From the Los Angeles Times, a particularly chilling story about social websites and third-party data: Jane Yang, a 30-year-old marketing coordinator, was curious the other day to see what would turn up if she searched for herself on Reunion.com.

Google acknowledges that it is now testing ways to use some of the data it has been gathering to better aim search ads at Web surfers, although it won’t say how. This is important because it marks the first time Google is using the store of data...

A little while ago, I taped an interview with WBZ News Radio out of Boston, MA regarding my new research on older users of social network sites. Link – MP3 Download I’m looking forward to continuing this research in the spring – we’re currently...

This week, Peggy Orenstein and I appeared on SETI’s (yes, that SETI!) public radio program to talk about Freedom.  Other guests on the program include Ray Kurzweil and Stephen Wolfram. Link to the show (direct MP3 download) The segment on Freedom is...

Sunday’s New York Times Magazine (!!!) featured an article by Peggy Orenstein on the virtues of Freedom.  She writes: Not long ago, I started an experiment in self-binding: intentionally creating an obstacle to behavior I was helpless to control,...

Late October/Early November is looking very busy.  I’ll be giving the following talks: 10/27 – Carolina College of Lifelong Learning (Small fee, but I am donating my time) 10/30 – NWS Summit “Visionary Talk” (Closed) 10/30 – Presenting some new...

I spent the majority of last week in Milwaukee, WI attending the 10th annual Association of Internet Researchers conference.  This was my first time attending AOIR, and it was a great experience.  As an interdisciplinary researcher, I enjoyed seeing...