics, both in the United States and in selected countries or regions around the world. Key Themes: Opening Essays Celebrities and Pioneers in Social Media and Politics Congressional Social Media Usage (Most Active Members) Measuring Social Media′s Political Impact Misuse of Social Media in the Political Arena: Issues and Ethics Social Media, Candidates, and Campaigns Social Media, Politics, and Culture Social Media and Networking Websites Social Media and Political Unrest Social Media and Social Issues, Activism, and Movements Social Media Concepts and Theorie Social Media Regulation, Public Policy, and Actual Practice Social Media Types, Innovation and Technology

This two-volume encyclopedia provides a thorough introduction to the wide-ranging, fast-developing field of social networking, a much-needed resource at a time when new social networks or "communities" seem to spring up on the internet every day. Social networks, or groupings of individuals tied by one or more specific types of interests or interdependencies ranging from likes and dislikes, or disease transmission to the "old boy" network or overlapping circles of friends, have been in existence for longer than services such as Facebook or YouTube; analysis of these networks emphasizes the relationships within the network . This reference resource offers comprehensive coverage of the theory and research within the social sciences that has sprung from the analysis of such groupings, with accompanying definitions, measures, and research. Featuring approximately 350 signed entries, along with approximately 40 media clips, organized alphabetically and offering cross-references and suggestions for further readings, this encyclopedia opens with a thematic Reader′s Guide in the front that groups related entries by topics. A Chronology offers the reader historical perspective on the study of social networks. This two-volume reference work is a must-have resource for libraries serving researchers interested in the various fields related to social networks.

Egypt's January 25 revolution was triggered by a Facebook page and played out both in virtual spaces and the streets. Social media serves as a space of liberation, but it also functions as an arena where competing forces vie over the minds of the young as they battle over ideas as important as the nature of freedom and the place of the rising generation in the political order. This book provides piercing insights into the ongoing struggles between people and power in the digital age.

The advent of social media has had varying effects across fields, industries, and governments. As more individuals rely on this technology, its uses continue to develop and expand. Social media has forever changed the way in which politics are discussed, social movements are formed, and how governments interact with the public. To fully understand the future of social media, further study is required. The Research Anthology on Social Media's Influence on Government, Politics, and Social Movements investigates how social media is used within governments as well as the history behind the technology. The book also examines best practices, tactics, and challenges associated with utilizing social media platforms for social movements. Covering key topics such as communication, interactive technology, and social change, this major reference work is ideal for government officials, industry professionals, policymakers, administrators, business owners, managers, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

As social technologies continue to evolve, it is apparent that librarians and their clientele would benefit through participation in the digital social world. While there are benefits to implementing these technologies, many libraries also face challenges in the integration and usage of social media. Social Media Strategies for Dynamic Library Service Development discusses the integration of digital social networking into library practices. Highlighting the advantages and challenges faced by libraries in the application of social media, this publication is a critical reference source for professionals and researchers working within the fields of library and information science, as well as practitioners and executives interested in the utilization of social technologies in relation to knowledge management and organizational development.

Invaluable advice on analyzing and measuring the effects of social media Do you wish you could sit down with an expert to figure out whether or not your social media initiatives are working? With Social Media Metrics Secrets, you can! Expert John Lovett taps into his years of training and experience to reveal tips, tricks, and advice on how to analyze and measure the effects of social media and gauge the success of your initiatives. He uses mini case studies to demonstrate how to manage social operations with process and technology by applying key performance indicators, and assessing the business value of social media. Highlights how social media can impact all aspects of your business and transform the way you quantify successful interactions with customers Shares innovative techniques for managing the massive volume of social analytics data by putting data to work in ways that contribute to your organizational goals Details techniques for adopting a Social Analytics Framework for understanding evolving consumer behavior necessary to compete in a socially networked future Written in a conversational tone, Social Media Metrics Secrets goes behind the scenes to present you with unbeatable advice and unparalleled insight into social media metrics.