MAY 8, 2009

Social Media Summary - 5/08/09

Google has launched a service that allows people to create profiles that show up in search results. This would give everyone the option of setting up a profile with specific information that they want to make completely public and easily found through the search engine. This is part of a broader move towards integrating social network features into Google’s services. In the past, we’ve covered Google’s other attempts to provide profile and I.D. storing services that can be used (ideally) on any website. It seems like Google is trying to play in the social network space by simply combining social network elements with its vast and open web services. Saul Hansell makes a good point in this New York Times article, however: this profile integration is fundamentally different from a typical social network, which offers the user far more control over who sees their information. By creating a profile in a social network, you opt to join an existing community. However, by creating a Google profile that shows up in search results, you open yourself up to the entire online population. If user profiles become a standard part of regular searches, it will be interesting to see how Google deals with managing privacy controls and settings that we have come to expect from social networks.

Facebook recently announced that it has opened up the newstream to developers under the Facebook Open Stream API. This is a significant move, as the Facebook stream will be able to compete with Twitter in the realm of desktop programs and other websites that are fueled by its content. What could this mean? Maybe we’ll be able to see more desktop feed programs that can display your Facebook updates right alongside Twitter or FriendFeed. We could also see more third party sites that synthesize the content for a particular use, along the lines of Twitter mashups. By letting more developers in, Facebook also dramatically increases the utility of the newsfeed because it can be adapted to fit any situation or need. Although the open API could encourage users to spend more time on third party sites and programs that fit their needs better than the main Facebook site, I think this could also lead to a revitalization of interest and activity with Facebook, especially since they’ve been seeing a lot of user backlash for recent changes.

Patrick and Corey have already written about the recent news frenzy over the swine flu, noting that there has been a lot of public hysteria that was amplified through the use of Twitter and other social networks. While misinformation and panic was spread through social media, there was also a concerted effort on the part of the Center for Disease Control to reach out through these same networks to calm fears and correct assumptions. In an article in AdAge (registration required to view), Pete Blackshaw details how the CDC has actually demonstrated an impressive understanding of how to reach out through multiple channels to manage a crisis and keep people informed. Just like with the peanut butter salmonella outbreak, the CDC also compiled links to all of their social media efforts on one page. The efforts included widgets that displayed the latest news through an RSS feed, E-cards that included tips on avoiding contamination, a Youtube channel with videos of authorities talking about the outbreak, and Facebook fan outreach that encourageed people to post their thoughts on the situation.