carrie*connects

Social Media Impact Explained

This is a clever little YouTube infomercial argument for social media that is very compelling - I hesitate to agree with the producer's enthusiasm for Gen X driving the way the trend is evolving, and I think their concept is a bit reductive in terms of scope, but it does offer great food for thought - especially with the notion that brands need to drive their message directly to their customers.

Technology Trendcaster | Become a Sociopath ~ It's the Latest Thing!

I recieved an invitation this morning to join the new social network StyleCaster (which sounds suspiciously like a column that I write called Trendcaster on Bloomacious.com) - naturally I immediately zoomed over to take a look and post my mug on my own page.  

While the site doesn't seem all that different from our own network Bloomacious Cafe it apparently is embedded with lots of watching and listening devices that when explained in the video below makes me yearn for a nice long nap. 

Terms like "associated neuro network"  and "associative dynamics" are a far cry from my favorite phrase "me likey!"  but they mean similar things.

If there's any doubt after listening to this explanation that networks are the new blogs (which are the new magazines) then take a sneak peek at Fashionair which is girding up to launch soon.

Broken down gently, networks allow companies to watch the patterns and flows of their members - whom they friend, what they comment on.  We've done the same thing for the past 6 months through our networks and it's not quite as scientific or reliable as the Sociocast guys would like you to believe. 

Networks do provide a venue in which individuals can enjoy a club-like camaraderie- they also can serve as a TV station, a community blog, a messaging system and a newsletter - and are the next step beyond Facebook and Twitter.

AP Takes Aim At Google, Yahoo (and a whole lot of ect's)

The Associated Press has announced a legal offensive against news aggregators.  In a press conference held this week  William Dean Singleton, chairman of The Associated Press, said it would require Google, Yahoo, and other news sites to get permission (ie: pay fees) to republish its content, or face legal agression.

"We can no longer stand by and watch others walk off with our work under misguided legal theories." He said. 

The New York Times' Saul Hansell, who has a horse in this race, doesn't think this is a strategy that will pay off for the AP.

source: NYT

Robin Givhan Goes to Washington.

Consider the Washington Post the official stop for all things Michelle Obama.  The paper is sending  Pulitzer Prize winning writer Robin Givhan down to D.C. to cover Mrs-O's every arm bearing ensemble and social turn.   Officially she'll be covering "culteral issues" that surround the first family - but we're pretty sure that'll translate into a good dose of fashion and style.

Givhan, who currently is based in New York, says she'll still write a weekly column that focuses on designer news, shows, and fashionable missteps.

source: fashionista