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Facebook crops up on the top trends this week due to privacy concerns. It is interesting how crucial this topic seems to be to Facebook users, yet people are at the same time willing to post private and personal information to their profiles not knowing where that information may ultimately flow.

Microblogging has become a hot trend for enterprises that want to help employees share information internally. The article takes a look at how three businesses are using Twitter alternatives and best practices for implementing it.

Really interesting how people are using their digital devices to tell their stories and capture memories. A common social trend in my opinion.

Interesting article on the increasing trend of live-blogging in mainstream news coverage - specifically refers to two Toronto-based start up companies: ScribbleLive and CoveritLive.  The Globe and Mail for instance used ScribbleLive to cover Hurricane Sandy. 

This article is written by Jason Cassidy from this year's graduating MPC class. He touches on how social media platforms are becoming more visually focused. Also, there is an increasing "mobile-first strategy" mentality - that websites and applications are being developed on mobile platforms before a compatible desktop version is available. "Images get consumers thinking, stimulate conversations and motivate actions and purchasing decisions."

Thought this was very interesting as it points out the increased reliance on digital communication rather than face-to-face interactions even when buying cupcakes!. 'Sprinkles' in the states is utilizing digital communication technology / ATM machines to sell cup cakes. I understand the need for drive-in options for Tim Horton stops, especially in the winter! This is interesting considering it is not exactly necessary, is probably very expensive, and it will probably decrease employment in the food services industry if it becomes a trend.

Even though we live in North America and pay much more attention to platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, I think it's also important to be informed of trends in other parts of the world as well. This article explores the success of LINE, a popular social networking site in Japan.

Re: "The next big thing" this study suggests that only 58% of businesses have a social media strategy. Twitter is apparently on the way down. Pintrest and Tumblr are on their way up.

Here is a graphic that captures a visual history of scrollbars from 1981 to the present. I point out the trend towards making the scrollbar less and less noticeable, with fewer graphical details to signal to users its function given its progressive ubiquity. The scrollbar is the visual equivalent of "More informaiton, please!"