So most of you know Facebook has an app for kids under 13. This is because Facebook is a T (age 13 and up only) app. Some parents applaud this effort, but some groups say it’s not enough. It’s Facebook verses child health advocates.
In fact, some child health groups say this Facebook child’s app is just another trick. Some argue Messenger Kids is an attempt to get kids addicted to social media at an early age. Furthermore, some advocate groups say they can let advertisers manipulate them at an early age. One such group is Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. Their headquarters are right here in Boston, not for our our computer service shop.
They’re running a petition they call ‘no Facebook for five year-olds’. And they’re not the only one. You also have a research team from San Diego State University. With their research, they say young children aren’t ready for social media accounts, period. They also say they don’t understand online relationships and how it invades privacy issues. They even get on teens, who are old enough to use Facebook, aren’t as happy as those who interact face to face more often. Furthermore, these advocates groups say pre-teen apps can open to door to bullying and other crimes and woes.
So this isn’t about Facebook verses child health advocates anymore. This is more about a group that doesn’t want children on social media anymore, period! I’m sorry, but social media is a part of IT service and a part our lives, whether we like it or not. So we need apps like Messenger Kids to teach kids how to use social media with dignity and responsibility. This isn’t 1972, 1984, or 1993. This is 2018! There’s a part of me that yearn for the good ol’ days too, but not like this. I agree with their concerns. Restrictions should be put in place because there are some things children under 13 can’t handle. And Facebook does a good job with that, letting parents, not children, run Messenger Kids’ pages. However,? there needs to be a healthy balance and there needs to be moderation. Where do you stand on the argument?
As recently as 2005, digital ad spending didn’t even make $5 billion?a year. In fact, as recently as 2010, advertisers didn’t spend $10 billion on digital ads. So?seven years ago, they?spent much of their efforts?on 20th century style ads (phone book, radio, TV, billboards, etc.). But how things are changing!
In 2017, digital ad spending reached past $40 million. That’s a first; it’s also a 23% increase from 2016. So that’s not enough? Well, mobile ad spending increased as well. In fact, it makes up for the majority of online ads. Furthermore, social media advertising flourished. Because in 2017, that industry grew to nine and a half billion dollars. Facebook and Google (this includes You Tube) lead the charge.
However, digital ad spending isn’t for mega corporations anymore. Small businesses spent 75% more on advertising in 2017. Most of that is going to digital ads, like social media, mobile, and programming ads. One research group is growing even further. They say that the majority of digital ad spending comes from mom and pop stores than Fortune 500 companies. And many are using self-serving tools for their digital ads. However, all the progress isn’t good progress. Because of this trend, some IT service corporations, like Mashable, are laying off employees. I mean lots of them.
What does this have to do with computer serving? I can answer that from experience. When I started in this?computer repair?industry the mid-2Triple000s, the phone book was our main source of advertising. Needless to say, we haven’t used that strategy in years. In fact, I don’t know the last time anybody around here used a phone book (this is not to knock phone books, so if you’re in that industry, I’m not disrespecting you). But it’s obvious to everybody that IT support is playing a far bigger role than it did just ten years ago. How many people do you want to reach in a short period: a few hundred or a few million?
But back to this study. Some say turning social media into a weapon is more detail than they thought. They also used 30 million pieces of data from all social media. However, they focused on fake Russian twitter accounts. Because four of these played a role in four British terror attacks in 2017.
So according to their studies, some used these accounts to influence debate after the accounts. And I doubt this was the healthy kind of debate. Furthermore, these fake accounts are good at targeting ‘sympathetic’ groups. Whether these is sympathy towards the victims or the attackers, I am not certain. Their purpose is to try and stir up emotion. But remember, researchers aren’t the only one studying such accounts. Because some in Congress still speculate if such Twitter accounts, especially from Russia, influenced last year’s election.
Can fake Twitter accounts cause terrorism? I think these researchers tell us what most of us in computer service and computer repair already know. There are bad guys out there who use social media for evil purposes. And a lot them aren’t living in some mountain cave, either. Some of these forces are so sophisticated it would blow most people away. That’s the real concern. In the days after such tragedies, some did use social media to support and pray for the victims. That’s awesome. But how many used social media to do the opposite? And where did they come from?
We at Computer Geeks send our thoughts and condolences to all affected by today’s fatal train crash in Washington state and their families. May you all be comforted in your suffering.
Last week, I shared a concern of mine and many in the computer repair and/or IT service industry. So today, that concern came true. Breaking: They repealed net neutrality.
Literally just hours ago, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) voted 3-2 to repeal net neutrality. I should also tell you the vote was among party lines. So who led the charge to get rid of net neutrality? We can thank (I mean that sarcastically) FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. His proposal got this ball in motion. Then we can thank mega corporations like Comcast for backing this ruling. They are probably the only winners in this round.
Yes, many in the public fought to keep net neutrality alive. But so did many Democrats in Washington. Furthermore, many in Hollywood didn’t want the ruling we’re getting today. If that isn’t enough, then keep in mind many in Silicon Valley don’t want this. Companies like Facebook and Google/Alphabet screamed to keep Obama’s 2015 Internet rules in place. Even after the ruling, many on both sides have plenty to say. For example, FCC official and Democrat?Mignon Clyburn says Republicans pretty much handed the Internet to a few mega corporations. However, Pai sees things a lot different. He says Obama’s rules slowed competition and this will free up service providers.
But do you know how hard it is to start an ISP today? It’s not hard; it’s nearly impossible. I don’t want to make this is political thing. But I agree with Clyburn on this one. I fear if you let the cats away, then the rats will play. Many also fear now there is nothing stopping the big boys from charging whatever they want to whoever they want. I also worry there is nothing stopping the big boys from censoring whatever they want. Some say consumers won’t see any changes…yet. However, I know some of my readers support this decision. I want to hear from you. Breaking: They repealed net neutrality. How is going to benefit us?
I’m not into the whole fortune telling thing, but you don’t need a crystal ball for this. Our online freedoms and equality are at stake. A couple of upcoming decisions have me, my computer repair colleagues, and others nervous. The Internet’s future; I doubt it’s good.
So let’s look at the plot to kill net neutrality. If this dies, then you can kiss Internet free market and competitive pricing goodbye. Also, consider Internet big boys like Comcast and AT&T. Think of how much money and effort they spent trying to kill net neutrality. This alone should be an omen to us all. Furthermore, we in America already pay more for less, compared to most countries. Imagine what it will be if net neutrality dies. Remember, when the cats are away the rats will play.
So this isn’t my only worry for the Internet’s future. They want to kill The Lifeline Program as well. This helps provide Internet access to low income households around the country. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan started this program. Because even back then, he knew how critical communication technology was. And how much more critical is it three decades later? However, even with The Lifeline Program, low-income consumers get less access than their middle class and wealthy counterparts. So can you imagine what it would be if they took The Lifeline Program out?
It’s scary enough every time I read the news, there’s another merger or major buyout. It concerns me that if these two programs go, then so will online freedoms. Now some will say, “Don’t worry. The ISP’s will do the right thing”. I’m not so sure. There’s a reason Comcast and AT&T are so big: they make money by any means necessary! Sure; it’s great capitalism. But corporations are not people!? Do you think they care about a level playing field or making sure everybody gets Internet access? The IT service and ISP industry is as dog eat dog as they come. These big boys aren’t dogs; they’re werewolves! Am I being too harsh or paranoid here?
Needless to say, 2017 is not a boring year, especially in social media. We in computer repair see and try to cover it all. Twitter covered it all. In fact, Twitter reveals 2017 reveals social and political turmoil.
So you can’t talk about Twitter these days without talking about US President Donald Trump. Because he has everybody talking and tweeting. People tweet about him more then any world leader. Also, people in this country tweet about Trump than they do any American politician. And you can bet, not all the tweets are warm and supporting. Guess what some of the top hashtags are? The number one hashtag is resist. Then guess what what #3 and #6 hashtags are? They are #ImpeachTrump and #NotMyPresident, respectively.
But President Trump isn’t the only US political figure on 2017’s top tweet list. Some of the most liked and most re-tweeted tweets came from former US President Barack Obama. One came in January when Obama thanked those who supported him as he left office. The second one was when he spoke out against hatred. Also on twitter that year, people addressed other turbulent issues. Two of the biggest liked tweets included Penn State helping Hurricane Harvey victims and Ariana Grande sending condolences to the victims of the Manchester, UK terrorist attack.
Time Magazine named the Silence Breakers and #metoo movement as their Persons of the Year.? They’re exposing years of sexual abuse and harassment, usually by powerful men. One of the leading silence breakers, actress Rose McGowan, definitely made her presence known on Twitter, especially on this issue. Other hot button issues on Twitter this year are the NFL kneeling and boycotts and turmoil with North Korea. But really, Twitter reveals 2017 social and political turmoil . In our computer repair shop, we watched it all. I’m sure every shop in America did. Let me hear from you. What is your favorite, or least favorite, Twitter moment of 2017?
