Many of you, especially parents and guardians, know Facebook has a T rating. So that means Facebook is for teens and adults only. However, a special app opens Facebook for kids of all ages (well, those 6-12). It’s Facebook Messenger for pre-teens.
This Facebook Messenger for Pre-Teens does several things. First of all, it lets parents get the app for their child’s device and create the profile. Then, they approve of people who can be on their kids’ page. It also has strict privacy guidelines and filters. The privacy filter helps protect from child predators and other bad guys. Then the filters block any graphic violence or sexual content or other things inappropriate for innocent ears and eyes.? In other words, Facebook is going all out to produce a safe, wholesome atmosphere kids deserve.
However, this kid messenger app has fun things they direct towards kids. For example, kids can make stickers, masks, and other GIF’s and send them to relatives and friends. They’re other fun things to get their attention, like crayons and fidget-spinners. But if a kid wants to friend a classmate, the kid’s parents must approve the request from the other kid’s parents. Also, when the child turns 13, this app doesn’t transfer into a regular Facebook page. At that point, he/she has to create his/her own page just like everyone else.
I do applaud Facebook for going out of their way to create a safe space for kids, especially of this young age. Some may argue, “Isn’t Facebook going too far with these guidelines?”. I don’t think they’re going to far. We had this debate in our Boston computer service shop. Yes, surveillance among adults concern me. But when it comes to the safety of young children, it’s a different story. Social media can be a dangerous world, on all fronts. We in computer repair know it and see the dangers, from ID theft to cyber hijacking viruses. In fact, in the last week, two children committed suicide because of relentless bullying. You can bet the bullying continued over social media. So no, Facebook isn’t going too far. What do you think of Facebook Messenger for pre-teens?
Many people use TripAdvisor to book hotels, look for restaurants, and other stuff for vacations. Businesses also use this website and app to promote their product/service. If you do, y’all better be on your best behavior. Because TripAdvisor warns about business with bad behavior.
So TripAdvisor will give out warning badges. They are on pages where customers report bad issues. These issues include rape, assault, employee theft, other violence, and discrimination. They removed one complaint from all the way back in 2010. But the travel site got lots of backlash. So they put the warning badges back on. A spokesperson said it will put the badges on anytime there is a health, safety or discrimination issue hindering customers. They even apologized for taking the warning badge system down.
The badge will appear at the very top of the business’ page. So there will be no escaping or denying. In fact, some businesses already know the warning badge’s wrath. Three resorts in Mexico got this badge. I doubt business is booming in these resorts now.? However, maybe TripAdvisor is trying to save face. Because they got in trouble for how they handle reviews. This trouble led to an FCC investigation.
It’s a slippery slope. I say that because businesses pay for TripAdvisor’s services. The FCC argues they could be putting business’ profit over the greater good. I hope that’s not the case. Because whether it’s computer repair, or a travel site, IT support is supposed to be IT support on all levels. This includes reporting places that may not be safe, and being honest about it. So businesses, do all you can to keep your place and customers safe. And make sure your workers are honest, and tolerant. Because if not, the world will hear about it. And customers, be honest and don’t abuse the system. Don’t gave a business a warning badge just because you didn’t get the room you wanted, or some other trivial mess. The warning badge is only if your health is threatened, not your ego. How do you feel about the TripAdvisor warning badge?
In the late 1990s, I was in college (age hint). So imagine how excited we were to exchange instant messages on the computer! Also, they got them instantly! Goodbye AOL Instant Messenger.
America Online (AOL) Instant Messenger came out in 1997. In the late 1990s, it was the most popular way to communicate online, even more so that the email. Furthermore, they created a ‘buddy’s list’. That’s a list of people you contact on a frequent basis. By 2001, AOL had over 100 million users. Between the late 1990s-early 2000s, AOL dominated the instant messenger market. In fact, it even beat Microsoft.
But the popularity of instant messaging became AOL’s downfall. Before too long, Google Chat took off. Then came text messaging on phones. And of course, you had the rise of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms. So yesterday, they said Goodbye AOL Instant Messenger. Yesterday, leaders announced it will discontinue the AOL service starting December 15, 2016. After this, AOL users will no longer be able to use their ID or password to sign in. Also, all their messages and other info will be deleted. However, people honored this goodbye to AOL by telling their favorite memories of AOL. Some even made cute images and tributes…through Twitter.
It’s amazing how IT support changes. But much of it wouldn’t be here if it were not for AOL Instant messaging. For instance, there would be no text messing if not for this. There would be no Facebook messenger without AOL messenger. Nor would there be dating chat rooms. In fact, I doubt there would even be Twitter without AOL Instant messenger.? When I started computer servicing, Google chat was the main instant messaging service, but AOL chat was still respectable. But now, it’s almost gone. So I think AOL Instant Messenger for the innovation, not to mention all the memories. What are your memories of AOL messenger?
A few days ago, President Trump delivered quite a tweet…or one of them. But this one involves the crisis with North Korea. Trump tweeted the little rocket man (we know who that is) “…won’t be around much longer”.? Some praised his strong language, but others criticize it. This is beef between Twitter, Trump, and North Korea.
Some argue that Twitter should ban, or at least censor, President Trump’s threat to North Korea. Twitter execs replied by saying it will update it’s guide on what people can say on Twitter. They also added that ‘newsworthiness’ would be a factor.
There’s more to the controversy. In recent months, Twitter vowed to crack down on ‘bullying’ tweets. We can thank the Leslie Jones twitter bullying scandal for that one, because when they said ugly things about her, Twitter took action. However, some accuse President Trump of some of the most bullying tweets ever. But his Twitter page isn’t even suspended. Just because he might be able to do it just because the rest of us will be able to.
However, look at this particular issue between Twitter, Trump, and North Korea. If this isn’t newsworthy, then I don’t know what newsworthy is. Surely everyone knows the war of words and thoughts between the US and North Korea. Now I will admit, some of Trump’s tweets in the past did borderline on bullying. But not this one. This one puts a total ruthless dictator Kim Jong Un on notice. Look at what this dictator had done to his own people. I wonder what the North Korean people are tweeting? Oh, that’s right…most of them don’t have freedom to access the Internet like we have. In fact, they only have 28 websites to choose from, thanks to dictator Kim Jong Un.? And yes, issues of social media censorship do come up in our Boston computer service shop. So what to you think of the tweet? Is it newsworthy, or bullying?
In Northern India, there are the states of?Punjab and Haryana. So why do I talk about these two places? Because Northern India shuts down Internet service here.
But the situation is complex. There was a high profile rape case, and a local cult leader was the suspect. The cult leader stood trial for raping two of his women followers. So now, the trial is in deliberation phase, and everyone waits for a verdict. However, local governments got a bright idea (I say that with all sarcasm). Governments in Punjab and Haryana shut down all Internet and text messaging services. For five days, these Northern India citizens were left with no Internet, no texting, no nothing.
Some say it’s to keep the peace. Others say it’s to stop jury influence. But whatever the reason was, there was still damage and destruction. You see, the court found the cult leader guilty of rape. I don’t know what the sentence is, but his followers took to the streets in protests. The protest turned into riots. These riots killed 38 people. Also, that had to stop trains. Then, they had to shut down schools and businesses. Ironically, the carnage stopped when they turned the Internet back on.
So what’s to make of this? Well, this isn’t the first time. In the past, India locked up their own citizens for posting ‘blasphemous’ messages on social media. There are other instances as well. But I hope Northern India learned a lesson. Government censorship does not work! In fact, it might make situations worse. Now what if ?they let the Internet stay on? And what if they let people texted? What if they let IT support do their thing? ?That would have been a great place for people to vent their emotions. And free speech would let that happen. But when they shut down free speech, they let people’s anger build and build like a powder keg. The keg exploded. Dozens died. Countless more got injured, or scarred. So what good does censorship do to anybody?
Ever have the need to build up your Facebook friend count? Then use the section ‘people you may know’. However, many of those people you probably don’t know. But for one woman, it opened up a world from long ago. It opened up Facebook and family secrets.
So this is the article I read. As this woman browsed through ‘people you may know’, a last name Porter came up. That was the name of her biological grandfather. But due to some heartbreaking circumstances, she never knew her grandfather. Yes, there was some reconciliation between the families, but they didn’t use Facebook to do it. She could ignore the Porter name, but didn’t.
The woman messaged Ms. Porter, asking did she know her. Not only did Ms. Porter know they woman; it turns out they were related. Porter was the woman’s great aunt. The aunt is married to the grandfathers’s brother. The couple began their relationship 35 years ago, around the time the woman was born. It was a wonderful reunion, and both women were grateful to learn about more about their heritage. Both rejoiced at the long lost connection. But I got to ask the question, “How does Facebook know this know about us”?
Often times, I look at my ‘people you may know’ list. I don’t know about her, but some people on this list I never met or heard of in my life. Some of these people I don’t remember them from school, college, previous job, previous church, the bars I go to, nothing. Then I find out how some people get on this list. It could be from who your FB friends are. It could also be a photo, network, or group/contact you’re in. For example, I could belong to a computer repair group. I only know 5 people in the group, but they’re actually over 100 people there. So Facebook may put people from that group there. I still have a lot of questions. What about Facebook and family secrets? Can they reveal anybody’s?
