UF Social Media Scholars

How does the social media giant decide who and what to put in your feed? Tom Weber conducts a one-month experiment to break the algorithm, discovering 10 of Facebook's biggest secrets.

Overview of Twitter by @ev - good for an introduction to the service, circa 2009.

"People often think about new technologies in task-oriented ways: how to access information, how to create projects, how to make presentations. But there is a more personal dimension to the role of new technologies in the lives of young people. In this session, Sherry Turkle and Henry Jenkins explore how young people, as they engage with new technologies, begin to change the ways they think about themselves, relate to others, and participate in communities."

Gladwell adds a contrary voice to the idea that social media can play a role in political activism.

Short list of free writing classes - always good to improve your writing.

Nick Carr makes the case that the Internet is changing the way we think, and not in good ways - vs. a Clay Shirky essay from the same day.

Clay Shirky essay on the changes in intelligence & the way we think - vs. a Nick Carr essay from the same day.

Lessig reviews The Social Network movie - the results are interesting, but at the same time reveal a lot about the reviewer in addition to the topic reviewed.

Links and suggestions - many can be used to find other media & tech jobs as well.

... because the Web isn't written in pencil, it's written in ink.

Open source software for connecting individuals, used often for activism and connecting stories in the wake of crisis.

Discussion of Ning's successes in the aftermath of the big changes in 2010.

Nice definition of the concept of graphs in the context of social networks. Also discusses some possible categories.

Short history of social networks circa 2009 from the perspective of Gina Bianchi, co-founder of Ning.

From 2004, this interview goes into the mission of meetup and it's role in '04 politics.

"So much for "free" as the future of business - as far as Ning goes, anyway. The company accepted hundreds of millions of dollars from investors, and they apparently want more of a return than Ning is able to provide as a free service."

Explores the downfall of Bebo from the primary social network in the UK to the decision to shut down in 2010.

Nice review of Peep Diaries book.