Facebook, Privacy, and Organizing
Dude. *Everyone* is freaking about about Facebook. Seriously. I mean, the NY Times is publishing multiple stories and info-graphics about it. People are attempting to delete their profiles. It’s crazy!
And while all this talk has caused me to question my participation in the social networking giant, there are two things I want to talk about – the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and how Facebook has impacted activism.
EFF
The recent privacy changes at Facebook have inspired an unusually high volume of really great reporting on the subject:
- Wired: Facebook’s Gone Rogue (love this one)
- Yahoo: 7 Things to Stop Doing on Facebook
- NY Times: Facebook Privacy: A Bewildering Tangle of Options
- Matt McKeon: The Evolution of Privacy on Facebook
Long before that, the Electronic Frontier Foundation was raising the red flags high (like these posts from December and April. I mean, no one else was talking about this in December).
Documentary Photography
I love photography. I always have.
When I was in Guatemala last year studying Spanish at the PLQ I met a photographer named Lucas Mulder. You can see his work here or read his blog. I particularly love his recent black & white photos from Cuba.
A little while ago, a documentary photography site, Verve, posted one of Lucas’s photos (shown above). Thanks to Lucas for turning me on to the site, and I’ve added it to my list of blogs that I read regularly.
WAM 2009
Yep, I am winding down from my third (?) year attending the Women, Action, & the Media conference.
It’s difficult to know what to say about it. On one hand, I go to this conference for the same reason I go to every other conference – because of the people. Some of my friends from around the country are there, and there are usually some people I’d like to meet. But, as I’ve said in the past, I think the conference is a challenge because it appeals to several constituencies – women who make their own media, women who are employed (or want to be) by corporate media, bloggers and reporters, students and mavens, etc. In many ways, this diverse community is a benefit, I meet people I never would have otherwise, hear different perspectives, etc. But it’s also difficult for me to find people who I truly connect with politically, whose work closely aligns with mine. Tomorrow I’ll post some links to some of these great women.
I also have criticisms of the conference that are the same ones I have for every other conference. Read the rest of this entry »
Twittering
photo by Kate Davison, Greenpeace
I’ve been saying, for months, that I don’t really understand Twitter. But, all my cool friends who understand new media way better than I do, like Susan Gleason, use it and tell me it’s a good thing. I even signed up for an account and a few weeks ago, and finally posted a few updates.
Well, I used it yesterday to follow my friends in DC during the Capital Climate Action – a symbolic civil disobedience at the power plant which fuels the Capital and other government building using coal – an outdated, dirty source of fuel. Anyway – the Twitter feed is here, and Greenpeace’s round-up is here, and the Flickr stream is here (great visuals, by the way, particularly the color-coordinated flags).
But, I wanted to write about Twitter, not the action. So, I still haven’t quite gotten used to it. But I wanted to pass on some things people told me that I thought were helpful. My friend Robin Beck said to imagine that it’s as if Facebook only had status updates – with one big difference: The “friend” relationship does not go both ways. I can “follow” or read the updates of anyone I want, they don’t have to approve me, and they don’t have to read my updates unless they want to.
And then, there is this Twitter for Beginners article by Deanna Zandt, where she goes over the basics and gives links for more information. I definitely recommend reading it. Or her one on why people do it, or the one on info overload.
So I’m usually slow to adopt new technology (it took me FOREVER to get a cell phone and give up my land line), but now I use Facebook and a have a blog and all that, so I’m trying to push myself. I’d love to hear from others about who you follow on Twitter and what you write about and what you like to hear about, because I’m still just figuring it out myself. You can follow me here. Hopefully I’ll get in the groove and start posting regularly.
My Mother Wears Combat Boots
I was excited to get the announcement recently that Jessica Mills has published a book on punk parenting, called My Mother Wears Combat Boots.
Jessica published a 3-part story in the first few issues of Clamor about her baby-making, “Oh Baby! Reflections on a first pregnancy.” She was one of those people that trusted Clamor early on, and I appreciate that.
Congratulations Jessica! I’m looking forward to reading it, though I suppose I am not planning on having babies myself anytime soon.
