The once-hot blog site may be headed for the scrap heap now that Twitter has bought it, Jeff Sonderman writes on Poynter.org: "It’s not clear exactly what Twitter wants to do with its new purchase, but it is clear they were interested in its talent, not the product." The moral for its erstwhile users? "The lesson is to experiment, to invest resources wisely, but don’t become overly dependent on a platform you don’t own — you never know who will own it tomorrow."
Social media
You knew it wasn't good for you, but here's evidence from Online Schools: "People joke about being addicted to their cell phones, but recent research suggests it's no laughing matter. A recent study found people were more likely to give in to cravings to use social media than they were to give in to satisfy other desires. That little blue bird may seem harmless enough, but are we on the verge of becoming a nation of insatiable Twitter junkies?"
Glendon Mellow thinks so after reading in the scrapbooking site's terms of service that its users "are the sole and exclusive owner of all Member Content," including "pinned" images. "How many images have you posted on Pinterest that you have permission for?," Mellow asks. "How many are available under Creative Commons Licences or expired copyrights? Have you looked? Are you aware that you’re on the hook if someone is suing for violations?" More.
Two views on the social media phenomenom's viability, centering on its business plan — if it even has one. First comes Bloomberg Business Week with a cover story saying that "Twitter is becoming a plausible contender for the online budgets of the world’s top advertisers." The contrarian view comes from Gawker: "Twitter's business has been a joke, will have to be rebuilt from the ground up, and as far as we know is still in terrible shape."