On any given day, it’s a difficult task trying to find tech related news that doesn’t pertain to Facebook. You just can’t escape the media monster that it is Facebook. So, considering the amount of press that the social media site gets on a daily bases, we at eZanga have decided to start a weekly wrap up of all the latest news pertaining to the popular website. We figured, might as well join ‘em and this seems to be the most efficient way to get the news out there without neglecting other stories throughout the week.
So, now that the introductions for our new project are out of the way, let’s get down to business.
The Royal Wedding and Its Presence on Facebook
The big story around the world this week was the Royal Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, of course.
First we learned that a Buckingham Palace guard, scheduled to serve as security at the wedding, was dismissed from his duties as a result of a nasty comment made about Kate Middleton that he posted on Facebook. Scots Guardsman Cameron Reilly called Prince William’s bride a “stupid stuck up cow” and a “posh b****”. Not only was the post, which was a grammatical nightmare, snide and unprofessional, but downright cruel and spiteful. You should be ashamed of yourself, Mr. Reilly. No wonder he missed the most anticipated event Britain has seen in years.
And boy, was it an event! Facebook (and Twitter) were all abuzz today over the Royal nuptials. Trending topics on social media sites were all about Westminster Abby, William and Kate, and their first kiss. Viewers put their two cents on Facebook, with somewhere between 75 and 100 status updates about the wedding every second!
Tornado Victims Utilize Facebook
In the wake of the devastating storms that ripped through much of the US, Patty Bullion, an Alabama resident, began a Facebook page titled “Pictures and Documents found after the April 27, 2011 Tornadoes.” Bullion intended to use the site as a tool for people affected by the tornadoes to post pictures and identifying information of found items. “As I was picking the pictures up it was just breaking my heart,” Bullion said of simply wanting to help people find their items.
Facebook Competes with Groupon
The social media site announced on Tuesday that it will offer coupons for purchase online. Facebook Deals will be available on the website and will be geared towards social events, such as concerts and wine tastings. The new concept will be run and tested in five major cities to start with, and may expand further, depending on the level of success.
Lady Gaga Teams up with Robin Hood Foundation for Facebook Contests
Listen up, little monsters! Gaga is working with the New York based Robin Hood Foundation, which aids the poor and homeless. Ms. Gaga’s mission with one of the two contests is to increase the number of Facebook “likes” for the charity. The second contest asks for the help of Facebook fans to decide how Lady Gaga will disperse a $1 million donation to the Robin Hood Foundation. Way to put your money where your mouth is, Gaga!
Facebook Send Button
Also this week, Facebook launched a new button: “Send”. This nifty little click-able object is very similar to the “Like” button, boasting functionality as a plug-in for websites to use to encourage sharing among friends. However, the key difference of the “Send” button is its ability to preserve privacy. Upon being clicked, rather than instantaneously displaying your appreciation of the site to your entire friend list, a pop-up appears. You can then designate any number of specific friends or even email addresses with which you want to share. For a full write-up, check out the Facebook Developers Blog post here: http://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/494/
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Internet crazes come and go, end of story. Do you recall logging into Facebook every day to check your farm? Dare I mention the once booming MySpace or Xanga?
