Six-degrees of separation? Facebook says more like 4.74
James Martin/CNET
A new study released by Facebook and researchers at the Universita degli Studi di Milano claim that the rise of modern computing allows us to properly measure our connections on a global scale. Wrap your head around the fact that they examined 721 million Facebook users, which is about 10 percent of the global population.
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Make video calls between Facebook and Skype
(CBS) - Skype released a beta version of its popular chat client today the will let you make video calls to your Facebook friends.
Skype from your Facebook and Facebook from your Skype
The partnership was first announced in July, when Facebook released a Skype-powered video chat feature. At the time, you could only call other Facebook members.
All of that is in the past now. Skype and Facebook users can now connect with each other without having to switch chat clients. Beta downloads are available for Windows and Mac.
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SOPA opposition from tech heavyweights Google, Facebook
iStockphoto
A letter signed by AOL, eBay, Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Mozilla, Twitter, Yahoo! and Zynga stated:
"Unfortunately, the bills as drafted would expose law-abiding U.S. Internet and technology companies to new uncertain liabilities, private rights of action, and technology mandates that would require monitoring of web sites. We are concerned that these measures pose a serious risk to our industry's continued track record of innovation and job-creation, as well as to our Nation's cybersecurity. We cannot support these bills as written and ask that you consider more targeted ways to combat foreign 'rogue' websites dedicated to copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting, while preserving the innovation and dynamism that has made the Internet such an important driver of economic growth and job creation."Continue »
Zynga demands employees return stock or get fired
Men more likely to fall for Facebook scams thanks to sexy women
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Full coverage of Facebook on Tech Talk
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Mark Zuckerberg returns to Harvard University
(CBS) - Harvard University was abuzz from the triumphant return of famous dropout Mark Zuckerberg. The co-founder and chief executive officer of Facebook made a campus visit Monday as part of a recruiting tour of the East Coast.
Zuckerberg met with 200 students, who were chosen based on resume submissions, at Harvard's Farkas Hall.
Full coverage of Facebook on Tech Talk
Mark Zuckerberg tours the East Coast for talent
Is the CIA following you on Twitter, Facebook?
AP Photo, file
(CBS/AP) - In an anonymous industrial park in Virginia, the CIA is following tweets - up to 5 million a day.
Now don't panic, chances are they're not "following" you.
But the idea is that when rebels, militants, activists or diplomats broadcast information on Twitter or elsewhere, America's spies scoop it up.
Continue »Mark Zuckerberg tours the East Coast for talent
James Martin/CNET
(CBS) - Last week, Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg was quoted as saying that if he had to do it all over again, he'd stay in Boston.
"If I were starting now, I would have stayed in Boston," Zuckerberg is reported to have said at Y Combinator's Startup School at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. "[Silicon Valley] is a little short-term focused, and that bothers me."
It sounds like the young entrepreneur is nostalgic for the city of his Alma mater Harvard, and according to the Boston Herald that's why he's poaching the East Coast for talent.
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Nextdoor is a social network for real neighbors
Nextdoor
(CBS) - While Facebook's chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg talks about the exponential growth of sharing, it seems like more people than ever are clamoring for privacy. What if there was a way to really share in a meaningful yet private way? That's what the startup Nextdoor says it's rolling out nationwide today.
Nextdoor is a social network whose sole purpose is to connect neighbors. Modeled after a typical social network, the service feels like a college bulletin board and chat room in the digital age. It offers a directory of neighbors who have signed up, resources, recommendations and even a market place.
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Start-up Unthink is an "FU" to Facebook
(CBS/CNET) - Social networking start-up Unthink is giving a big middle finger to Facebook and Google.
On its home page, which is currently down, Unthink uses black-and-white photos of the Civil Rights Movement as a backdrop, and it promises to "emancipate social media" and "unleash people's extraordinary potential." In a YouTube video, seen above, they claim it's time to say "FU" to Facebook and Google.
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Uh oh, mom needs help with Facebook
(CBS) - Moms. We gotta love 'em. They carried us for nine months and put up with our rebellious teen years, but now they want to ruin our lives by joining Facebook. Yikes!
As if putting them on "Limited Profile" wasn't enough. One young man named Bryan is now sharing voicemails that his mother leaves for him when she needs Facebook tech support.
This hilarious collection of phone calls from the Yong Family's YouTube channel. Just keep Mrs. Yong away from Twitter!
Occupy Wall Street's Tumblr is heart-wrenching
We are the 99 Percent
"We are the 99 percent" is a Tumblr blog that has people posting tales of their personal struggles via photo essays. While the more vocal are showing up on the streets of downtown Manhattan, these people are simply telling their stories.
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Occupy Wall Street uses social media to spread nationwide
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Occupy Wall Street's Tumblr is heart-wrenching
Funniest #OccupySesameStreet tweets
Facebook's iPad app is finally here
Facebook
(CBS) - C'mon, iPad users, you know you're excited about this one. Regardless of the availability of third-party iPad apps for the social network, it's just not the same (you say in that whine-y voice). So yay for the long-awaited Facebook iPad app, which was just released today.
This afternoon, Facebook released an updated version of its iPhone app designed to fill out the larger screen of the iPad. The Facebook iPad app is finally here! Glorious! By the way, it's free. Perfect!
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Weezer's Mikey Welsh may have predicted death
Twitter
(CBS) - Ex-Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh passed away yesterday in Chicago. The father-of-two was 40 years old and is suspected to have died from a drug overdose.
We are saddened by this news. It is yet another story of a talented individual going too soon.
Welsh was visiting Chicago to see his old band Weezer headline and play at the Riot Fest. While police do not suspect foul play, they believe narcotics may have been the cause of death, reports The Chicago Tribune.
Creepily, Welsh may have predicted his demise on Twitter. "On September 26, he wrote: 'dreamt I died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). Need to write my will today,'" reports Daily Mail. Then, he added, "correction - the weekend after next." He mentioned the premonition on his Facebook, too.
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