Facebook Now Lets You Pay To Promote Your Friends’ Posts
Fri, Feb 15 2013 10:37
| Facebook
You can already pay to promote your own Facebook posts, and now you can cough up the cash to promote the content your friends are posting, too.
You don't even need your friend's permission, so go forth and dig up all their embarrassing old photos from college. You'll see a promote button alongside the like, comment and share buttons. So have your credit card handy. Of course more money, means more eyes on a post. There's just one stipulation—the content can only be viewed by the people your pal shared with in the first place. So don't think that photo of a keg stand will get out to a wider audience. But it will remind those select people that your friend was a real tank back then.
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Facebook new drag-and-drop photos, simplified timeline and new privacy controls
Fri, Dec 21 2012 05:06
| Facebook
An update pushing out to individual users lets them drag-and-drop photos into a new post, like we've seen on other social networks, and to a newly streamlined Messages format that's rolling out at the same time. A much smaller circle is seeing a second update. Facebook has confirmed to ABC News that it's conducting limited trials of an updated Timeline that moves the news feed to a single column, replaces the thumbnail navigation with simpler-looking tabs and makes all profile page information available through scrolling. A spokesperson wouldn't say if or when the new Timeline would reach the wider public, but history points to "when" being more likely. They did however mention that the new privacy shortcuts, activity log and untagging tool would be going live for all users starting tonight, and we've already seen them pop up on some of our accounts.
FACEBOOK CONFIRMS: Ads Are Coming To Instagram
Thu, Dec 13 2012 04:40
| Facebook
FACEBOOK CONFIRMS: Ads Are Coming To Instagram
Facebook vp/global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson tells us that yes, "monetization" will be coming to Instagram. Thus far, the photo-sharing app has been ad-free. But ever since Facebook acquired the company, speculation has been rife that the service's big, broad, relatively uncluttered palette is ripe for sponsored pics and posts.
We told you that Wall Street believes ads will arrive in Instagram back in October. Advertisers have been eyeing Instagram as an ad medium since the acquisition in April. And Facebook itself hinted it was focused on photo sharing back in July.
We asked Everson about the plan for Instagram at BI's Ignition 2012 conference. Here's exactly what she told us. Bear in mind, she's the ad sales chief — that's the context for "monetization."
BI: Will you put ads in Instagram?
CE: Eventually we'll figure out a way to monetize Instagram.
BI: How far are you away from figuring that out?
CE: Well, Instagram continues to grow incredibly fast and we're still a very small team when you think about the amount of people they are reaching. There are many brands that use Instagram right now to try to get a feel for how to engage with their followers. We will definitely be figuring out a monetization strategy. When that will happen, I can't comment, but it's going to happen.
Note: Facebook declined further comment on whether there was any difference between "ads" and "monetization."
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-confirms-ads-are-coming-to-instagram-2012-12#ixzz2EtqkRMtv
Facebook vp/global marketing solutions Carolyn Everson tells us that yes, "monetization" will be coming to Instagram. Thus far, the photo-sharing app has been ad-free. But ever since Facebook acquired the company, speculation has been rife that the service's big, broad, relatively uncluttered palette is ripe for sponsored pics and posts.
We told you that Wall Street believes ads will arrive in Instagram back in October. Advertisers have been eyeing Instagram as an ad medium since the acquisition in April. And Facebook itself hinted it was focused on photo sharing back in July.
We asked Everson about the plan for Instagram at BI's Ignition 2012 conference. Here's exactly what she told us. Bear in mind, she's the ad sales chief — that's the context for "monetization."
BI: Will you put ads in Instagram?
CE: Eventually we'll figure out a way to monetize Instagram.
BI: How far are you away from figuring that out?
CE: Well, Instagram continues to grow incredibly fast and we're still a very small team when you think about the amount of people they are reaching. There are many brands that use Instagram right now to try to get a feel for how to engage with their followers. We will definitely be figuring out a monetization strategy. When that will happen, I can't comment, but it's going to happen.
Note: Facebook declined further comment on whether there was any difference between "ads" and "monetization."
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-confirms-ads-are-coming-to-instagram-2012-12#ixzz2EtqkRMtv
Facebook user data to be shared between Facebook-owned services cause you didnt vote it out!
Voting on Facebook's latest policy changes has ended, with voters overwhelmingly asking it to keep the old version of its governing documents, but participation may not have been high enough to make a difference. According to Facebook's governance page, around 670,000 users voted, with roughly 88 percent rejecting the new changes. Unfortunately for them, that total number is far short of the 30 percent of the site's billion active users, so the vote will be advisory rather than binding. Facebook is free to make changes as it sees fit. On a broad scale, these numbers are very similar to what we saw last time — when a relatively tiny number of voters came out overwhelmingly against changes — although turnout was doubled this time.
The proposed changes will allow user data to be shared between Facebook-owned services, primarily Instagram, and will remove controls over who can message users, though they'll be given filtering mechanisms instead. Most dramatically, it will also do away with the veto system, in which a vote is currently triggered after 7,000 comments and is binding if 30 percent of users vote on it. This vote may have just proved the irrelevance of that particular change: as before, it doesn't seem most users really care.
The proposed changes will allow user data to be shared between Facebook-owned services, primarily Instagram, and will remove controls over who can message users, though they'll be given filtering mechanisms instead. Most dramatically, it will also do away with the veto system, in which a vote is currently triggered after 7,000 comments and is binding if 30 percent of users vote on it. This vote may have just proved the irrelevance of that particular change: as before, it doesn't seem most users really care.
Facebook And Microsoft Are Working On A Deal, And It Could Change Everything About Advertising
Facebook and Microsoft are working on a deal that, if completed, would put Facebook one huge step closer to launching an ad network that could rival Google's in size, and change the way advertising is done online forever.
According to several industry sources, Facebook is in negotiations with Microsoft to buy Atlas Solutions, the ad-serving product Microsoft acquired when it bought aQuantive for $6 billion in 2007.
Our sources are outside of Facebook and Microsoft.
Microsoft has been trying to sell Atlas for years, and one of our sources is close to a company that was interested in buying it. In recent days, Microsoft ended negotiations with this company, and said it was moving forward on a deal with Facebook.
Since then, Facebook and Microsoft employees have reached out to other ad tech companies to do research for the deal. A source at one of these companies briefed us on the details of those conversations.
Though acquiring Atlas was the main reason Microsoft bought aQuantive for $6 billion in 2007, it seems like Facebook will pay a much lower price. One source says that prior to Facebook's negotiations with Microsoft, the highest bid for Atlas was $30 million. Microsoft has already written off most of that $6 billion.
Press representatives for Facebook and Microsoft declined to comment on this story. We haven't heard that the deal is about to close, only that talks are serious. It could fall apart.
Building or buying ad-serving technology is seen as one of the last tasks Facebook needs to complete before it can launch, at scale, an ad network for third-party Web sites.
"[Facebook] needs infrastructure because they are reliant on too many intermediaries," says one industry source.
In 2007, Google paid $3 billion to buy its own ad-serving product, DoubleClick for the same reason.
The value of a Facebook-powered/Atlas-supported ad network could be tremendous.
Here's why.
Facebook is the only company in the world that has a billion email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers on file.
This asset allows Facebook to do something no other Website can.
Facebook can tell marketers whether or not a Facebook user saw, on Facebook.com, an ad for a product before going to the store and buying it.
Gokul Rajaram is developing Facebook's ad products
This is possible because retailers often have their shoppers' phone numbers, home addresses, or email address on file. (They buy them from data collection companies.)
In the short term, Facebook will use this process to tell marketers exactly how much their sales increased thanks to ads on Facebook.com.
That should make Facebook an attractive place for marketers to advertise, because it's always nice to know exactly what you're getting for your money.
Facebook is already quietly rolling this product out.
What's really exciting is what it could do with an Atlas-supported ad network: perform the same trick for the rest of the Internet.
Facebook computers could track Facebook users across all sites partnered with Facebook, keeping track of what ads these users see and what products they later buy.
A Facebook-partnered website that serves an ad that later leads to a purchase will be able to take credit for helping that sale happen. Websites will be able to charge more, and Facebook will take a piece of the action.
What has to be thrilling to Facebook executives is that some of these Websites will have better, more naturally-situated ad inventory than the tiny, annoying ads currently on Facebook.com. Facebook will finally be able to leverage its real asset, data, to take advantage of better inventory off of Facebook.com.
There are a couple obstacles Facebook has to overcome to make this vision a reality.
First, it will have to keep people calm about what may look like an invasion of privacy. That shouldn't be a problem, because Facebook won't actually be invading anyone's privacy. All the data flying back and forth will be anonymous and encrypted — "hashed," to use Facebook's terminology.
Second, Facebook will have to actually build the tech behind such a sophisticated product. That'll be hard.
But that's why it's in talks with Microsoft to acquire Atlas.
Facebook Hits 1 Billion Active Users.
Fri, Oct 5 2012 01:40
| Facebook
www.tech-sanity.com
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced the social network now has more than one billion people actively using the service each month as of Thursday morning, which is quite a feat for something that began as a project in his college dorm room.
"This morning, there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month," Zuckerberg writes in the Facebook Newsroom on Thursday. "If you're reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honor of serving you.
"Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life," the founder continues. "I am committed to working every day to make Facebook better for you, and hopefully together one day we will be able to connect the rest of the world too."
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced the social network now has more than one billion people actively using the service each month as of Thursday morning, which is quite a feat for something that began as a project in his college dorm room.
"This morning, there are more than one billion people using Facebook actively each month," Zuckerberg writes in the Facebook Newsroom on Thursday. "If you're reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honor of serving you.
"Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life," the founder continues. "I am committed to working every day to make Facebook better for you, and hopefully together one day we will be able to connect the rest of the world too."
Apple Brings Facebook to Mountain Lion 10.82 Very Handy for FB users
www.tech-sanity.com
It’s tandem operating system updates for Apple today. After rolling out iOS 6 this morning, as promised, the company issued an update for OS X Mountain Lion, its desktop operating system.
OS X 10.8.2 is a major update to Mountain Lion, with some important new features — one in particular: Facebook integration. Also on board: Support for Passbook, Apple’s location-aware mobile wallet app, and some tweaks to iMessage and FaceTime that route messages and video chats to the Mac. Here’s the full change log:
This update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users, and includes new features and fixes:
Facebook
- Single sign on for Facebook
- Adds Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
- See Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts
- Facebook notifications now appear in Notification Center
Game Center
- Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
- Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations
- Added Facebook “Like” button for games
- Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement
Other new features
- Adds Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
- iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac
- You can now add passes to Passbook (on your iPhone or iPod touch) from Safari and Mail on your Mac
- FaceTime can now receive calls sent to your phone number
- New shared Reminders lists
- New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them
- Dictation now supports additional languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
- Dictionary app now includes a French definition dictionary
- Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts
It’s tandem operating system updates for Apple today. After rolling out iOS 6 this morning, as promised, the company issued an update for OS X Mountain Lion, its desktop operating system.
OS X 10.8.2 is a major update to Mountain Lion, with some important new features — one in particular: Facebook integration. Also on board: Support for Passbook, Apple’s location-aware mobile wallet app, and some tweaks to iMessage and FaceTime that route messages and video chats to the Mac. Here’s the full change log:
This update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users, and includes new features and fixes:
- Single sign on for Facebook
- Adds Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
- See Facebook friends’ contact information and profile pictures in Contacts
- Facebook notifications now appear in Notification Center
Game Center
- Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
- Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations
- Added Facebook “Like” button for games
- Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement
Other new features
- Adds Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
- iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac
- You can now add passes to Passbook (on your iPhone or iPod touch) from Safari and Mail on your Mac
- FaceTime can now receive calls sent to your phone number
- New shared Reminders lists
- New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them
- Dictation now supports additional languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
- Dictionary app now includes a French definition dictionary
- Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts
Facebook allegedly did nothing to verify security of apps it was paid to review.
www.tech-sanity.com
Facebook's app programme has been accused by the FTC of being 'deceptive'
Facebook has been accused of deceiving developers after it emerged that the social networking site did nothing to verify the security of applications it was paid tens of thousands of dollars to review, and which it assured users had been checked.
It is believed Facebook was paid up to $95,000 (£60,600) by developers whose applications were entered into its verified apps scheme.
The system gave a green tick of approval to apps that passed what Facebook described as its "test for trustworthy user experiences".
An investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that Facebook took no steps to review the applications in its now-closed scheme. Facebook awarded the verified badge to 254 applications, according to the FTC.
Developers paid Facebook $375, or $175 for a student or non-profit organisation, to be given the green tick. Verified apps were given other benefits including prominence in its search results and a higher ranking on the directory of apps.
Facebook had said it would subject the apps to a "detailed review process", and then give the verified badge to apps that the social network decided were "secure, respectful and transparent".
However, the FTC described the programme as "deceptive" in a 19-page list of wider privacy charges against Facebook.
"Contrary to the statements set forth in paragraph 46, before it awarded the Verified Apps badge, Facebook took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other Platform Application," the FTC said.
Consumers could also have been deceived by the "verified" tickmarks, the FTC suggested, as the site said that the programme "is designed to offer extra assurances to help users identify applications they can trust… that are secure, respectful and transparent, and have demonstrated commitment to compliance with platform policies".
But instead, Facebook "took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other platform application," the FTC said.
Facebook accepted a settlement with the FTC on Friday. Under its terms Facebook must allow an independent watchdog to make regular privacy inspections for the next 20 years. It came just a day after Google was fined a record $22.5m (£14.4m) by the FTC for circumventing privacy protections on Apple's Safari web browser.
Facebook closed the verified apps program after just six months in December 2009, saying that it would extend "the idea of verification to apply to all of the applications on the Facebook platform". Facebook agreed to undergo privacy vetting for 20 years.
Facebook's app programme has been accused by the FTC of being 'deceptive'
Facebook has been accused of deceiving developers after it emerged that the social networking site did nothing to verify the security of applications it was paid tens of thousands of dollars to review, and which it assured users had been checked.
It is believed Facebook was paid up to $95,000 (£60,600) by developers whose applications were entered into its verified apps scheme.
The system gave a green tick of approval to apps that passed what Facebook described as its "test for trustworthy user experiences".
An investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that Facebook took no steps to review the applications in its now-closed scheme. Facebook awarded the verified badge to 254 applications, according to the FTC.
Developers paid Facebook $375, or $175 for a student or non-profit organisation, to be given the green tick. Verified apps were given other benefits including prominence in its search results and a higher ranking on the directory of apps.
Facebook had said it would subject the apps to a "detailed review process", and then give the verified badge to apps that the social network decided were "secure, respectful and transparent".
However, the FTC described the programme as "deceptive" in a 19-page list of wider privacy charges against Facebook.
"Contrary to the statements set forth in paragraph 46, before it awarded the Verified Apps badge, Facebook took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other Platform Application," the FTC said.
Consumers could also have been deceived by the "verified" tickmarks, the FTC suggested, as the site said that the programme "is designed to offer extra assurances to help users identify applications they can trust… that are secure, respectful and transparent, and have demonstrated commitment to compliance with platform policies".
But instead, Facebook "took no steps to verify either the security of a verified application's website or the security the application provided for the user information it collected, beyond such steps as it may have taken regarding any other platform application," the FTC said.
Facebook accepted a settlement with the FTC on Friday. Under its terms Facebook must allow an independent watchdog to make regular privacy inspections for the next 20 years. It came just a day after Google was fined a record $22.5m (£14.4m) by the FTC for circumventing privacy protections on Apple's Safari web browser.
Facebook closed the verified apps program after just six months in December 2009, saying that it would extend "the idea of verification to apply to all of the applications on the Facebook platform". Facebook agreed to undergo privacy vetting for 20 years.
Facebook asks it users for help so they can combat phishing scams.
www.tech-sanity.com
Facebook wants to fight back against phishing attacks targeting its users, so it is asking users to begin forwarding any suspicious emails they receive.
Facebook has set up an email account to collect info on phishing attacks. If you receive a suspicious email message, Facebook asks you to forward it to [email protected]
“This new reporting channel will complement internal systems we have in place to detect phishing sites attempting to steal Facebook user login information,” Facebook wrote in a post describing the effort. “The internal systems notify our team, so we can gather information on the attack, take the phishing sites offline, and notify users.”
Security has become a big deal for Facebook in recent months. In July, the site was updated to automatically alert users whose computers were infected with malware, and to lock their Facebook accounts until the infected computers were properly cleaned.
Back in April, Facebook partnered with security and antivirus companies to offer free six-month trial downloads of antivirus software.
Facebook wants to protect its users as well as itself. Attackers spread malware via social networking sites, and there is evidence that the number of attacks targeting Facebook and other social networking sites is increasing.
A recent study by the Anti-Phishing Working Group found that six percent of all phishing attacks in the first quarter of this year targeted social networking sites. Adding to this, Facebook itself has admitted that 83 million of its nearly one billion accounts are fake, some of which may be used for suspicious activity.
“Together we can help keep these sites off the web and hold the bad guys responsible,” Facebook says
Facebook adds a few Timeline features to Groups
Fri, Feb 24 2012 02:11
| Facebook
www.tech-sanity.com
Facebook isn't being shy about rolling out its Timeline interface to as many of the corners of its site as it can. In addition to the rumored addition of the Timeline to Brand Pages, the social network is also adding Timeline features to Facebook Groups. The most obvious change is the new full-width top image, though if the administrator doesn't set a lead image it defaults to a collage of the profile images from group members. There are also clearer sections for group topics, links, members, and events. The new topic prompts, "What should people post in this group?" is apparently designed to make it less likely that groups will be filled up with the kind of chatter than can result in annoying notifications.
The features are available now to all users.
Facebook for Android gets a fat update, access to games, new photo experience
www.tech-sanity.com
Android's official Facebook app just got a sizable update this evening. Here's a look at what's new:
(How to use this QR code)
Android Market web link
Android's official Facebook app just got a sizable update this evening. Here's a look at what's new:
- Navigate anywhere, fast: Get to your groups, apps, pages, and settings with a single press
- Search and you will discover: Look through friends, subscribers, apps, and pages
- See your friends tags on pictures and zoom: New photo viewing experience
- Faster notifications: Get alerted in real time with new push notifications
- Games & Apps: Play games and access your favorite apps on the go
- Access to mobile timeline (If you already have a timeline)
- Access to friend lists and subscriptions
(How to use this QR code)
Android Market web link
Facebook to Release Timeline for Brands Very Soon.
Facebook will bring its Timeline profile pages to brands this month in the U.S., according to executives briefed on the company's plans.
At its F8 conference in September, Facebook introduced a dramatic transformation of profile pages for its more than 800 million users with the Timeline format, which generates picture-heavy, scrapbook-like collages spanning users' entire history on the social network. It has been rolled out slowly, and users still have the choice to opt in.
At the time of the announcement, the company said it would wait to roll out the new feature for brands. Facebook VP-Marketing and Business Partnerships David Fischer said Timeline for brandswould be "consistent" with the Timeline look-and-feel, but not a carbon copy.
The new pages for brands will start in beta with a handful of partners and then be released to more marketers in stages, according to the sources. Facebook declined to comment on the product or the timing.
At its F8 conference in September, Facebook introduced a dramatic transformation of profile pages for its more than 800 million users with the Timeline format, which generates picture-heavy, scrapbook-like collages spanning users' entire history on the social network. It has been rolled out slowly, and users still have the choice to opt in.
At the time of the announcement, the company said it would wait to roll out the new feature for brands. Facebook VP-Marketing and Business Partnerships David Fischer said Timeline for brandswould be "consistent" with the Timeline look-and-feel, but not a carbon copy.
The new pages for brands will start in beta with a handful of partners and then be released to more marketers in stages, according to the sources. Facebook declined to comment on the product or the timing.
Facebook Rules Prohibit Users From Promoting Their Work, Company, and alot more!
Sat, Feb 11 2012 01:25
| Facebook
www.tech-sanity.com
Have you seen Facebook's rules for users, developers, and partners? They give Facebook tremendous powers to disable accounts and to make money from your content. Here are a few examples, you can see more here in thisSEC document filed late Wednesday:
- You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).
- You will not send or otherwise post unauthorized commercial communications (such as spam) on Facebook.
Lots of people post about their company, promotional programs, or links to articles they've written. There is clearly a commercial gain in these profile updates. Anything related to your work, company products and services, etc, could be classified as spam.
This places many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of users in violation of this rule and subject to having their account terminated.
Have you seen Facebook's rules for users, developers, and partners? They give Facebook tremendous powers to disable accounts and to make money from your content. Here are a few examples, you can see more here in thisSEC document filed late Wednesday:
- You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).
- You will not send or otherwise post unauthorized commercial communications (such as spam) on Facebook.
Lots of people post about their company, promotional programs, or links to articles they've written. There is clearly a commercial gain in these profile updates. Anything related to your work, company products and services, etc, could be classified as spam.
This places many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of users in violation of this rule and subject to having their account terminated.
Aggregated content from Facebook Google and the Web is sold and used against us constantly.
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Facebook Is Using You
Mon, Feb 6 2012 08:49
| Facebook
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Facebook Timeline privacy tips: Lock down your profile
Fri, Feb 3 2012 01:38
| Facebook
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Beware of 'Remove Timeline' Facebook scams
Thu, Feb 2 2012 12:57
| Facebook
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street