PopSugar

Justin Stays in the Network Frame of Mind

PopSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:00:51 -0800

Justin Timberlake held on tightly to his script yesterday as he arrived for another afternoon on the LA set of The Social Network. He came in a fedora and a plaid shirt, but it didn't take long before he was suited up to get into character as one of Facebook's founders. JT's stay in California has allowed him to have some quality time with Jessica Biel, even though she spent her Friday partying without him.

To see photos of Justin on the set, just read more.

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Do You Use Social Media to Contact Companies?

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:44:18 -0800

I just finished reading an article about a US couple who, because of visa problems, nearly missed their Russian honeymoon. They thought they'd done their research; online travel agency Expedia assured the couple that they didn't need visas to travel to St. Petersburg. It turned out, though, they did. After sharing their experience and anger in real time via Twitter and their blog, Expedia reached out to the couple, reimbursing the cost of their trip, the additional expenses they incurred, and offering a huge credit toward their next trip.

More companies are using social media to respond immediately to problems and interact closely with customers. In fact, some of Sugar staffers used the service to get in touch with JetBlue during a severely delayed flight.

While I agree it's a great way to interact with a company, I can't decide if this will increase their responses or just create a new forum for more people to complain. What do you think?

Justin Makes His Way Back on the Social Scene

PopSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0800

Justin Timberlake took a stroll around the LA set of The Social Network yesterday. He had a moment of solitude on his walk back towards his trailer, which was a change from his super social weekend with Jessica Biel. Justin and Jessica are going through some stuff in their relationship, but at least she's back in California after being away in Vancouver filming The A-Team. She had a girls'-only night yesterday, though, when she joined her Valentine's Day costar and crush Jennifer Garner for dinner at Madeo.

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Status Update: Justin Is on the Set of The Social Network

PopSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:41 -0800

Justin Timberlake brought Jessica Biel along for last night's star-studded Jay-Z concert, but today he was up bright and early to report to the LA set of The Social Network. Production on the film was underway last week in Maryland, but shooting has switched over to the West Coast for now. JT's career in film seems to be moving right along, as he also just picked up a role in the upcoming Yogi Bear movie. In not-so-great news, Justin is getting more wrapped up in the legal drama surrounding a woman who was recently accused of stalking him.

For more photos of Justin on set just read more.

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Should There Be an Age Minimum For Social Networks?

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:44:06 -0800

Social networking sites have long been popular with teens, and now researchers are saying they're becoming increasingly popular with younger kids, too. I don't think anyone's surprised by the findings; though both Facebook and MySpace require users to be at least 13 years old when signing up for accounts.

A researcher quoted in the CNN article says:

"Of course they are [using social networking sites]. They're using them because that's where their social world is. Because there's no effective way to age-verify . . . children very quickly realize, 'I just say I'm 14 years old, and they'll let me use this.' "

Researchers are split on the long-term effects of allowing younger children onto the sites. Some say that early exposure to the sites can lead to Internet addiction in adults; others say that most younger children use the sites in moderation, and in positive ways. The article also quotes parents who have allowed their kids to lie about their age to create profiles, though they also require their kids to surrender their passwords, and monitor the kids' activities and friends. What do you think about age restrictions on these sites?

Stuff Your Friends Love - Now in Google Search Results

GeekSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:15:23 -0700

Twitter updates will soon appear within search results, Google Labs has launched Google Social Search - an application that displays public search results found via your friends' social media profiles - Flickr streams, Twitter feeds, FriendFeed updates, and more. Google defines your social circle as:

On the heels of the big announcements from both Bing and Google that

People you're connected to through social services that you've listed in your Google profile . . . such as Twitter and FriendFeed.
People in your Gmail (or Gchat) chat list.
People in your Friends, Family, and Co-workers contact groups for Google.

Social Search only works if you're signed into your Google account. To test this feature, visit google.com/experimental. If you opt in, access Social Search results by using the left-hand links on a search results page. It also shows which friends and acquaintances social content comes from. Check out the Google blog for a great, informative video explaining how Social Search works and how Google determines who's in your social network.

Do you think you'll use this feature? Or will this be yet another way to search in Google that you don't think you'll use?

How Many Social Networks Do You Belong To?

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:45:01 -0700

I may have breathed an audible sigh of relief when I heard that Google was launching Google Profiles, a hub for all your social networks.

Over the years, I've signed up for about 800 social networks (a rough estimate), have only consciously deleted one profile, and am only using an amount I can count on my hands at any given moment.

I'd love to claim that the high number of networks I belong to is purely an occupational hazard, but I tend to get excited about new networks regardless - there's always some cool new angle. But yes, I do have that worlds colliding fear, and yes, I definitely need to delete some more profiles!

Honestly, I'm too scared to count up the networks I'm on, so you tell me instead - how many social networks do you belong to?

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Website of the Day: Ning

GeekSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:37 -0700

If you're dying to take a bite out of the social networking pie, but want something that's all your own, take in a whiff of Ning - a customizable social networking community. Like Blogger and Wordpress are to blogging (which allow you to start your own blog about whatever the heck you want), Ning lets you to gather up all interested parties and socialize together in one place.

Why would you want to start your own social network? See one reason when you read more.

Say you want to start a social network for your 10-year class reunion (which is creeping up a little too fast for yours truly, by the way). Just head over to Ning, set up your network, then mass email all your old buddies that you found on MySpace, letting them know where to hang out online. Plus you can incorporate videos, photos, and calendar events to keep you all informed and up to date. Ning is so simple to use, free, and easy to customize your way. And that's what it's really all about isn't it - getting what you want, the way you want it. You're so spoiled!

Social Networks Are Lost on Most Adults

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:45:18 -0700

I thought everyone knew what a social network was, especially since you really can't get away from them these days. But apparently you guys are on the cutting edge of trends, so give yourselves a pat on the back! Why? Well, a recent report says that 58 percent of worldwide adults surveyed are totally clueless about what a social network is. I know, I know, I'm shocked too.

Even more surprising, a whole 30 percent of Americans couldn't tell you what Myspace or Facebook is, let alone describe what Yelp, Loopt, or Sonic Living are about, since they are totally oblivious to the popular networking trends! My heart breaks a little to know that a big chunk of our nation's adults still don't understand the joys of Twitter, let alone all the great wines that are just waiting to be discovered through one of my social networking faves. I guess I'll have to start a grassroots campaign to educate the social network deprived out there - you know, take it to the streets!

Dear Poll: Are You Social Butterflies or Home Bodies?

DearSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Isn’t it funny how once we settle into a new relationship, we end up falling into certain patterns. I suppose it’s only natural, but I still find it somewhat remarkable how easy it is to pick up a new routine and how hard it is to break out of one.

One of the most common patterns for couples to develop early on is their social routine. Some couples still paint the town red, socializing with their friends, while others feel best at home with just each other - sure, every once and a while you have to mix it up, but for the most part these categories stand. So ladies, when it comes to your usual relationships, which category do you fall in?

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