WebProNews

Facebook Has Connections

On the heels of MySpace's Data Portability announcement, Facebook has unveiled Facebook Connect, which the social networking site is calling "the next iteration of Facebook Platform that allows users to 'connect' their Facebook identity, friends and privacy to any site."

Facebook Making Their Site Safer For Kids

It’s been nearly four months since MySpace announced a joint agreement with 49 state Attorneys General to protect minors online—and now Facebook’s finally gotten around to signing on. CNET reports (emphasis added):

Facebook Agrees To Child Safety Plan

Facebook has announced an agreement with 49 U.S. state attorneys general and the District of Columbia to take significant steps to protect children on the social networking site.The move comes after a similar agreement was reached with MySpace in January. The Facebook agreement is aimed at better protecting children from online predators and inappropriate content.

Reuters Report On Facebook Profiles

Here’s a headline from a new Reuters article: "Facebook users willing to let employers see profiles" Reuters looks at a new report on Canadian Facebook users and pretty much declares that they are now happy to let employers see their profiles. But look at the data:

Microsoft Considers Facebook Acquisition

Microsoft is attempting to see if Facebook has any interest in being purchased by the software company after it abandoned its bid to buy Yahoo.According to the WSJ Microsoft's bankers put out subtle signals to Facebook, to see if it would be interested in being acquired.Last October, Microsoft bought a $240 million stake in Facebook, which valued the social networking site at $15 billion. An unnamed source says there are no active talks between the two companies.

MySpace, Facebook Still On Top

If MySpace were to lose its top spot among social networks, it'd have a long way to fall. Though US visits to the powerhouse were down five percent since last year, MySpace still commanded nearly 74% of the social networking market, according to Hitwise.  Facebook, long in second place but up 32%, pulled in nearly 15% of US social networkers, a share that towers over its nearest competitor's.

Google's Elliot Schrage Leaves For Facebook

Elliot Schrage has left Google to join Facebook, BoomTown reports.

Teacher's Social Profiles; Should They Matter?

The Washington Post pokes around a few MySpace and Facebook profiles of young school teachers and shares the apparently disturbing results.

Student Entrepreneurs And StartUp Companies

I'm going to be giving the keynote presentation at an upcoming event organized by and focused on student entrepreneurs being held on the MIT campus this Saturday (May 3, 2008) from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.. Student entrepreneurs from MIT, Harvard, Babson, Olin and Boston University and other Boston area academic institutions will gather to talk about startups. I could not hope for a better group to interact with.

Social Networking Lands Israeli Soldier In Jail

An Israeli soldier will be spending 19 days in jail for uploading a photograph taken on his military base to Facebook.The Israeli military will not comment on the content of the image but said the soldier was serving in an elite intelligence unit. The Israeli press is reporting that it is the first case where a soldier has been reprimanded for using a social networking site.