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WINNIPEG -- Explicit social networking chats that caught the attention of Facebook staff have led to sex assault and Internet luring charges against a Winnipeg man suspected of preying on a girl about half his age.

It's potentially the first time for Winnipeg police that charges have stemmed from concerns flagged first by Facebook, police said, and a case that's considered "unique," according to a local social media lawyer.

Police allege the suspect, aged 25, met and started communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the social networking site in mid-July. The messages turned sexual and were noticed by Facebook.

"Red flags were going up for them left, right and centre," Const. Jason Michalyshen said.

Police couldn't say exactly how Facebook caught on, or what the pair were chatting about.

"It was described as inappropriate activity," Michalyshen said. "There were conversations that could easily be described as explicit."

At some point, the pair arranged to meet and a sexual assault occurred, police said.

Facebook contacted Winnipeg police near the end of July and passed along the information. Detectives got on the case and on Wednesday, police arrested the man.

The case is not one commonly seen in Winnipeg.

"It's a unique case from a legal perspective," said Brian Bowman, a lawyer who specializes in social media.

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Facebook reports sex assault of Winnipeg teen

Newswise DENVER Many have argued the Marxist theories of a classless society died with the collapse of the Soviet Union and a faltering Cuba, but a University of Dayton study has found a place where such approaches may have a shot of survivalFacebook, and other social networking sites.

University of Dayton sociologist and criminologist Art Jipson discovered in his most recent research that the homeless, along with everyone else, are turning to social media and that social media sites are turning into places where all people are truly equal.

Jipson, an associate sociology professor, will present his findings at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.

People think of Facebook as this billion-dollar entity with stock offerings that sells gobs of advertising, Jipson said. But, on Facebook, the least of our brothers, as it says in the Bible, have equal access to all of Facebooks offerings and establish a sense of belonging that is based on more than possessions.

In a sense, its a very Catholic way of looking at how we interact with one another. Catholic social teaching expresses a concern about a communal, social nature where we are called to reach out and build relationships of love and justice.

Through his interviews, Jipson found that the homeless use social media not only to build support networks, but to solve practical issues such as where to find their next meal, where to find safe and warm places to sleep, and where to find various social services.

Why cant I be on Facebook?, asked one subject in the study. I have as much right to that as anyone else. Just because I am homeless does not mean that I dont care about this stuff, you know? My family is on Facebook. My friends are on Facebook. People who care about me are on Facebook.

Jipson found that for some members of the homeless community, social media can be a refuge, a place to interact without being judged. Another interviewee said, No one on the net cares if I didnt get a shower yesterday or smell some. They dont judge me, you know? I feel accepted. I am accepted.

Jipson also found it interesting that on social networking sites, some of which are driven by advertising dollars based on likes, clicks, comments, and status updates, even the least commercially attractive users are just as equal as the most affluent users. Everyone is afforded the same services and benefits of using social media.

Our posts become the commercial property of corporations that will do everything possible to generate revenue in the form of value for the company and stockholders rather than for the users, Jipson said. But, for homeless users of social mediawhich is a growing populationthe value is for the online community itself, which is very egalitarian.

Originally posted here:
Homeless People Find Equality, Acceptance on Social Networking Sites

Public release date: 17-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Daniel Fowler pubinfo@asanet.org 202-527-7885 American Sociological Association

DENVER Many have argued the Marxist theories of a classless society died with the collapse of the Soviet Union and a faltering Cuba, but a University of Dayton study has found a place where such approaches may have a shot of survivalFacebook, and other social networking sites.

University of Dayton sociologist and criminologist Art Jipson discovered in his most recent research that the homeless, along with everyone else, are turning to social media and that social media sites are turning into places where all people are truly equal.

Jipson, an associate sociology professor, will present his findings at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.

"People think of Facebook as this billion-dollar entity with stock offerings that sells gobs of advertising," Jipson said. "But, on Facebook, the 'least of our brothers,' as it says in the Bible, have equal access to all of Facebook's offerings and establish a sense of belonging that is based on more than possessions.

"In a sense, it's a very Catholic way of looking at how we interact with one another. Catholic social teaching expresses a concern about 'a communal, social nature' where 'we are called to reach out and build relationships of love and justice.'"

Through his interviews, Jipson found that the homeless use social media not only to build support networks, but to solve practical issues such as where to find their next meal, where to find safe and warm places to sleep, and where to find various social services.

"Why can't I be on Facebook?," asked one subject in the study. "I have as much right to that as anyone else. Just because I am homeless does not mean that I don't care about this stuff, you know? My family is on Facebook. My friends are on Facebook. People who care about me are on Facebook."

Jipson found that for some members of the homeless community, social media can be a refuge, a place to interact without being judged. Another interviewee said, "No one on the 'net cares if I didn't get a shower yesterday or smell some. They don't judge me, you know? I feel accepted. I am accepted."

Original post:
Study: Homeless people find equality, acceptance on social networking sites

15-08-2012 18:15 Maryland high school student Nathaly Uribe has gathered together all the papers she needs to try apply to avoid deportation. She has one more obstacle, find the $465 application fee. (Aug. 15)

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Md. Illegal Student Gets Chance for Papers - Video

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Staff , Reuters

Social networking start-up Pinterest has rolled out versions of its service for Android-based smartphones and for the iPad, its latest move to boost its appeal to a broader audience.

An online scrapbook where users can "pin" images and share them with others, Pinterest has grown to about 23 million users in July from about one million a year ago, according to online analytics firm comScore.

In its first official press briefing, Chief Executive Ben Silbermann said on Tuesday the Android app was among the most requested items by users.

The privately held company, which does not currently have any revenue-generating business, raised $100 million in funding at a reported $1.5 billion valuation in May.

Pinterest's move comes as some social networking high-flyers are feeling the sting of investor disenchantment. Facebook, the world's No.1 social networking company, is trading well below its $38 a share IPO price on worries about slowing revenue growth and long-term money-making capabilities.

Last week Pinterest opened its online service to the general public, ending a multi-year period in which users who signed up had to wait to be admitted by the company.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Richard Pullin)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at:http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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Pinterest unveils Android, iPad apps