Anderson@Large

Facebook Do’s and Don’ts

Philadelphia’s enhanced teen curfew ends next week. Between heavy rain and Hurricane Irene, the targeted enforcement areas have been quiet deserted the last two weekends.

I am doing research for a media project focusing on the criminalization of black youth and online community policing. Like me, you may not be familiar with the International Association of Chiefs of Police Center for Social Media. The Center “serves as a clearinghouse of information and no-cost resources to help law enforcement personnel develop or enhance their agency’s use of social media and integrate Web 2.0 tools into agency operations.”

At a recent community forum on youth violence and flash mobs, it was made clear that Philadelphia police officers are “part of the conversation” and monitoring young people on Facebook and Twitter.

The Center provides resources that civilians will find useful, including what not to do on Facebook.

You know that update from a “friend” enticing you to add a “Dislike” app, don’t:

We’ve all seen the Facebook Like button, that little disembodied blue hand giving the thumbs up. And how many times have you wished you could just dislike a piece of content, that unfortunate video or sad status update. You are not alone. But don’t be fooled, Facebook has not developed a Dislike button, no matter what the apps, e-mails, or mass posts may tell you. Online scammers are using this as a way to your information or to send a virus your way.

Read more: Facebook Fact and Fiction

Tough Love in Philly: Go Get Your Kids!

The second weekend of Philadelphia’s enhanced youth curfew in Center City and University City begins tonight at 9:00 p.m.

For me, this issue is not just something to blog about. I, after all, live in Center City. More important, I want to help change the conversation from the media-hyped “flash mobs” to flash drives as black youth are exposed to new possibilities and opportunities.

So last night I attended a community meeting, “Go Get Your Kids!,” organized by Dorothy Johnson-Speight, the founder of Mothers in Charge who lost her son to gun violence.

Johnson-Speight said the parent forum was convened to address youth violence, and share information about organizations that provide resources and support for families and youth. They also talked about solutions:

We want to save our children. We don’t want our organization to grow because a mother has lost her child.

Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety, addressed concerns about the criminalization of young people for being, well, young and dumb. Gillison said in the targeted enforcement areas, police officers will ask three questions:

• Where are you going?
• Where are you coming from?
• Do you understand what time it is?

First-time curfew violators will be issued a warning. Gillison said the 72 youth who were rounded up last weekend were “out of the area, had no idea what they were doing or they were belligerent.”

There were passionate comments about what’s going on with black youth:

They’re acting out because they’re crying out. There are too many young people who are angry and out of control.

There was widespread agreement that parental involvement is key to stemming the tide of violence. Parents must be held accountable and know where their children are. At the same time, there were impassioned pleas from parents who want to do the right thing but don’t know where to turn for help.

DJ MoShay LaRen of 107.9 WRNB said parents must take ownership and responsibility for their children:

We birthed them. We are responsible for them… If you don’t know where to go for help, pick up the phone. Call 311, 411, 911. Keep calling. It’s not an option to give up on your kids.

To get involved, visit Mothers in Charge.

UPDATE: It was a “quiet weekend.” Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison reported 33 minors were taken in by police, issued curfew warnings, and picked up by their parents.

Get the Gist

It’s Day 4 of Philly Tech Week.

I’m beginning to long for the good old days when what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.

In the era of the social web, I know what you did. Thanks to Gist.com, I don’t even have to Google you. Gist delivers information directly to your inbox so that you "can know more about who you know." SMH

And if you think social media is a fad, think again.

Get Off of My Cloud

On Day 3 of Philly Tech Week, I feel geeky and cheeky.

I now know there’s no there there in cloud computing. Like a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, the “cloud” is little more than servers packed inside containers stored in data centers around the world.

With growing concerns about security and privacy, cloud computing gives new meaning to the Rolling Stones’ warning, “Hey you, get off of my cloud.”

2011 National Action Network Convention

The National Action Network’s 13th annual convention starts today. The convention will bring together civil rights, labor, government, business and media leaders, activists and influencers.

The convention will kick off with a panel discussion, “Politics 2011 – 2012. What are the Issues?,” moderated by Rev. Al Sharpton, NAN’s president and founder.

And speaking of 2012 politics, President Obama will deliver remarks at NAN’s Keepers of the Dream Awards Gala.

This year’s honorees include Muhammad Ali, Samuel and Latanya R. Jackson, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Lee A. Saunders. Dr. Bill Cosby will give a keynote address at the gala.

I am a presenter on the youth panel, “There’s a Social Media Revolution: Join In!” My takeaway will keep it real: It’s OK to be young and dumb when you’re, well, young and dumb. But don’t be stupid because the Internet records everything and forgets nothing.

For more information, go here.

For updates, follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NANConv2011.

Know Your Privacy Rights

This is National Consumer Protection Week.

Federal, state and local agencies, consumer groups and advocacy organizations will share tips and information on how consumers can protect their privacy, manage money and debt, and avoid identity theft, frauds and scams.

The Huffington Post reported that Facebook plans to share users' personal data with advertisers:

Facebook will be moving forward with a controversial plan to give third-party developers and external websites the ability to access users' home addresses and cellphone numbers in the face of criticism from privacy experts, users, and even congressmen. Facebook quietly announced the new policy in a note posted to its Developer Blog in January. It suspended the feature just three days later following user outcry, while promising that it would be “re-enabling this improved feature in the next few weeks.“

Facebook's statement that it has no current plan to share users' private data isn't reassuring:

Despite some rumors, there's no way for other websites to access a user's address or phone number from Facebook. For people that may find this option useful in the future, we're considering ways to let them share this information (for example to use an online shopping site without always having to re-type their address). People will always be in control of what Facebook information they share with apps and websites.

And get this: Facebook plans to use your “likes” and comments in ads. A CNN reporter observed, “It's kind of creepy.”

If you don't want to be creeped out, make sure you stay in control of your information. Know your privacy rights.

UPDATE: As if on cue, a little while ago I received this notification from Facebook:

Name redacted (or someone impersonating Major) has requested access to Major's Facebook account. To help confirm who owns this account, please call Major and give them this code.

For Major's security, please be sure to talk to your friend in person or on the phone. Don't send this code by email or SMS.

Yes, Major is a Facebook “friend,“ but I don't have his phone nunber. Nor would I be able to identify him in a police lineup. So if Major is sitting by the phone waiting on a call from me, he's SOL.

Privacy and the Social Web

The Swedish actress Greta Garbo famously said, “I want to be let alone.” In the era of the social web, you will not be let alone. In fact, it's an open question who owns your virtual you.

From think tanks to the Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission, privacy is a trending topic. Indeed, privacy was on the agenda of the Institute for Policy Innovation's 3rd annual Communications Summit.

In his closing keynote remarks, Andrew Keen, author of “The Cult of the Amateur,” noted that privacy was on the national agenda in the 1990s. With the shift from an Internet of links to an Internet of likes, it's making a comeback:

The social web is all about revealing ourselves on the Internet...Everything is social. So it's no coincidence that privacy is the hot issue.

While over-sharing is an intergenerational phenomenon, the concept of TMI is seemingly lost on the first generation of “digital natives,” Generation Z. Keen observed:

Children growing up in this social world have no understanding of the distinction between public and private.

They are unaware that the Internet “records everything and forgets nothing.” That is, until they apply for college, get turned down for a job, or run afoul of the law.

Keen said the “Facebook-centric” Internet is giving rise to social companies. Entrepreneurs are using our freely shared personal information – our likes, tweets, comments, photos, videos and status updates – to start up companies.

Indeed, venture capitalists are investing like it's 1999. JPMorgan Chase has launched a $1.2 billion fund to invest in social media. Kleiner Perkins has a $750 million Digital Growth Fund.

So say, for instance, you have not enabled Mail Googles or engaged in “drunk facebooking” and didn't change your privacy settings. But fear not. Companies are springing up to defend reputations.

Back in the day, on the Internet, no one knew you were a dog.

Today, Web 2.0 has SocialEyes.

Keen said “privacy is the next big thing” and regulation is inevitable:

Something different is happening. This isn't the old issue of privacy. Something new is happening.

Today in remarks before the Technology Policy Institute, Rep. Cliff Stearns, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said “privacy is a big concern.” Stearns plans to introduce legislation “to empower consumers so that they can make their own privacy choices.”

In the meantime, check out Facebook's Data Use Policy.