websense

We’ve been hearing about this since President Obama took office. The federal government wants control of the Web. The reason excuse they are using is intenet security. Should there be a cyber attack, Obama wants the ability to shut down the web. The FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski is on board, big time. In a speech on Monday, Genachowski suggested new regulations that would give the FCC the “formal authority to dictate application and network management practices to companies that offer Internet access, including wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless”(Ryan Radia). What does this utilimately mean? The proposed rules would essentially follow through on a campaign promise that President Obama made to make net neutrality law. If you recall from previous posts, this not only effects wireless carriers and internet providers, but it will affect many of our favorite tools and toys, and eventually on how we use the web and what content we are able to create and access on the web. Your phone for example. If you own a Blackberry or an iPhone, you may be dismayed to find that these new regualtions will mean that innovation of new products simply isn’t happening, due to the new policies of “neutraility and fairness”. You may also be restricted in what apps and content you can access from your mobile devices.

Speaking of fairness, the whole “Fairness Doctrine” will again come into play.
With the federal government as law or policy enforcement on the Web, we will begin to see instances of folks having to amend or take down content that does not provide tow sides for every story. There goes just about every blog I’ve ever read!

While all this is bad enough, the ultimate is the fact that Obama will have the ability to shut down the web whenever he sees fit. This is just outrageous, unacceptable and really let’s be honest, a power grab. It boils down to yet another instance of this administration making a grab for whatever it can get away with.

If you’d like to give your sentators and congressmen some thoughts on this, you can find thier contact information here:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
If you’d like to read further on this topic, here are a couple of articles I found helpful:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/24/ryan-radia-net-neutrality-fcc/
http://www.reason.com/news/show/136278.html
The impact this will have on companies like ours, as well as everyone who has a web presence, is enormous. Do you want the federal government telling you what you can and cannot print in your marketing? This is the same thing! They will try and control all the content you put out there. Watch out newspapers, they are coming for you next!

You know we have been discussing and examining the many uses of Twitter over the last few months. The creator and co-founder of Twitter; Jack Dorsey, was recently awarded Webster University’s School of Business & Technology’s Success to Significance 2009 Person of the Year. Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, dean of Webster University’s School of Business & Technology, introduced Mr. Dorsey, and had some interesting things to say about Twitter. Now, I like Twitter, and I think Twitter can be useful in many areas, not the least of which is delivering up to the second news on whatever major event may be happening in your world. However, this guy waxed really poetic! “Twittering is a conversation between two people yet the definition of two is singular, infinite and boundless. Twittering has become a language unto itself. Words and symbols strung together in a deliberate order to create spontaneous, and sustained, bursts of ideas.”
Wow – I guess I can see that, though I had never put so much thought into it. But, it has become a very much utilized part of our society, especially those of us in the Social Media/web realm.
I look around at our generation and wonder what it has to offer the world. Our grandparents were part of the greatest generation. Our parents grew up part of a huge world, one where anything was possible and so much was happening so fast that it became easy to loose touch with friends and family. Maybe what our generation is going to give the world is a way to reconnect. The ability to feel like a part of a global community. Being able to talk to someone a world away, anytime you want, for free, is an amazing thing. I feel really privileged to be a part of that process, that progress.
As Mr. Ola. Akande noted “Twitter has in effect dismantled the constraints and boundaries of time and space between us. It is an enabler of ideas that has empowered the young and the young at heart to share and stay connected.”

So, for what it is, and what it has done for communication and the written word, I think social media will leave it’s mark, and ours, on the world. What say you?

CAK is hosting a Networking in the Middle event next week. It should be a great networking opportunity and a good time. Get more details on the event here. Sign up to attend here.

We’ll have a “social lounge” with a few laptops so you can check out what CAK has going on in the Social Media space. Hope to see some people there.

Ahh, football season has finally arrived! Though I love summer, cooking on the grill and the occasional round of golf, I am a Steeler fan, ready for another amazing season! And with football season comes…Twitter? Amazing how social media has an impact in so many areas – many we would never have considered.

The Associated Press did a story last week on the NFL’s policy decision regarding the use of social sites. Players, Coaches and other team personnel are allowed to use sites such as Twitter and Facebook until 90 minutes before each game, and then after the game, but never during. There was even some mention made of trying to keep fans/spectators from updating during games (don’t know how they could pull that one off). It never really occurred to me what real time tweets might do to a game, but I guess the implications are endless. Information about players, injuries, even play-by-play descriptions of the games are barred from social media during the game. Social Media activity can be resumed after traditional media interviews have been given.

This ban extends even further, to exclude the use of these sites entirely for certain people, such as NFL game officials and officiating department personnel. I guess this only makes sense, as these folks can make determinations as to calls, plays, winners and losers. I’m thinking that the NFL officials would not be too pleased if they were trying to determine the outcome of a certain play, and someone in the room decides to Tweet their decision before it’s made official. Bookies would have spies everywhere if they thought they could get someone in there to Tweet the decisions for them.

I’m sure the NFL realizes the ability to keep fans interested through the use of social media is outstanding. They’re is just trying to keep things above board, and most of all, keep the players and coaches minds and eyes, where they should be, on the ball.

At the end of the day, it comes down to common sense. Just as it does for businesses who are considering Social. Use it when it makes sense and is appropriate. Keep the content in line and do it at the right times.

Incidentally, the Steelers have secured a twitter profile and so far it’s never been used. I guess they’re too focused on the season…Oh well.

As we rush about our busy lives, worrying about health care and the economy, let’s not forget to take a moment to remember what happened here on September 11, 2001. Offering up a prayer or two for those who lost thier lives that day, for thier families and for those who have sacrificed on our behalf ever since, is the best way to remember the people we lost that day.
Let’s also pray for the protection of the men and women who are still fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. May God Bless America…
If you would like to send our military a note of thanks and support
Or DO something…
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