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Jan 17

[video]

Is Facebook Shutting Down? Or Is it Just Another Internet Hoax?

This video shows four interviews with various people asking their opinion concerning the recent news, or if I may say rumor, that Facebook is shutting down on March 15. It all started with a website called Weekly World News, when it said that  “users will no longer be able to access their Facebook account” starting March 15, because “managing the site has become too stressful.” The news spread like fire, without any one being sure whether its right or wrong. So this video was conducted to find more about what people are saying about the matter. In it, each said his side of the story, how he heard the news and whether he believes it to be true or not.

Ralph an LAU Business student said he read it in Al Akhbar newspaper and he didn’t buy the whole story at all.

Tala an LAU Journalism student heard the news from a women using her Black Berry phone sitting beside her while getting her nails done at the salon. Tala panicked at first because shes a Facebook daily user, but then figured that its impossible for it to be true due to Facebook’s tremendous success through out the entire world. 

Caroline also a Journalism student at LAU, and Editor of LAU Tribune newspaper actually didn’t hear about the news at all, although her entire work revolves around news! She also doesn’t believe that it is plausible.

Lilian an LAU Business graduate who instantly didn’t believe the news. It just didn’t make sense to her in any way. She said she heard the news from her maid! whom happens to have a Facebook account, and uses the msn messenger all day long!

Whether some believed it or not, this news is a complete hoax. Later it was cleared that non of this absurd news will take place, and Facebook will keep its doors open for now, and the near future. But in the far future no one knows what might happen, so lets hope for Facebook to last!

[video]

Social Media Usage Varying Among Different Age Groups

In this video I interviewed three people, each from a different age group, but all use social media. Each one of them reverts to a certain kind of social network, one which he/she perceives as relevant to his life style. They lean towards what they feel fits into and improves their daily life in a way or another. This interview helps us realize how important social media has become these days, not only to the upcoming youth that is always updated and interactive with the social media world, but also to many others. 

The first was Jamal, a 54 year old housewife. Jamal admits to never have used the Internet ever, and that “she doesn’t even know how to turn the computer on!” But everything turned upside down when her eldest daughter got married and traveled abroad. She then started seeking a more practical way to communicate with her daughter, without feeling the distance and that she is actually so far away. Finally she was introduced to Skype! It was just what she was asking for. A program that can make her talk to her daughter and see her at the same time. Since then she has become a daily user of Skype. She believes its part of her life, something she can’t live without.

The second is Yehya, a 22 year old Journalism student at LAU. He happens to be the Editor in Chief of the newspaper, The LAU Tribune, and was also the Editor in Chief of AUB’s daily newspaper when he used to attend there . So due to his position he uses all kinds of social networks but mostly Twitter. He Tweets about Journalism in general, interesting topics, and also the LAU Tribune. He blogs as well about the latest articles he has written. Yehya finds tweeting really helpful to publicizing and advertising. He also got so used to tweeting that when he gets real busy and tweet less he “feels lost!”

The third is 12 year old Dana. She is still a student at IC, International College School. What is so interesting about Dana is that she had Facebook since she was 9 if not less! She said she opened up an account because all her friends had one, even the ones that were younger than her! She had to lie about her age in order to be able to open one. She uses it mostly for entertainment, staying in contact, and catching up with her friends.

Regardless of the huge age difference between all three, they have a common factor, they all can relate to social media on several levels and make use of it in their own special way. Whatever the reason it was behind their use of social media, it is undeniable that it made a huge difference in their individual daily life, and definitely left a noticeable mark in their lives.

Dec 21

Real vs Virtual

Many people fear to communicate with others via Internet due to the cover up that it provides. The idea of talking to someone from behind a screen, and not being sure if the information he is giving about himself is a 100 percent true is unacceptable to some. But if you come to think about it, when can you ever be a 100 percent sure!? When you meet someone for the first time, or to be more fair the first couple of times, what makes you so sure that you know everything about him? What makes you think you know the true him or her. People lie about who they are everyday. Maybe lying while their hidden behind whatever profile they made up, is easier than lying to your face. Although many are experts at acting and lying to others’ faces without the other detecting or even having any doubts about it. I am not saying that we have to blindly trust people we meet through the Internet, but we can simply take a leap of faith just the way we take one when meeting someone in person in our daily life. Just try to have faith in others and hope they are as great as they say, or post on their wall !!

Gowalla

Gowalla a location-based social networking service, helps you keep up with your friends and share your favorite places. By singing in you get a Gowalla passport, and it gets stamped each time you check into a new place. It is very similar to foursquare but instead offers pins instead of badges when rewarded for checking into several places. In Gowalla you can actually take pictures of the places you are at. It is a fun service, that also help you get to discover new places around you, and informs you of all the hot spots and new venues opening up.

Dec 11

Personal intake on Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of the social networking site Face Book, gave recently 60 minutes a long interview (20 minutes of the program’s time) on how it all first began and the new “face lift” that Face Book got. According to what I saw in the interview, Zuckerberg doesn’t seem very confident in his answers especially when he is answering tough questions. Zuckerberg says that the major reason why Face Book was created is for people to stay in touch with their families and friends, and to simply keep us closer to each other. He seems to be okay with the movie that was released “Social Network” but had a few comments. The movie talks about his personal life and how he came up with the idea of Face Book. All in all it is obvious that such a person could have never reached to were he is now without being extremely clever, witty, innovative, and truly original. Zuckerberg’s major problem facing in Face Book is the privacy issue. He says that he and a huge team of professionals that he hired specifically for this matter are working hard on it daily. Yet still it is causing a real problem, because of the several sides that are coming at him. Zuckerberg’s new shape for Face Book is made in order for people to feel more related, connected, and in touch with other people. In conclusion whether you are with or against Zuckerberg, you can’t deny that he is truly a fascinating and interesting character.

As for here in Lebanon I really don’t think that there is some one with Zuckerberg’s skills and talent in the computer and Internet world.

Nov 26

“mich1mich” on her experience with twitter

Michelle or more known as “mich1mich” her name on twitter, a longtime journalist talks about her experience in exploring the world of social media, on Wednesday 24 at the LAU Social Media class. Michelle explains how she was first introduced to the world of Twitter, Facebook, and the whole technological aspect of the Internet. She said she never considered herself as a person that is good at technology. But to her being on Twitter or Facebook has nothing to do with technology but instead it’s simply being socially active. She’s not only on Twitter but also has her own personal blog “michcafe” . Michelle talked about how she comes up with topics to write about on her blog. Whether by simply opening her small window apartment in Dubai, or by taking a walk down the streets of Hamra, she found herself inspired by almost everything around her. “Everything I see when I am walking, I see it through my blog” she added. In her blog she talked about her experiences in Dubai, Beirut, and also her parents. Moreover in Twitter, Michelle tweets about anything that comes up to her mind. Whether her favorite song, or cafe. She concluded by saying that real friends can be made through such social networks. Friends that might show up for your birthday without you even have meeting them! 

Nov 22

Foursquare

About Foursquare, I’m really having a lot of difficulties in signing into the program! I downloaded it, and tried to check from five different places over and over again, but each time it doesn’t work out. It’s taking me a lot of time to check in, and I actually do, I automatically go back to the log in page. I’m going to try again today and hopefully it will work out. Regardless of the difficulties that I am facing, I really like the idea of Foursquare, it’s very fun to do, and original. Not only that but it also helps you get to know new places in Lebanon and with instant easy and direct directions for these places. It’s like having your own personal 24/7 tour guide!!

Nov 18

A Spite House right here in Lebanon!

Did someone ever tick you off to an extent that you build a whole house just to spite him!? Well apparently some did! Spite houses are basically houses or buildings that are built to spite someone else on purpose. This someone is usually the neighbor. Such houses are rare to find, and mostly serve as obstructions, blocking out light or access to neighboring buildings. In our case its blocking the view of the sea. A spite house exists right here in Lebanon on the end of Bliss street behind the German school. This building is nothing more than a thick four-story wall built on a narrow piece of land. This small sized odd looking house blocks the view of the sea for the house located behind it. According to Edward Hall, author of who dedicated a whole book “The Hidden Dimension” for such houses mentions this particular house in Lebanon considering it a spite house.  In his book he states that the house was built after a “long fight between two neighbors”. Yet the author didn’t mention the reason why the two neighbors fought. Since the house is just blocks a way, it was surely needed to pay it a visit. All the neighboring people assured that the house is owned by Al Daouk family. Who in specific no one knows. It is obvious that the house has been deserted for many years. Habib Jadoun the man that owns the land behind the house refused to talk to us. He lives in a house inside the German school, and owns a tiny shop right next to it.
On the other hand one of the security guards that secures MP Itani’s house, said that there was an alleged fight between the two neighbors over that narrow piece of land that now the house is built on. ” This was almost 30 years ago” the guard said. Due to security reasons he refused to give us his name. Also Fatima Al Daouk, an employee at Al Daouk organization located right next to the house said that the house was owned long ago by Omar Al Daouk the former Lebanese prime minister. ” The house ownership was passed on through Al Daouk family” Fatima added. Regardless of the reasons that the house was built for, spite houses do exist all over the world, and they are considered a world wide phenomenon.