The On-Going Conversation

A Simple Realization

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

International Politics in Libya

50% of the public approves of Obama's handling of Libya, while roughly 66% support the strategy against Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

A Social Reality: Choose Wisely

As human beings and social animals, we look for guidance from the people we choose to surround ourselves with; that's what we do best.

The Nature of Online Relations

Social networks are helping people stay in touch, but are Internet communities simply tangible cliques taking place online? Social platforms allow friends and family to stay in touch more frequently, although there may be detrimental elements to consider as well.

The ramifications of social media could include the destruction of interpersonal communication skills and the wasting of time throughout the day. I can only imagine how much time people use on a weekly basis to stay connected with their digital friends.

Read the full article and listen to the story via NPR

The Mobile Consumer World

We Live in a Digital World! 57% of Facebook and Twitter users have scanned a mobile bar bode at least one time within the year.

Read the full article via Fast Company

A Social Deal Super Bowl

LivingSocial surged traffic by 80% with a lone discount for Amazon.com during the Super Bowl, while Groupon only managed a 3% increase.

Read the full article via Fast Company

The Mobile Brand Bowl

A Mobile Game: StumbleUpon set a record for mobile stumbles during the Super Bowl, which may have been due to a lack of access to personal computers. It could also correlate to an increasing move towards mobile expression and personal use in my opinion. 

People now have the ability to stay connected regardless of their location with mobile technology. This phenomenon is relatively new and wasn't even a possibility in years past. I don't envision it in changing in the near future either and am intrigued by the ever evolving mobile space.

Read more about StumbleUpon and the mobile impact on the Super Bowl via Mashable.

The Competition for Online Social Deals

Competition between Groupon and LivingSocial has increased as the two vie for investor funding, Super Bowl ads and deals from retailers. This approach is still relatively new and time may be the only feasible indication as to whether or not they linger for years to come. 

There is without a doubt an incentive for customers, but at the same time, it is hard to decipher if the discounts ultimately benefit the businesses and organizations that utilize their services. I realize that more traffic might be generated for a struggling business venture, although they won't be receiving as much capital for their products and services, depending on the nature of the particular business. Even amidst the success of Groupon and LivingSocial, Google is currently trying to capitalize on the concept as well.

They have recently introduced Google Offers, which is based on a similar mantra and offers individuals an opportunity to save money on particular goods and services. However I wonder where Google Offers will fall into the equation and if they will eventually gain enough traction to compete with the other two substantial forces. Google seems to be in their infancy and I am interested to see if they will gain substantial momentum along the way. Time will tell and I guess we can all stay tuned!