Digital Life

Social media is booming in Brazil, which has become a major market for both Facebook and Twitter. But Brazilian law is still in flux, and legislation is only just being created to deal with the rise of social media.

World News

Brazil's Social Media Boom Sparks Calls For New Privacy Laws

11:59am January 02, 2014

by Lourdes Garcia-Navarro

Brazil is the world's third largest market for Facebook and the fifth largest for Twitter, and it has quickly become the largest market for Lulu, the controversial man-rating app for women. That has highlighted the country's race to pass legislation to keep up with a quickly changing society.

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Students at the Oakland Military Institute took several courses offered by San Jose State and the online course provider Udacity this year. The university is now scaling back its relationship with Udacity.

The Online Education Revolution Drifts Off Course

7:23pm December 31, 2013

by Eric Westervelt

In 2012, "massive open online courses" were lauded as the most important trend in higher education. But this year, educators and even students rebelled against the rapid expansion of online learning. Two of the biggest MOOCs say they're making big changes in how they deliver their classes in 2014.

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Twitter made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in November. Both the social media giant and the relative newcomer Snapchat are valued in the billions, but neither company has yet turned a profit.

$0 Profits Couldn't Hold Back This Year's Tech Darlings

6:30pm December 30, 2013

by Steve Henn

In Silicon Valley, zero profit and even zero revenue don't make a company a loser. Tech companies like Snapchat and Twitter, which have not yet turned any profit, can be worth billions of dollars based on future potential alone.

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One of Machinima's signature offerings is a series called Christopher Walkenthrough, in which creator Jason Stephens, in character as actor Christopher Walken, navigates his way through popular video games. You kind of have to see it to understand.

Arts

A YouTube Powerhouse Looks Beyond Its Gamer Base

6:53pm December 23, 2013

by Neda Ulaby

The top digital network for gamers — a mostly young, male crowd — is eyeing a broader audience of geeks and nerds who enjoy TV, music and movies. But on the road from user-generated content to corporate enterprise, Machinima has hit a few speed bumps.

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World News

Israeli Startup Offers Kids Social Media Training Wheels

9:14am December 22, 2013

by Emily Harris

Most social networks require users to be at least 13. But Itay Eshet's daughter, like many kids, wanted to join Facebook when she was just 10. So Eshet created a site just for younger kids, designed to protect them from bullying and other risks while teaching them to navigate social media safely.

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Co-workers at Denver's Galvanize, a tech hub in Colorado's capital.

How The Sharing Economy Is Changing The Places We Work

2:43pm December 17, 2013

by Elise Hu

The sharing economy is already changing several sectors: housing, transportation, retail. In some cities, it's changing the way we work. As more people start their own enterprises, they're shunning traditional offices and choosing to share space instead.

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Original caption via Instagram: #pscommute 5:15 PM on the C Train. 34th Street, Penn Station back home to Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Giving the gift of reading. A magical moment between mother and son. It may seem like just another subway ride, but with a boo

Arts

With One Photo, The Average Commute Becomes Super Special

11:53am December 17, 2013

by Claire O'Neill

We asked you to photograph your commute. We had no idea you would make such connections!

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National

Tug Of Authority Over Legal Gap In Online Privacy

5:32pm December 14, 2013

by NPR Staff

Without one law that mandates security standards, the Federal Trade Commission is stepping in to confront companies that expose their customers to risk online. But then one company fought back, arguing the FTC didn't have the right. So whose responsibility is it to keep your sensitive data safe?

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"The death of privacy has been predicted repeatedly over the years," says Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's privacy commissioner. "And my response to that is, 'Say no to that,' because, if you value your freedom, you will value your privacy."

A Movement To Bake Online Privacy Into Modern Life, 'By Design'

7:46pm December 13, 2013

by NPR Staff

Ann Cavoukian, privacy commissioner for Ontario, Canada, says the tech industry has the power to make products that protect users' personal information. The trick, she says, is to think about privacy while creating a new app or service, not after.

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Twitter revoked its new blocking policy after backlash from users.

Twitter Critics Say It's Not Sensitive Enough To Cyberbullying

7:01pm December 13, 2013

by Yuki Noguchi

Twitter on Thursday changed its blocking policy, then changed it back. Users were outraged that the initial switch allowed stalkers and abusers open access to their posts. Some say the incident shows that Twitter isn't listening to women and cyberbullying victims on the site.

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