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Digital drugs – not just a FAD

By Nicole Melzer

When you read an article in the newspaper, are you looking for the “Like” button? Do you check Facebook or Twitter after you go to bed? If your answer to these questions is yes, then maybe you have FAD (Facebook Addiction Disorder). 

The internet has so many benefits for us: socialising, at work, and even in the classroom – no one really thinks about getting sick from it. Time we spend online can be productive, but for some people heavy use of the internet can interfere with their daily life as they become addicted. In the last few weeks I’ve realised that the most absurd things can lead to addiction, all of them online! There is now a growing body of research focused on the relatively new issues around internet addictions.  People are spending more and more time in the virtual community, slowly turning away from face-to-face communication.

Here in Germany, FAD is a relatively new phenomenon. Still, it is unclear which groups are most hooked and until today there is no medical definition for Facebook addiction. FAD rather describes the behaviour of people using the social networking site extensively to document their daily life, chat with friends and exchange picture material. However psychologists already warn of findings about reported feelings of helplessness, aloneness and anxieties.

After FAD now GAD? There seems to be no way out of digital drugs because new tools are on the way.  A few weeks ago, Google finally launched its own social network: Google+, which is designed around users’ social circles. You can add interests, organise video chats in groups or share content also via mobile. But if we spent hours on social networking sites such as Facebook, who has still time for a new social platform?  Apparently a lot of people have a lot of time – with the new social networks topping 20 million members already. It won’t be long until we’ve all found each other again in this new online room. 

Has Murdoch’s spell been broken?

By Hannah Townsend

Last week saw the demise of one of the longest running and most popular newspapers in Britain.  The closure of the News of the World, following allegations of illegal phone hacking, has brought to light not only the influence of the Murdoch Empire, but also how much the UK Government has turned a ‘blind eye’ to the media’s previous abuses of power.

Conveniently coinciding with the premiere of the last of the Harry Potter film franchise, Rupert Murdoch has been likened to Harry’s arch nemesis Lord Voldemort, with the press labelling him the ‘dark lord media baron’ who is ‘yet to be vanquished’.  Labour insiders have even tried to portray Ed Miliband as Labour’s answer to Harry Potter taking on Voldemort, in response to him being the first leader of the opposition to demand action. 

Yet, although there is no justification for the story-grabbing tactics those at the News of the World have shown, is it really a simple case of good vs. evil?  What about the police corruption, the failure to pursue previous hacking investigations, and the contrived relationships between a large number of politicians and the press?  Surely, the bigger question here is how this was allowed to happen in the first place?

Although Murdoch’s business acumen and ruthless nature has a large part to play, the dominant factor seems to be that he has been allowed to get away with exerting such influence for so long.  The close collusion of politicians and Murdoch’s empire has long been clear to see, what with Margaret Thatcher and Murdoch enjoying numerous Christmases together in the past, and David Cameron’s festive celebrations with News International’s chief executive Rebekah Brooks only six months ago.

The UK Government has shown signs of weakness, becoming almost governed by the press – a fact highlighted by the description of Murdoch as being the 24^th member of the cabinet, as well as Cameron’s recent admission that the media’s corrupt ways were often ignored due to fear of what could be done to reprimand it.

It has taken almost six years of phone hacking investigations, the intolerable news that missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone was hacked and the subsequent public outrage, to finally give politicians the opportunity to take a stand.  Maybe this time they will be able to liberate themselves from such dominant media moguls? 

Whether this is realistic or not remains to be seen, but the independent inquiry into the hacking affair could be a good place to start.

Follow @HanT86 on Twitter as #hackgate continues to unfold.

 

Google wiping the floor with Facebook in PR war

By Mike King

It has been a tough few weeks for Facebook’s PR team and it doesn’t look like it’s getting better any time soon.  Following last month’s reports that the social networking giant’s user numbers were dropping, particularly in key mature markets like the US and UK, it was forced onto the back foot to try and rubbish the claims. 

Although the story of diminishing users got a lot of pick-up, there are some that bought Facebook’s line that the stats were wrong.  Given how difficult it is to delete a Facebook user account (Facebook will let you suspend a user account but deletion is by no means an easy option) they may well be right.   Regardless, the story permeated that numbers were dropping because it’s no longer cool to be on Facebook with your mum and dad. 

Google took full advantage and announced that it was the first web company to reach a billion users, prompting Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg to respond by claiming it will also hit the billion user level, just not anytime soon. 

Perfect build up to Google’s latest salvo; the launch of Google+ as a direct rival to Facebook with additional features such as video chat. 

Facebook’s announcement this week of a partnership with Skype to deliver its own video chat features has, of course, been widely reported to be in direct response to the launch of Google+.  

It is too early to tell how the Facebook versus Goggle+ battle is going to evolve but Facebook’s complacency has given Google a real opportunity.  Social video has been coming for a good few years and Facebook really should have delivered in this area far earlier.  Its latest attempt to stop users moving away has been to block an exporter tool for moving ‘friends data’ to other social networking sites.  This probably isn’t going to help change the impression of a company with its back to the wall. 

 

One UK newspaper in dire need of PR help

By Claire Ayles

It’s been a big week for the media in the UK, with News International finding itself on the receiving end of some extremely hostile journalism following unsavoury revelations that the News of the World may have illegally hacked into the voicemail accounts of, among others, 7/7 bomb victims.  

There’s a certain irony that the paper most famed for its exposés is now the subject of the headlines.  The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph are even carrying live news feeds, tracking the story as it unfolds.

It’s perhaps inevitable that rival papers will jump on the chance to bash the NOTW, but this clearly isn’t just some cannibalistic feeding frenzy.  With advertisers pulling out of their contracts, and with public support for further boycotts gaining momentum, those connected to the paper find themselves with a lot to worry about (and that’s even before any possible legal proceedings swing into action).

On that note, our industry rag PR Week has asked its followers to suggest some PR advice for Rupert Murdoch.  Any ideas?

I reckon he’ll just follow the example set by all those people who’ve found themselves on the wrong end of a NOTW headline, and call in Max Clifford.

Follow @claireayles on Twitter as the phone hacking saga continues to unfold.

Follow, Like, Join – why?

Brands have had both successes and failures when braving social media, but it does seem that most are now at least maintaining some kind of social media presence, whether it be a Twitter account, Facebook Page or LinkedIn Group.  But why do we follow these brands?  And what impact does it really have?  This infographic (yes, another one!) from Get Satisfaction and Column Five is a good place to start.