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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

All Tech Considered

Tech, Culture and Connection

Social Web

Friday

Wednesday

Is Online Gambling Legal If Bitcoins, Not Dollars, Are At Stake?

An image depicts the SatoshiDice website, which exclusively uses Bitcoin, not dollars, for gambling. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Gaming

Is Online Gambling Legal If Bitcoins, Not Dollars, Are At Stake?

With no government ties, Bitcoin is used to buy everything from blogging services to Brooklyn-made cupcakes. Theoretically, millions of dollars are being kept in the digital currency. And it's increasingly being used by specialized websites to offer online gambling. But is Bitcoin gambling legal?

Is Online Gambling Legal If Bitcoins, Not Dollars, Are At Stake?

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Thursday

Swinging From 140 Characters To Six-Second Videos, Twitter Launches Vine

Twitter announced its partnership with Vine, a video-sharing app that posts six-second videos onto a tweet, on Thursday, Jan. 24. Marie McGrory/NPR hide caption

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Marie McGrory/NPR

Gadgets & Apps

Swinging From 140 Characters To Six-Second Videos, Twitter Launches Vine

Twitter launches Vine, a video-sharing app that allows users to post succinct videos directly onto tweets. The app is reminiscent of Instagram and seems familiar at a time when animated GIFs are all the rage.

Wednesday

'It's About Time': Facebook Reveals New Search Feature

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Tuesday. Jeff Chiu/AP hide caption

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Jeff Chiu/AP

The Industry

'It's About Time': Facebook Reveals New Search Feature

The "graph search" feature, which will let users comb their friends' pages for everything from travel tips to restaurants they like, gives the company a path to grow its revenue but could also add to privacy concerns. Most analysts don't see the new feature as a direct threat to Google — for now.

'It's About Time': Facebook Reveals New Search Feature

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Friday

Thursday

Sunday

To Yelp Or Not To Yelp? Lawsuit Puts The Chill On Bad Reviews

Customer review websites like Yelp have exploded in the last few years, but are negative reviewers at risk of inciting the litigious wrath of angry business owners? Richard Vogel/AP hide caption

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Richard Vogel/AP

Social Web

To Yelp Or Not To Yelp? Lawsuit Puts The Chill On Bad Reviews

The next time you are about to post a scathing review of a business on a site like Yelp or Angie's List, you might want to think twice. This week, a housing contractor sued a former customer for $750,000 in defamation charges after she posted a negative review.

To Yelp Or Not To Yelp? Lawsuit Puts The Chill On Bad Reviews

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Friday

To Catch A Suspect — On Pinterest

People wanted by the police in Pottstown, Pa., are displayed on the Pinterest page of a local newspaper. The police department's social media strategy, which aims to get the images of criminals seen by more people, has also been adapted in Philadelphia. Pinterest hide caption

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Pinterest

Social Web

To Catch A Suspect — On Pinterest

WHYY

The social media site Pinterest is known as a place where people share recipes, crafts or fashion. But a new set of images have started showing up: mug shots.

To Catch A Suspect — On Pinterest

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Thursday

Yet Another Shift In Facebook Policies Raises Privacy Concerns
Joerg Koch/AP

Privacy & Security

Yet Another Shift In Facebook Policies Raises Privacy Concerns

Facebook has a long history of upsetting its users by suddenly announcing a change to its privacy settings. In 2009, as a way to quiet the critics, Facebook set up a system for its customers to vote on changes. If enough of them were unhappy, the company would back down. Now, Facebook wants to get rid of the voting.

Yet Another Shift In Facebook Policies Raises Privacy Concerns

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Sunday

Left Homeless, Storm Victims Turn To Internet To Find Shelter

A damaged home rests on one side along the beach in the Belle Harbor section of Queens, N.Y., on Nov. 5 in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Craig Ruttle/AP hide caption

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Craig Ruttle/AP

Social Web

Left Homeless, Storm Victims Turn To Internet To Find Shelter

Tens of thousands of people in the New York City area lost their homes to Superstorm Sandy. Many may be in need of temporary housing, so the home-sharing website Airbnb is working to connect people made homeless by Sandy with people willing to provide free housing.

Left Homeless, Storm Victims Turn To Internet To Find Shelter

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Tuesday

How Much Is A 'Like' On Facebook Worth For A Company's Share Price?

Investors and financial analysis firms are increasingly looking at "sentimental analysis" — such as Facebook "likes" and Twitter messages — to gauge a company's social popularity. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Social Web

How Much Is A 'Like' On Facebook Worth For A Company's Share Price?

Companies that provide financial data are increasingly interested in our "likes" and tweets. A Ph.D. student recently studied how positive social media mentions are linked to stock market performance, and came up with some interesting results.

How Much Is A 'Like' On Facebook Worth For A Company's Share Price?

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Tuesday

11 Takeaways From Zuckerberg's First Interview Since Facebook's IPO

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized his company's mobile-centered future Tuesday, in his first public comments since Facebook's troubled IPO. Eric Risberg/AP hide caption

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Eric Risberg/AP

Apps

11 Takeaways From Zuckerberg's First Interview Since Facebook's IPO

In his first interview since Facebook's troubled IPO, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the company's mobile-centered future, his commitment to mission over fun and explained why he doesn't code much anymore.

Monday

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

In seeking financial backers for her Ouya game console, Julie Uhrman was looking for about $1 million. The business received far more than that amount. Kickstarter hide caption

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Kickstarter

Gaming

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

KQED

On Kickstarter, the largest crowd-funding site, a handful of entrepreneurs have raised millions of dollars more than they expected. But if they fail to deliver their promised product, questions arise over whether the supporters are donating money or making a purchase.

When A Kickstarter Campaign Fails, Does Anyone Get The Money Back?

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Monday

Online University For All Balances Big Goals, Expensive Realities

Students work at the University of the People student computer center in Haiti. Students from 129 countries are currently enrolled with the institution. Courtesy of University of the People hide caption

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Courtesy of University of the People

Social Web

Online University For All Balances Big Goals, Expensive Realities

The University of the People says it's the "world's first, tuition-free, online university," designed for poor students who would otherwise lack access to higher education. The institution has 1,300 students in 129 countries, but it's also struggling to maintain its "free" mission.

Online University For All Balances Big Goals, Expensive Realities

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Monday

Smartphone Apps Help More Singles Find The Boy (Or Girl) Next Door

A growing number of smartphone apps use internal GPS to help singles locate potential mates nearby. While men are enthusiastic about the apps, women have been slower to adopt them. Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Sean Locke/iStockphoto.com

Privacy & Security

Smartphone Apps Help More Singles Find The Boy (Or Girl) Next Door

People have long looked to computers to meet potential dates. Some are now using their smartphones, too. A growing number of phone apps are using internal GPS to locate other potentially compatible singles nearby. But to date, far more men than women are signing up for the services.

Smartphone Apps Help More Singles Find The Boy (Or Girl) Next Door

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