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

Wednesday October 29, 2014

Behind The Scenes, Storyful Exposes Viral Hoaxes For News Outlets

Storyful is making a business out of verifying material on social media for journalists and news organizations. Storyful hide caption

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Storyful

The Industry

Behind The Scenes, Storyful Exposes Viral Hoaxes For News Outlets

October 29, 2014 • Journalists regularly turn to this social media organization to seek out and verify online material that could bolster traditional reporting.

Behind The Scenes, Storyful Exposes Viral Hoaxes For News Outlets

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Thursday October 16, 2014

Facebook

Social Web

When Disaster Strikes, Facebook Lets Friends Know You're OK

October 16, 2014 • Facebook's newest tool, known as Safety Check, aims to allow people to quickly alert friends and family that they are safe after a natural disaster.

Wednesday October 1, 2014

Facebook Apologizes For Name Policy That Affected LGBT Community

San Francisco City Supervisor David Campos (right) walks with drag queen Sister Roma to a news conference on Sept. 17 about a Facebook policy that requires people to use their "real" names on their profiles. The site said Wednesday it will modify how the policy is enforced. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

Society

Facebook Apologizes For Name Policy That Affected LGBT Community

October 1, 2014 • The social networking site will not change its requirement for people to use "real" names on their profiles, but it will adjust how alleged violations are reported and enforced.

'Ello' Aims For A Return To Ad-Free Social Networking

Ello is a new, invitation-only social network that aims to thrive and survive on a business model that does not include selling user data or advertising. Ello.co hide caption

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Ello.co

Social Web

'Ello' Aims For A Return To Ad-Free Social Networking

Turnstyle

October 1, 2014 • Ello is the viral social network of the moment. Ad-free, invitation-only and with the option of anonymity, it's generating tons of chatter as the latest alternative to Facebook.

'Ello' Aims For A Return To Ad-Free Social Networking

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Sunday September 28, 2014

Facebook Requires Real Names. What Does That Mean For Drag Queens?

Drag queens Lil Miss Hot Mess (left) and Sister Roma join other activists for a news conference at San Francisco City Hall on Sept. 17 to speak out against Facebook's rule on using legal names for profiles. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

Society

Facebook Requires Real Names. What Does That Mean For Drag Queens?

September 28, 2014 • Dozens of queens' profiles were deactivated recently because they used stage names. Facebook says requiring real names curbs abuse, but LGBT groups say it's restricting — for drag queens and others.

Friday August 1, 2014

Simmering Online Debate Shows Emoji Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

What is this emoji? NPR hide caption

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NPR

Social Web

Simmering Online Debate Shows Emoji Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

August 1, 2014 • A report from a local Philadelphia TV station is reigniting a debate and getting people all up in arms. (Or should we say, up in hands?)

Wednesday July 30, 2014

Some Loyal Foursquare Users Are Checking Out After Swarm Spinoff

Foursquare is about to unveil its new Yelp-like app, which meant moving the users who liked it for checking in to a new app, Swarm. Courtesy of Foursquare hide caption

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Courtesy of Foursquare

Social Web

Some Loyal Foursquare Users Are Checking Out After Swarm Spinoff

July 30, 2014 • The company's move to break its app in two is costing it the users who loved Foursquare the most. "Why do I need two apps when I had one that provided both services?" asked one user.

Saturday July 26, 2014

For Rare Languages, Social Media Provide New Hope

An Aymara woman prepares to take part in a pageant in La Paz, Bolivia, in 2013. Jaqi-Aru, a community of volunteers is working on translating the Facebook interface in the indigenous language of Aymara. Juan Karita/AP hide caption

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Juan Karita/AP

Social Web

For Rare Languages, Social Media Provide New Hope

July 26, 2014 • Linguists and native speakers around the world are turning to Facebook, Twitter and other sites to help pass indigenous, minority and endangered languages on to new generations.

Listen to Tongva word of the day

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Monday July 7, 2014

We Asked, You Answered: Going To Extremes To Disconnect On Vacation

Our readers wrote in on how they tried to take a vacation from their smartphones. Christian Wheatley/iStockphoto hide caption

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Christian Wheatley/iStockphoto

Society

We Asked, You Answered: Going To Extremes To Disconnect On Vacation

July 7, 2014 • Giving up digital devices — even if for just a few hours or days — is a struggle. Whether it was to catch up on the news or peek in on the World Cup, NPR listeners found it tough to kick the habit.

We Asked, You Answered: Going To Extremes To Disconnect On Vacation

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Saturday July 5, 2014

Researchers found that, in general, people who use social media are 32 percent more likely to think about leaving their spouse. Getty hide caption

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Getty

Social Web

Quit Social Media, Save Your Marriage?

Ozy.com

July 5, 2014 • Researchers found that, in general, people who use social media are 32 percent more likely to think about leaving their spouse.

Monday June 30, 2014

Facebook Manipulates Our Moods For Science And Commerce: A Roundup

Facebook researchers manipulated newsfeeds of nearly 700,000 users to study "emotional contagion." iStockPhoto hide caption

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iStockPhoto

Social Web

Facebook Manipulates Our Moods For Science And Commerce: A Roundup

June 30, 2014 • The scientific experiments of Facebook fueled wide Internet outrage over the weekend, when news surfaced that it was purposely manipulating users' emotions through content on their feeds.

Friday June 20, 2014

justyo.co

Social Web

Yo Is The Buzzy App Of The Moment, Whether Yo Like It Or Not

June 20, 2014 • Yo is an app that does nothing but let you send a voice message to your contacts saying "Yo." Is it worth the $1 million investors seem to think it is?

Is A Threat On Facebook Real? Supreme Court Will Weigh In

The Supreme Court will look at a case in its upcoming session dealing with what constitutes a "true threat" on Facebook. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Social Web

Is A Threat On Facebook Real? Supreme Court Will Weigh In

June 20, 2014 • The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving perceived death threats on Facebook. The court and the company could have starkly different approaches to identifying credible threats.

Is A Threat On Facebook Real? Supreme Court Will Weigh In

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Thursday June 19, 2014

Your Favorite Musicians, Straight From Their Laptop To Yours

Stageit and another startup, Concert Window, have made it easy to play online shows — and make money doing it. Stageit.com hide caption

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Stageit.com

Social Web

Your Favorite Musicians, Straight From Their Laptop To Yours

June 19, 2014 • If you'd like to catch some live music tonight, you may find some surprising options without even leaving home. Online, bands are performing concerts — and making money — using virtual venues.

Your Favorite Musicians, Straight From Their Laptop To Yours

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Thursday June 12, 2014

Facebook Ad Targeting Will Use Even More Of Your Data

Facebook says that starting soon, ad targeting will "include information from some of the websites and apps you use," making ads more relevant to users' interests. iStockphoto hide caption

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iStockphoto

Privacy & Security

Facebook Ad Targeting Will Use Even More Of Your Data

June 12, 2014 • It will start drawing on Web browsing data to determine what ads users see, while allowing them to edit their own data profiles. Privacy advocates say the changes put too much burden on consumers.