Are you in the loop?

All week long, I've been getting Facebook notifications and texts that appeared to be spam. A message, "Hey Anna, (insert random Facebook friend here) has invited you to join "Circle - The Local Network" and told me to "get the app" (insert link here)." I ignored the notifications and deleted the texts, thinking nothing of it. But then two nights ago, I received several more alerts to join--more than usual--AND I saw people talking about the so-called app on Twitter. I saw the following tweet and finally, I knew I wasn't alone in this!

Circle is actually a mobile application (NOT spam) that also does what it says: connects you to locals--actual people in your area. Way to be literal, Hawthorne Labs, Inc. (They're the creators.)
According to this article from VB Mobile, "Circle is a location-based social network where you can view activity feeds of local activity. Members can post specific questions, ask for help, or use Circle to distribute information." This applies to people who you may or may not actually know.

In this blog post, user "stancollins," reviews the app. He states in the review posted on View On News on Dec. 6, "My first impression was that it seemed to be a mixture of Facebook and Twitter. I somehow already had 70 something followers and a couple of people in my “Circle.” I assume they took people from my Facebook friends list and automatically added them. As I scrolled through Circle’s equivalent of a newsfeed, I noticed that I saw posts from everyone that was in the area and not just people I followed or had in my circle. This is a cool concept because the focus is on what’s around you as opposed to what your regular group of friends is up to."

As the articles discuss, Circle is useful if you find yourself in a bind as well. With this app you can put out alerts for help, warnings, and live updates. Got a flat tire? Send out a message for help and a local will help you if they're in the area! It's quite an interesting concept because rather than focusing on who you are, the app focuses on where you are and who else is there, too.

Although I haven't actually used the app myself, I already have a complaint (funny how that works, huh?)...I think they're trying too hard to get people to join. Texting me? I don't like that. It's also VERY easily mistaken for spam. "stancollins" agrees, stating, "The biggest problem with this app, in my opinion, is that they try so hard to get more people on that it...I understand that they want a lot of people to use the app but it’s never pleasant receiving messages that look like spam."

What do you think of Circle? Have you been invited to join? Will you? The app is still very new and there isn't very much information on it, but I guess, when you think about it, the best way to get to know an app is to download it for yourself. Take a look at Circle - The Local Network...

Do YOU practice proper cellphone etiquette?

We love our cellphones. We really do. We love them so much that it’s interrupting our lives. These little devices that, if you’re like me, manage your whole little world, have made it into our bathrooms, bedrooms, our work offices, our cars—we take them everywhere with us. So, it’s very likely you will encounter cellphone situations in public on a pretty regular basis.

From the restaurant dinner table to work and meetings to waiting rooms and elevators, cellphones are and have been for quite some time, considered a nuisance by many, especially when the owner of a said nuisance isn’t being considerate of proper cellphone etiquette. So, I took it upon myself to look into what these basic cellphone rules are in America (yes, they do vary in other countries!).

I gathered four articles from four different sources to check out these cellphone etiquette do’s and don’ts and how to practice proper etiquette for myself. Here’s what I gathered to be my top five most important rules for cellphone use in public.

1.     Watch your volume! No one wants to listen to you talk on the phone. According to emilypost.com, our phone voices tend to be louder than our normal speaking voices. This can be overwhelming for those around you are well as the person you’re on the phone with. The article reminds us, “…you’re the one fighting to hear over the noise, not the person you’re speaking with.”

2.     The 10-foot proximity rule! Each article I read discussed the importance of maintaining a certain amount of space between you (while you’re engaged in a phone conversation in public) and the public and I agree. Staying this far away as well as not speaking too loudly is less likely to disturb the people around you.

3.     Just don’t answer! When you’re at the dinner table, in a face-to-face conversation, in a meeting, or in any public place where it is an inconvenience for you or those around you take a personal call let your voicemail do its job. Even if you hate voicemail, that’s why you have it!

4.     Don’t discuss personal or sensitive information! Because who wants to hear that one-sided conversation really?

5.     DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE! According to this Huffington Post article, at any given time 3% of people driving are also talking on their phones. Texting or talking while driving can distract you from watching intersections, traffic lights or signs, and pedestrians among other things.

I don’t know about you, but I know I’m guilty of breaking all these rules at least once or twice. It’s something that you would think is common sense, and it is, but it’s much easier to say than to do. Often, as this article states, it is a case of “monkey see, monkey do.” When we see someone take out a cellphone, we’re more inclined to take ours out as well and forget our general etiquette for cellphone use. How many of these rules are YOU guilty of breaking???

What's Going on with Apple?

There's a lot happening right now for Apple Inc. The company is constantly in the news, it seems, with the unveiling of two new phones and operating systems, as well as new laptops and iPads. There have also been significant price cuts and rumors of poor sales all within the last few weeks. So...this week I thought I could talk about a couple of the major headlines concerning Apple.

The age of the iPod seems to be over
The original iPod is officially 12 years old as of this week. There have been 24 different versions of the device, but we haven't seen a new one in over a year. According to this article from The Huffington Post, Apple has not responded to questions about the future of the iPod, but by the way it looks, it's not great. In the last few years, as smartphones have gotten "smarter," the need for a music player has become absent. Our smartphones do everything; we don't need an MP3 player or an iPod. iTunes is accessible on our phones and computers. 

iOS 7 isn't everyone's favorite
The launch of a completely redesigned operating system had Apple users almost frantic. Many experienced technical difficulties once they installed iOS 7 and there were complaints about the appearance of the update. Some experienced problems simply installing iOS 7. Though there are many good features of the new OS, articles like this one, help users get past some of the update's worst glitches and issues.

The new phones aren't selling
The "cheap" iPhone, which isn't really that cheap hasn't been selling well for Apple. The iPhone 5C is essentially the same as the 2012 iPhone, the iPhone 5, but with a colorful plastic shell. Though Apple has had good sales on the iPhone 5S, which boasts new features like a fingerprint scanner, the 5C doesn't seem to be hitting it with Apple users. This doesn't look good as Apple continues its' power struggle with other phone companies like Samsung.

Should we worry about seeing the end of Apple? Apple is well established and iconic, but seems to be in a rut lately. Since the death of Apple founder, Steve Jobs in October 2011, many have wondered what would happen to the company. Should we expect the worst?

Identity Crisis

The news has been buzzing over the last few days about Minnesota Viking's star Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son's death. The boy passed on Friday after his mother's boyfriend reportedly assaulted him. Originally reported as a medical emergency, the Sioux Falls Police Department quickly determined that the boy's injuries were not accidental.

Police arrested Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, who was initially charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant. His bond was set at $750,000 in cash before the boy's death.

According to several sources, including USA Today Sports, Patterson has a prior domestic abuse record with a different woman and child.

AP made statements Friday that the boy was his son, but not Adrian Peterson Jr., a rumor that began circulating. AP told the press he would play in Sunday's game against the Panthers. According to CNN, he also adamantly requested that his privacy be respected.

The child victim, originally thought to be AP Jr., has been identified as the "fruit of a casual relationship" previously unknown to the press. However, "memorial" photos of AP Jr. quickly spread over social media. According to several sources and news blogs, the child's existence was only recently brought to AP's attention. TMZ reported that AP met the child for the first time while the boy was on life support.

Black Sports Online, among many other news sites attempted to clear up the confusion, as well as AP himself via his social media accounts.

Aside from the fact that a child was killed in this event, which is incredibly tragic, I feel that one of the most unfortunate aspects is the complete invasion of privacy from the public via their social media. People mindlessly tweeted photos of AP Jr., a child that is alive and well. Several photos of him and his football star father were tweeted and posted, featuring the child with angel wings and “RIP” messages. Users did not take into consideration the facts of this story—did not even bother to fact-check at all, and as a result, falsely posted information about this little boy.

It just goes to show that people should CHECK THEIR SOURCES. While the confusion between the boys is understandable as they are very close in age, several news sites had already reported very quickly on Friday that AP Jr. was not the victim of Patterson’s abuse.

The Impression That I Get

Last post I discussed how so many in the online community over share information with their friends and followers. For the most part, this occurs on Facebook, as I elaborated on a week or so ago.

This week, my blog discusses the real world consequences to this phenomenon. According to this Huffington Post article, posted this morning, there are six major things recruiters (and employers) DO NOT want to see on social media. Read the article, here.

Posts about drugs, alcohol, sex and swearing will get you no where fast in the process of recruitment, as well as on the road to your next job or promotion. Even swearing and spelling can earn you a bad impression.

If you Google, "should employers be able to hire based on Facebook posts", you'll find this. Employers are encouraged to check social media posts to ensure that they are hiring the best employee for the job.

According to Forbes, checking prospective employees' social media activity can tell you exactly who to give the job. This article states that Facebook not only can show you these red flags (such as drugs, profanity and lying) but it can also give you some insight into whether or not they're the right fit and can even give you an inkling into how good at their job they'll be. Makes sense, right? Someone who constantly complains on Facebook may not have the work ethic and positive attitude a boss is looking for.

Many people, however, argue that employers and scouts should not be allowed to see these personal posts. What do you think? Are Facebook posts, Tweets and Instagram posts private if we put them out there for the world to see? Should we be allowed this privacy? There is always the option of making your accounts private, but then that poses the question of, "what are you hiding?"

What do YOU think??

Over Share Much?

Oh, your dog just got fixed? Your mom made oatmeal raisin cookies? You have athlete's foot? ...Your mom had an affair, contracted herpes, got pregnant and transferred herpes to your baby half-brother during childbirth? Man, life's crazy, huh?

These sound ridiculous and I know you would NEVER post something like THAT...but, I've read all of these posts and many other disturbing bits of info on my Facebook news feed from "friends". And this is the number one reason I do not frequent Facebook and I'm sure I'm not alone. 

Though annoying, there may be a science of sorts behind the reason why so many of us feel almost compelled to share information about ourselves and our day-to-day lives to 500 of our closest friends. 

Some of the latest research to on the issue of Facebook over sharing comes from professor Russell W. Belk, chair in marketing at York University in Toronto. His recent paper on the subject, “Extended Self in a Digital World,” will appear in the Journal of Consumer Research in October. 

He writes, “Sharing itself is not new, but consumers now have unlimited opportunities to share their thoughts, opinions, and photos, or otherwise promote themselves and their self-image online. Digital devices help us share more, and more broadly, then ever before.”

Social media wants us to share; it wants us all to share. Belk points out that YouTube’s slogan is “Broadcast Yourself.” Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter ask us “What do you have to Share?” “What’s happening?” “What’s on your mind?” …basically seducing us into divulging the day’s details, all to fill a communication void, according to recent research. This is only made better (or is it worse?) by mobile devices with all their websites and apps. 
 
I suppose some entertainment can be gained from these over share posts. Both the Facebook fails of the average idiot, the online bragging of criminals and the over shares of moms are conveniently compiled and can be found on the Internet for our reading enjoyment. It's probably better if we all just don't though...right?

These Vines are Out of Control!

With my blog, My So-Called Social Life, I want to delve into interesting articles and news that I find on various aspects of Social Media (or New New Media). With this blog, I hope to both inform and interest you on the newest developments in Social Media. But I also hope to touch on the importance and impact these tools have on our lives.

What's hot right now? What doesn't make any sense? This week, for my first post I am addressing, or maybe introducing, the little video maker that could: Vine. (Both extremely popular and very confusing for many people.)

Get familiar with vine: Vine is a mobile video app acquired and owned by Twitter.
Vine debuted on January 24, 2013 as a free iOS app on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The app is now available for Android devices as well. In just a couple of months, Vine became the most used video application on the market and by spring that same year, became the most-downloaded free app for iOS devices.

Now, I frequent the Huffington Post, a very popular news site. Recently, HuffPost has been running "The Best Vines of the Week" each week in the Technology section. This week, August 25-31, 2013,  we get a hilarious compilation of the week's 43 funniest and most shocking Vines. I promise it's not a waste of time!

So you've noticed, these videos are SHORT. Users are given six seconds per video, that they can start and stop anytime within the recording process, to create, essentially, pre-edited six-second videos taken with a user's smartphone. And you thought 140 character tweets were limited!

But why does it matter? Okay, I'll give you an example of just how much users are sharing in six seconds. This guy Vines (Yes, the act of recording a Vine) the break-up of his relationship! The short article that accompanies this Vine video forces us ask the question: Are we sharing too much? Is nothing private anymore? I have three words for you: FACEBOOK OVER SHARE. Maybe I'll discuss that can of worms in a future post.

So while physically there really is only so much you can share with each Vine video you create and post, this tool does allow a creative and interesting view into our lives and the lives of the other users we follow. From trick shots that seem unbelievable to strange feline behavior to creative sketches brought to life, Vines are the newest and possibly the strangest way thus far in which we express ourselves and share our lives with the internet. The internet is our So-Called Social Life.