Dwell On It » Social Media

Google eliminates appeals option for names and service infractions

Tateru Nino — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:09:21 +0000

Remember that if you ran afoul of Google’s incomprehensibly capricious policy application for Google Profiles – the same policies that appear to be punishing more people using their real names than people using pseudonyms – you had an opportunity to appeal? Well, say good-bye to that option, because the administrative sanction chute has now been greased.

Google insists on the right to choose your name

Tateru Nino — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:51:11 +0000

And also to change its mind at any time.

Whatever the reason Google gives for its policies regarding names on its profiles, new social network services (and whatever other services it chooses to bring under that banner over time), whether it is making people feel ‘safer’, eliminating spammers and scammers, or for mining marketing data; the practical result of all of how it works out is that Google wants to pick which name you get to publically use when you use those services, and to renege on that decision and force you to select another, should it change its mind.


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An open letter to Google’s Bradley Horowitz

Tateru Nino — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:49:26 +0000

Mister Bradley Horowitz,

At one time or another, I’ve been involved in computer and Internet security. I’ve investigated breaches, secured systems, cleaned off rootkits. I’ve worked with the Federal police to locate and identify malefactors and bring them to justice – something that often comes with a price.

For some years, you’ve provided me with services that handle my email, and private conversations, and allow me to pursue activities online while feeling safe from the risks that I personally am keenly aware of. You’ve taken care of that data, and I’ve trusted you with it. I always felt safe doing so. Safe from discrimination, harassment, threats and intimidation – within acceptable limits. Safe from having my privacy breached or my identity misused.


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Google’s Horowitz follows up Gundotra. Real names for profile names only

Tateru Nino — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:19:11 +0000

Okay, so here’s the short version: You use your real name for your profile name – that is the one you can prove, or you can take a hike.

Yes, Google’s happy for you to use a pseudonym, nickname, maiden name, or inoffensive anatomical quirk as an “other name” (in the field provided) so long as you’re not using it as your profile name.

The implication is that that means “real names” only – or, more to the point, a continuation of the policy currently in place: A mix of requiring proof for some while making exceptions for some others, with those using their wallet-names apparently getting most of the collateral damage from the process.


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Theorem

Tateru Nino — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:15:15 +0000

Any sufficiently large social network based solely on real-names becomes unusable.

Google still can’t get its names policy straight, even internally

Tateru Nino — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:58:25 +0000

I’ve done another round with Google PR, because what they told me last time didn’t make a whole lot of sense with what Google was doing with Google Plus/Profiles users at that time. What they told me now makes even less sense, because things are increasingly weird, and Google is giving me the same line.

The pants-theory of Google Plus

Tateru Nino — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:04:21 +0000

So, why is Google pushing so hard for your wallet name on Google Plus and Google Profiles? Some say that it’s because of “Marketers and Advertisers”. Horse feathers! I don’t even know who started that notion. They don’t care about the name in your wallet, whether you dress up in latex or pretend to be a fairy princess. Long as you’re clicking and buying, nobody cares who you are.

Alternatively, you could easily point to Orkut and say “Look at that. It became a polluted mess – a disaster – in just months. Nobody wants that again.” Indeed, nobody does, but this method isn’t a workable way to avoid it, and Google would already know that.

No, this is about pants. Metaphorical pants, leastways.

Now I know why I didn’t take to Avatars United

Tateru Nino — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 08:54:32 +0000

In the midst of all the identity kerfuffle with Google Plus, Linden Lab’s beta social networking framework has brought me to the realisation of why I didn’t click with Avatars United, and why much the same thing is bothering me about Google’s stance towards Google Plus.


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Just one mouse-click

Tateru Nino — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:58:27 +0000

Why do marketers like Facebook so much? Because they can pretend that they’ve got user-brand-engagement.


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Avatars Disunited

Tateru Nino — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:35:19 +0000

Avatars United, the social network that Linden Lab acquired back at the beginning of the year in order to bolt some social networking on to Second Life, is slated to be dismantled by the end of the month.

A tough sell

Tateru Nino — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:50:56 +0000

The media peddles two basic perceptions about Second Life, and Linden Lab has its work cut out for it if it wants to overcome even one of them.

The two problem perceptions are: “No one is there, not much is going on” and of course the classic stench-of-shame, that there’s some sort disgraceful stigma attached with being associated with Second Life.

And of course neither one of them is really true… but neither one of them is actually false either, and that makes it a tough sell.


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Linden Lab seeks help with brand strategy

Tateru Nino — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:58:06 +0000

According to Amanda Van Nuys (who mentioned it on Facebook), Linden Lab is hunting around for a boutique branding agency in the San Francisco area.

What’s black and white and green all over?

Tateru Nino — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:13:03 +0000

Your local newspaper is always quick to report on some Internet site or other being a haven for perverts.

I think it’s actually jealousy.

Realtime Worlds rehires some MyWorld staff. Grooming for sale

Tateru Nino — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:53:44 +0000

Troubled developer, Realtime Worlds has gone into administration now – an insolvency measure few companies successfully return from. Selling Project: MyWorld could pull it off for them, however.

Until next time

Tateru Nino — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:02:44 +0000

Everybody makes mistakes.

You do. I do. We all do.

Mistakes are an inevitable part of living and learning. We make mistakes all the time, we learn from them and we move on.

There are, however, two broad categories of mistake. There’s the honest mistake, and there’s the institutional error.

Contact

Tateru Nino — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:46:22 +0000

Anecdotally, the more useful a platform is for holding a conversation, the less likely people are to accept friend-requests or return follows.


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Conversationally speaking

Tateru Nino — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:34:26 +0000

Somehow, businesses have gotten the notion that ‘having a conversation with your market’ is about using media to talk more.

Last I looked, that was called PR.

Social richness

Tateru Nino — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:33:07 +0000

Isn’t the point of social media to be able to connect and listen to people who are beyond or outside the group that is defined by your existing relationships, blood ties, marriages, workplace, and whatever assorted dark pacts?


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Talking about your brand

Tateru Nino — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:16:18 +0000

The most important statements people are making about your brand, especially in social media like Twitter, Plurk and Facebook don’t mention your brand by name. It might be mentioned before, or after, but the key points that Read more ...

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Social networking narcissism

Tateru Nino — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:38:28 +0000

The WSJ carries a piece called How Facebook Ruins Friendships. The author writes,

Like many people, I’m experiencing Facebook Fatigue. I’m tired of loved ones—you know who you are—who claim they are too busy to pick up the phone, or even write a decent email, yet spend hours on social-media sites, uploading photos of their children or parties, forwarding inane quizzes, posting quirky, sometimes nonsensical one-liners or tweeting their latest whereabouts. (“Anyone know a good restaurant in Berlin?”)

It’s attributed to narcissism, and they wish our friends would stop boring us all with this trivial stuff.


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