Flatacre

Nice When the Media Recites Your Brand Strategy Without Prompting.

In another article on CIL's "Paint Chip Names For Men," The Winnipeg Free Press had this to say:

If you've ever hemmed and hawed for hours over a paint colour you know that finding the right colour is no small feat. When you factor in another person, the job becomes that more difficult. Being able to have one colour with is and hers' names is a great idea. It might even save a few relationships!
Imagine the conversation at the paint store on a Saturday afternoon; "How about this colour called Fairytale Green?" asks the wife.
"No way I'm painting my games room Fairytale Green", answers the husband. "How about this colour called Mo Money?"
It's the same colour, so it's win-win.
If you've ever battled with your kids or teens about paint colours for their rooms, perhaps giving your chosen colour a different name would clinch the deal. Instead of Fairytale Green, perhaps something like "Slime' for the kids or Green hair for the teens, for example. Whatever gets the job done.
If nothing else, the new colour line for men will help us see things from another perspective, which is always a good thing. Who knows, we might even learn a thing or two about each other in the process.

The Changing Demographics of Social Media.

Media_httpwwwindiemus_iviyl
via indiemusictech.com

"Flowtown created this nice infographic yesterday illustrating how the average age for social media users is increasing. For example, the average Facebook user is now 38 years old, and 64% of all Twitter users are now over the age of 35.

It would be useful to know what sociological factors are driving the increase, how are these age groups using social media, which countries and cities represent the greatest increases, etc."

I reckon it's because people over 35 have less of a real social life, spending more time at home and on facebook. What do you think?

Facebook's Open Graph: A Work of Good, or a Work of Evil?

via livestream.com

In case you haven't seen this speech by Mark Zuckerberg, you probably should. Facebook is planning on becoming the dominate player online and with the introduction of their Open Graph API, they may just do that. All websites can now be connected and social - with "like" buttons and so on. You will be able to leave comments, see what your friends have done, what they think of the content on any particular site, which friends are currently on the site, and connect with them. It will change the way you interact on social platforms and websites, linking them all into one big social experience with Facebook as the glue.

It will also change how brands can target consumers based on actual behaviour.

I find the idea of your information being shared in order for a site to ‘personalize’ your experience based on your tastes and your friends tastes interesting and relevant – but also a little creepy. Facebook wants to own your digital fingerprints.

Robert Scoble has this to say:

What we’re really scared about is another very powerful company is forming. One that we don’t yet fully trust. Heck, just a few years ago Facebook erased me from the web for 24 hours. I can’t forget that, even though now I’m good friends with most of the Facebook execs. Let’s say Facebook wanted to kick you off the system, it could, and that could have deep implications for your business, career, etc.

Now go further, we’re all going to be very addicted to Facebook’s new features very quickly. The website that doesn’t have Facebook “likes” on it will seem weird in a few months. In a few years? Almost every site, I predict, will have them, and the other components that you can check out above (and more that will come soon, both from Facebook as well as other developers).

My fears are that Facebook might turn evil and use its position against organizations, the way that Apple locks out organizations from shipping apps (do you have Google Voice app on your iPhone yet? I don’t). Imagine if Facebook wanted to turn off the New York Times, for instance. It could. And that’s a LOT of power to give to one organization, even one that’s earned my trust like Facebook has. This is why I keep hoping Google has a clue (so far it hasn’t).

Is Facebook turning the online world into one gigantic high school social, including the possibility of bullying?