New York magazine posted an essay on one cultural consequence of the world as a data-stream, the death of the narrative.

Web 3.0 is mostly to do with the massive amounts of active and passive data we are generating. An example of passive data is phone calls from mobile devices. Bandwidth is increasing, which enables video, audio and graphic sharing and data. Hoffman advocates thinking hard about it and acting to protect data. Think about what kind of future we want to create.

A list of 10 case studies that prove the ROI of social media, both through direct monetary return, customer loyalty, repeat traffic and more. Viewing social media holistically to gain a better understanding of how it can work for you is more beneficial to any brand than looking for one single return. Remember that social media marketing is not the same as online advertising ; it's not necessarily something that can be switched on and off to directly produce revenue."

Why are social networks powerful tools for causes and campaigns? Many times, people begin to engage in activism only after they've been attracted by the fun stuff in a campaign - connecting with old friends and sharing photos, for example. When they witness others participating, they'll be more likely to join the cause. With socializing as the primary draw, it's become easier for organizers to attract more and more unlikely activists through social media.

Most social media posts are inherently local. Friends post a photo of themselves on Facebook at a new local restaurant, another social connection checks-in to a nearby retail store via Foursquare and so on. All of these online social interactions present tremendous market potential for businesses trying to engage with consumers online.

Open data is a key step in holding governments to account and empowering democracy. It is not an end in itself, but it is a driver in societal change and it is hoped it can change the relationship between government and citizen. The prospects for mobile apps driven by open government in Kenya gaining traction are good, given a population that primarily accesses the Internet over mobile devices.

The power of data mining... "Yet more evidence, if it were needed, of the value that can be found in the Twitter stream. The social media service that has been credited with doing just about everything, may even turn out to be a medical goldmine."

Because the appeal of Google+ is in its targeted sharing options, companies won't be able any longer to blast messaging across the platform through a few well-connected users--often a good strategy on Facebook and Twitter. If Google+ sharing features are an indication of how we actually share and socialize, it points to a trend away from mass messaging across a network. And because Google+ encourages users to build out large networks while also managing a close circle of real friends, the power of these connections will become increasingly important to marketers. That means that having 600 friends or followers won't mean too much anymore. What will be important--for marketers at least--are those contacts you include in your close circle of friends, who regularly share with you, and who expect you to share with them.

MySpace's traffic has plummeted over the years, so it's no surprise that News Corp. is eager to unload the social network and move on. The sale price was reportedly between $30 million and $40 million, compared to the $580 million that News Corp. paid to acquire MySpace in 2005. That's a long way to fall. Here are four lessons learned from MySpace's collapse:

Google launched its most ambitious social-networking effort yet, broadening a battle with Facebook Inc. to grab the attention of Web users and future advertising dollars. The new service, a top priority for new Google Chief Executive Larry Page, is aimed at exploiting what has been considered a weakness of Facebook-that by default people using Facebook share all their information with a big group of friends. The new Google social network, called Google+, was released Tuesday in a "field trial period," meaning it is an invitation-only product and will be available more broadly later.

Charities are dropping the ball when it comes to social media. Looks like an opportunity for consultants.

When Toronto law firm Hicks Morley started its own internal social network in 2008, it was mainly to relieve lawyers of email overload so they could find important information more efficiently. But the firm found that by adopting several tools that mimic Facebook, Wikipedia and Twitter within the confines of a corporate firewall, collaboration between employees increased dramatically, and there was a marked increase in employee productivity.

Social media may be all the rage for building brands and connecting with customers, but what some entrepreneurs might not know is that many companies are using social networks for internal communication as well. These tools can help business owners align corporate goals, drive employee engagement and streamline operations.

The European Commission, which is still finding its way in regulating the Internet, Tuesday published a study on how social networking sites treat minors.

The All Facebook blog reports on the work of Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Oxford University. According to Prof. Dunbar the maximum number of meaningful friends you can have is about 150.

There's no denying the cultural impact of Facebook. It has united almost 700 million people, including most of you reading this, becoming the greatest social introduction platform the world has ever seen. But there are also some recent signs of "Facebook fatigue." There is only so much you can do to socialize online, especially after you've exhausted your friend list. Some people also complain they're spending so much time on Facebook that they're short-changing the rest of their lives.

Parents are always looking for ways to position their children for success, from piano lessons to Mandarin immersion. In the Wilson household, that means encouraging the kids to express themselves on the Internet. Unlike parents who struggle to limit kids' computer use, Fred and Joanne Wilson want their kids to be comfortable with the latest in technology.

It seems the message about lousy passwords really isn't getting through. Yesterday we reported on an analysis of passwords coming from one of the many Sony hacks. Today it is the turn of the iPhone lock screen. iPhone users pay attention. 1234 is not a good passcodes.

Think it can't happen to you?

Can international relations and diplomacy be conducted 140 characters at a time? World leaders have adopted Twitter with differing degrees of success and passion.