Mediaboss Marketing

Published: Thursday, June 28, 2012, 12:01 a.m.

Overall, the teens who participated in the study painted a positive picture of the influence of social media on their relationships and self-image. More than half of these "digital natives" -- the first generation to have grown up with Facebook -- said these technologies have helped them keep in touch with friends, get to know other students at their school better or connect with those who share a common interest. One in 5 said that using social-networking sites makes them feel more confident, popular and sympathetic to others.

The national study of more than 1,000 young people between the ages of 13 and 17 by the child advocacy group Common Sense Media generally debunks the popular perception that using social-media sites is inherently harmful because of the dangers of isolation, bullying from peers, the release of private or personal information, or online predators.

However, the report did contain hints of what it called "Facebook fatigue," with a significant number saying they are "addicted" to devices (41 percent for cellphones), would like to unplug sometimes (43 percent), or go back to a time before Facebook was invented (36 percent).

"Many teens express an almost adult-like weariness with the pressures of the constant texting and posting involved in their modern lives," the report stated.

The mixed feelings that teens have about digital communication shed new light on a population growing up immersed in online technology. Research is scant on the behavioral and developmental effects of technology on youths.

Text messaging is still the favored application of teens for communicating. Two-thirds of respondents said they text every day, and half said they visit social-networking sites daily. One-quarter of teens use at least two different types of social media a day.

Facebook, which is considering lowering the minimum age of its users, is the favored service among teens, with seven out of 10 people surveyed saying they have an account, compared with 6 percent for Twitter and 1 percent for Google+ and Myspace.

Half of teens said they feel social networks have helped their friendships, while only 4 percent said the platforms have hurt relationships.

Three out of 10 teens said social networks made them feel more outgoing, compared with 5 percent who said they felt more introverted.

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Teens say social media a positive in their lives

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/978r62/u_s_consumers_and) has announced the addition of the "U.S. Consumers and Social Media: Revisiting Banking's Social Influence" report to their offering.

Social networking is developing faster than any other communication medium before it. What was once primarily a medium for students to share personal information has become much more. People of all ages are creating social accounts for countless uses and are also using social networks to interact directly with businesses.

The commercial aspects of social networks are becoming ingrained into society. Television advertisements direct viewers to the advertiser's Facebook page, rather than a website. Billboards promote Twitter handles more prominently than telephone numbers. Social networks provide an interactive connection with consumers with which few other media can compete. Businesses have learned this lesson and are taking advantage of the new medium.

Mercator Advisory Group's new report, U.S. Consumers and Social Media: Revisiting Banking's Social Influence, based on a CustomerMonitor survey, reflects on the status of social networking in the United States as well as the progress financial institutions have made during the last year in utilizing social media to their advantage.

Highlights:

- Statistics on the percentage of people using specific social networks, the demographics most attracted to which networks, and a profile of the average social networker

- Investigation into the percentage of financial institution customers who are aware of whether or not their primary financial institution is present on various forms of social media, and whether those who are aware have interacted with their FI via social networking

- Breakdown of the reasons that convinced consumers who interact with their FI on social media do so, with a particular focus on the value of use of social networks for customer service

Companies Mentioned:

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Research and Markets: U.S. Consumers and Social Media: Revisiting Banking's Social Influence

The number of British visitors arrested in Egypt has doubled in a year, according to Foreign Office (FCO) figures released today.

The large increase occurred despite a sharp fall in tourism overall since civil insurrection began there early last year.

Consular staff in Cairo handled 66 cases up to the end of March this year, compared with 34 for the previous year. Worldwide, one UK citizen is arrested on average every 90 minutes, according to the FCO figures.

A spokeswoman for the FCO said: "Since the political upheaval we've noticed a crackdown on enforcing existing laws including those around immigration issues. Egyptian authorities are strict on out-of-date visas. Many people don't realise that if the visa is out of date by more than 14 days, then they won't be allowed to leave the country."

Immigration rules for Egypt are more complicated than for other countries bordering the Mediterranean.

The majority of UK holidaymakers stay on the Sinai Peninsula at resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab. No visa is required, unless the traveller ventures into other parts of Egypt.

The FCO also reports cases of mistaken identity at frontiers. "Someone having the same, or similar, name to a person on the Egyptian 'stop list' can result in someone being detained whilst checks are done," said the spokeswoman.

UK consular staff handled a total of 6,015 arrests of British nationals abroad, up 6 per cent on the previous year. On a typical day, 16 UK travellers are arrested one every 90 minutes. Half those arrested were under 34. Large increases in arrests were also recorded in China (14 per cent), Canada (23), Belgium (26) and India (44).

But in terms of absolute numbers, the Foreign Office is much more concerned about the 9 per cent rise in arrests in Spain, the most popular country for British holidaymakers.

There were 1,909 arrests there almost one-third of the total and a 160 rise on the previous year. Many were for alcohol-related offences in the Balearic islands. Resorts such as San Antonio in Ibiza and Magaluf in Mallorca remain very popular with young Britons. David Thomas, the consular regional director for Spain, based in Madrid, said local police have a "zero tolerance" attitude towards drink-fuelled offences: "We see many young people being arrested for causing trouble outside bars and clubs. All too often they think they'll spend the night in a cell before being let out. They soon sober up when they realise they're alone in a foreign prison cell, unsure of when they'll be released and unable to speak to officers because they don't speak the language."

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Relentless rise in the number of Britons arrested on holiday

By: Krista Angela M. Montealegre, InterAksyon.com June 28, 2012 2:52 PM

InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5

MANILA - After returning to profitability last year, Global-Estate Resorts Inc. expects the momentum to continue in the next three years anchored on the development of integrated tourism estates and the completion of existing projects.

On the sidelines of the company's annual stockholders meeting, Alain Sebastian, GERI assistant vice president for marketing, said earnings of Alliance Global Group Inc.s tourism arm may hit the P1-billion mark in the next two to three years.

For this year, the firm targets to grow its net profit by 20 percent to P264 million from P220 million in 2011, said GERI president Ferdinand Santos.

New project launches, the completion of developments and recurring income from its hotel operations will fuel revenue growth and support the attainment of its earnings guidance, said Santos.

He said reservation sales may reach P6 billion by yearend, up from P1.1 billion in 2011. In the first five months of the year, reservation sales stood at P3 billion.

"With launches of new projects, with the level of reservation sales we mentioned and the expected completion based on timetable, we feel we may really hit that income level," said Santos.

GERI set its capital expenditure budget at P2.5 billion for project development, Sebastian said. The capex will be funded by a combination of internally generated cash and debt.

Riding on the improving tourism numbers of the country, GERI unveiled plans for its flagship projects Boracay Newcoast and Twin Lakes in Tagaytay as well as its Sta. Barbara Heights development in Iloilo.

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GERI eyes P1-billion profit in 2-3 years

By Rick Kelsey Newsbeat reporter in the Balearic Islands Spain saw the most arrests in the last year

More British tourists are getting into trouble overseas, according to Foreign Office figures.

There was a 6% rise in arrests worldwide last year, when 6,015 people were handled by British embassies.

Spain topped the list for detentions, with nearly 2,000 - up 9% on 2010 - ahead of the USA and Thailand.

The Foreign Office thinks the rise could be down to resorts popular with UK tourists developing a zero tolerance approach to drink and drugs.

"Punishments can be very severe, with tougher prison conditions than in the UK, and we cannot interfere in another country's legal system," said Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne.

On the Balearic islands of Ibiza and Majorca there has been almost a 30% increase in arrests, with more than 500 people in total detained.

The head of the local UK Consulate, Paul Abrey, has described the rise as "dramatic".

"We see younger people coming to places like San Antonio and Magaluf who don't know the laws.

"There are also more drugs available on the street," said My Abrey.

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British tourist arrests up by 6%