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02-07-2012 04:40 The UK has found another way to snoop into its citizens' affairs. Internet and phone companies are set to install so-called 'black boxes', which will monitor e-mails, social networking activity and calls, and store data for a year. The authorities insist that only limited details will be kept, but activists are raising privacy concerns. RT's Sara Firth has the details. Subscribe to RT! Watch RT LIVE on our website Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google+ RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.

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Big 'black box' bro to spy on UK mail

02-07-2012 07:42 As social media websites have grown as places for fun, games, and networking, they have also developed into valuable business platforms. In today's world, brands strive to get one more "like" on Facebook, retweet on Twitter, and +1 on Google+. The only problem with this interaction is figuring out what it means. Are consumers really engaging with the brand, and what is it that they want in return? These questions and others challenge brands everyday. According to Matt Warta, the CEO of GutCheck, companies shouldn't be bogged down with this worry. His company provides a platform that allows brands to really understand what their fans and followers are thinking. GutCheck has one tool that allows brands to get one-on-one with individuals and have in depth conversations to find out their exact needs. The company also rolled another tool earlier this year called Instant Research Communities that allows brands to communicate with groups of people in a social setting. "There's nobody else out there that can do what we do in the amount of time that we do it and at the price point that we have," said Warta. He went on to say that the company would continue to improve its platform to make sure that brands are getting the most relevant research through their social campaigns.

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GutCheck: Helping Brands Understand Social Signals in Real-Time - Video

By DEBORAH M. DUNLAP

ThisWeek Community News Monday July 2, 2012 11:30 AM

Today, teens across the United States spend some nine hours a week on social networking sites, according to Procon.org.

And because three quarters of them own their own phone, visiting these sites at all hours of the day becomes pretty tempting.

That's why school districts all over the U.S. have begun tightening up current acceptable use policies to include new media outlets that tug at students' attention all day.

Being media savvy is not always a bad thing, though. Districts such as Bexley see the potential use of social media when trying to reach kids and parents with news and information. But overuse can be detrimental.

"My No. 1 priority is protecting our children and their innocence," said Michael Johnson, superintendent of the Bexley City Schools, at a recent board meeting.

District officials and board members have begun to tackle the school system's old policy in order to include new media and media outlets, including social networking sites.

Board members gave the new, proposed policy a preliminary nod of approval with the understanding that changes to confusing language would be made by July.

"I think we all agree that the policy is a good one," said board member Anne Brown.

The rest is here:
Social media Bexley school officials craft new guidelines

Q. Can I use social networking websites to screen potential job candidates?

Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn provide a wealth of information to employers seeking to learn more about potential job candidates during the recruitment process. With that abundant amount of information, however, employers may gain knowledge that cannot be used in making employment determinations and could result in legal repercussions.

For example, an individual's online profile may show previous job experiences, educational background, or connections with other employees. On the other hand, such websites may reveal an individual's sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status and health issues. New Jersey's law against discrimination, as well as various federal statutes, prohibit employers from engaging in discrimination based on these and other characteristics when interviewing, recruiting, hiring, or promoting employees. Once the employer gains information about these traits while viewing an individual's social networking profile, it may prove impossible to separate that information from consideration during the hiring process.

How do employers take advantage of the vast amount of helpful information available through online social networking websites without transgressing the law and creating an opportunity for litigation? One potential solution is to implement a "screening" process to keep potentially problematic information from reaching those responsible for hiring decisions.

By designating one individual or a third party to conduct online searches of prospective employees, any "tainted" information can be removed from the search results. A separate individual or group could then interview candidates and make the ultimate hiring determination, thus insulating the process from the infected information. Employers should implement a company policy regarding how such information is gathered and reviewed during the employment process to avoid practices that could be viewed as discriminatory.

Because each business situation is unique, employers should consult with an attorney about drafting such a policy to meet the individual needs of his or her particular business.

Original post:
Careful Using Info on Social Media for Hiring

Corporate decision makers often believe that social networks will improve company culture. But their employees are far less positive about such effects.

The role of social networks in the enterprise so far has been an attempt to make hierarchies and business processes more transparent, democratic and community-building. While social network users have a place at all levels of a company, its part at the workplace is seen very differently depending on if they are highly-placed or closer to entry-level. The wide discrepancy between how these two sides of company staff illustrates how the executives who are implementing new social tools may not be addressing the needs of the employees who will actually be using them.

Executives and employees disagree

Deloittes recent survey, The Social Divideshows just how much employees and executives disagree when it comes to the role of social media in building workplace culture. Far more executives think that social media has a positive effect on workplace culture than employees do - 45 percent versus 27 percent. The same is true for its effect on increased management transparency - 38 percent versus 17 percent. Similarly, 41 percent of executives believe that social networking helps build workplace culture, but only 21 percent of employees agree.

Social media cant replace traditional methods

The value of a distinct workplace culture is something that all corporate roles can agree on- 94 percent of executives and 88 percent of employees believe it is important to business success. Organizations succeed when they value both strategy and culture, according to Deloitte, and executives seem to be searching for a quick solution. In the surveys findings, it is shown that executives may be using social media as a crutch in building workplace culture and appearing accessible to employees. This new tech does influence how people communicate, particularly the younger generation, but managers still must build trust through face-to-face meetings, live phone calls and personal messages.

Link:
Employees Less Supportive of Social Networking Than Executives