Social Web : All Tech Considered Sites like Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the Web, altered how we interact with each other and even changed the way news is gathered and delivered. Read about the impact of social media and its continuing evolution.

All Tech Considered

Tech, Culture and Connection

Social Web

Thursday January 28, 2016

How Do You Measure Passion? Figuring The Value Of Social Media Followers

Comedian and actress Grace Helbig is a star on YouTube. "Having an audience that listens to and resonates with your creative ideas is invaluable," she says. Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP hide caption

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Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP

Social Web

How Do You Measure Passion? Figuring The Value Of Social Media Followers

January 28, 2016 • Having millions of followers on Twitter or Instagram isn't necessarily a great achievement if they don't engage with you. Putting a value on social media followers is a burgeoning business.

How Do You Measure Passion? Figuring The Value Of Social Media Followers

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Monday January 25, 2016

Get A Grip On Your Information Overload With 'Infomagical'

John Hersey/WNYC

Society

Get A Grip On Your Information Overload With 'Infomagical'

WNYC

January 25, 2016 • Ever feel like you can't handle all the information pouring toward you from all the screens? But you keep reading and watching anyway? This five-day experiment from WNYC may just be for you.

Get A Grip On Your Information Overload With 'Infomagical'

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Saturday January 23, 2016

Yik Yak Tests Universities' Defense Of Free Speech

The Yik Yak app allows users to post anonymous messages, and to read anonymous messages posted in their current location. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption

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Ariel Zambelich/NPR

Behavior

Yik Yak Tests Universities' Defense Of Free Speech

WABE

January 23, 2016 • The social media app allows users to post anonymous comments visible to others in the same area. It's become a breeding ground for racial and violent threats, and some colleges may ban the app.

Yik Yak Tests Universities' Defense Of Free Speech

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Wednesday January 6, 2016

140-Character Twitter: If You Leave, Thanks For These Gifts

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Social Web

140-Character Twitter: If You Leave, Thanks For These Gifts

January 6, 2016 • Twitter may or may not be lifting its famous 140-character length maximum. We look back at some of the ways the restrictions made us get creative and spurred new phenomena, like "twitterature."

Saturday December 26, 2015

QUIZ: Are You Up To Speed On These Quirky Tech Stories Of 2015?

How would this wild black bear react to a drone? Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images hide caption

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Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket/Getty Images

Social Web

QUIZ: Are You Up To Speed On These Quirky Tech Stories Of 2015?

December 26, 2015 • In 2015, we reported on lots of tech news and uncovered some off-the-wall themes and elements of familiar trends. Can you remember or figure out some of the interesting findings from our coverage?

Tuesday December 22, 2015

IBM's Watson analyzes a Twitter account of an unnamed user, breaking down needs, values and five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, neuroticism (aka emotional range). IBM hide caption

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IBM

Behavior

I Asked A Computer To Be My Life Coach

December 22, 2015 • Your online habits leave a constant digital trail. What does it say about the real you? I gave the world's most famous computer keys to my online life to see what it could tell me, about me.

I Asked A Computer To Be My Life Coach

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Tuesday December 15, 2015

What Can — Or Should — Internet Companies Do To Fight Terrorism?

After recent terrorist attacks, social media companies are under pressure to do more to stop messaging from terrorist groups. Patrick George/Ikon Images/Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick George/Ikon Images/Getty Images

Privacy & Security

What Can — Or Should — Internet Companies Do To Fight Terrorism?

December 15, 2015 • Politicians are pressing social media and tech firms to do more to rein in the online presence of terrorist groups. But there are challenges, including defining what constitutes terrorist content.

What Can — Or Should — Internet Companies Do To Fight Terrorism?

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Wednesday December 2, 2015

A Click Too Far: Why Using Social Media Isn't That Great For Fundraising

There are a lot of ways to donate to a cause online. While using social media may help in promotion, it may not be the most effective way to get people to actually give. Tomacco/Getty Images hide caption

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Tomacco/Getty Images

Behavior

A Click Too Far: Why Using Social Media Isn't That Great For Fundraising

December 2, 2015 • Empathy campaigns can spread like wildfire on Facebook and other social media. So how come data show that social networking sites direct very few clicks to charity donation pages?

Thursday November 26, 2015

This Thanksgiving, Struggling To Skip The Instagram Obsession

iStockphoto

Opinion

Social Web

This Thanksgiving, Struggling To Skip The Instagram Obsession

November 26, 2015 • "What's the point of taking photos if you can't post them on social media?" "When is it OK to pull out your phone at the table?" and other questions for modern family get-togethers.

Wednesday November 4, 2015

Could Your Social Media Footprint Step On Your Credit History?

iStockphoto

The Industry

Could Your Social Media Footprint Step On Your Credit History?

November 4, 2015 • The head of a credit scoring firm says Facebook posts can offer an insight into creditworthiness. If your online presence becomes a financial health gauge, there are legal protections to know about.

Could Your Social Media Footprint Step On Your Credit History?

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Thursday October 29, 2015

Uber Surge Price? Research Says Walk A Few Blocks, Wait A Few Minutes

This map, created by Christo Wilson of Northeastern University, shows Uber surge price areas in Boston. Courtesy of Christo Wilson hide caption

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Courtesy of Christo Wilson

The Industry

Uber Surge Price? Research Says Walk A Few Blocks, Wait A Few Minutes

October 29, 2015 • Northeastern University researchers wanted to figure out how Uber comes up with surge prices by studying Manhattan and San Francisco. They say the surges work, but maybe not the way they are intended.

Sunday October 25, 2015

Who Decides Which Emojis Get The Thumbs Up?

The Unicode Consortium announced earlier this month that they are considering 67 new emojis to be released next summer. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Social Web

Who Decides Which Emojis Get The Thumbs Up?

October 25, 2015 • The Unicode Consortium decides which emojis live or die. As they prepare to release the next batch of emojis, we ask the emoji gatekeeper's president about the approval process.

Who Decides Which Emojis Get The Thumbs Up?

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Friday October 23, 2015

Fighting Online Bullying, One Emoji At A Time

The Ad Council

Social Web

Fighting Online Bullying, One Emoji At A Time

October 23, 2015 • The latest Apple iOS update includes a mysterious "eye-in-speech-bubble" emoji that has puzzled developers. The symbol is part of the Ad Council's new digital anti-bullying campaign, "I Am A Witness."

Wednesday October 21, 2015

What Happens When The Price Of Free Goes Up? YouTube Is About To Find Out

Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The Industry

What Happens When The Price Of Free Goes Up? YouTube Is About To Find Out

October 21, 2015 • YouTube has long suggested it may try to charge for its content. The new subscription service "Red" hopes to lure users with exclusive content from top stars, offline access to music and other perks.

What Happens When The Price Of Free Goes Up? YouTube Is About To Find Out

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Tuesday October 20, 2015

'Twitter's Dying' Puts Spotlight On The Line Between Abuse And Voice

Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

Social Web

'Twitter's Dying' Puts Spotlight On The Line Between Abuse And Voice

October 20, 2015 • An online essay has many agreeing that abuse and incivility undermine the social Web. But as with many cases of online speech, one man's bickering and snark are another man's freedom and dialogue.