Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

Best Practices: Safe Social Networking | Information Technology …

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to connect with friends. But there are some social networking safety tips you should always keep in mind.

Manage your privacy settings. Learn about and use the privacy and security settings on your social networking sites. They help you control who sees what you post and manage your online experience in a positive way. You'll find some information about Facebook privacy settings at the bottom of this webpage.

Remember: once posted, always posted. Protect your reputation on social networks. What you post online stays online. Think twice before posting pictures you wouldn't want your parents or future employers to see. Recent research found that 70% of job recruiters rejected candidates based on information they found online.

Build a positive online reputation. Recent research also found that recruiters respond to a strong, positive personal brand online. So demonstrate your mastery of the environment and showcase your talents.

Keep personal info personal. Be careful how much personal info you provide on social networking sites. The more information you post, the easier it may be for someone to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes such as stalking.

Protect your computer. Security start with protecting your computer. Install Antivirus software. Keep your operating system, web browser, and other software current. You can use the Pitt Software Update Service to automatically download the latest security updates for Windows.

Know what action to take. If someone is harassing or threatening you, remove them from your friends list, block them, and report them to the site administrator.

Use strong passwords. Make sure that your password is at least eight characters long and consists of some combination of letters, numbers, and special characters (for example, +, @, #, or $).

Be cautious on social networking sites. Even links that look they come from friends can sometimes contain harmful software or be part of a phishing attack. If you are at all suspicious, don't click it. Contact your friend to verify the validity of the link first.

Make sure you know how to access and use Facebook's privacy settings. Log in to Facebook, click the Settingsmenu.

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Community Connections Host Networking Luncheon in Old Lyme, Wednesday: Includes Talk by Rachel Edwards on Importance of Social Media – lymeline.com

Dreamscapes CEO Rachel Edwards

OLD LYME On Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., Lyme-Old Lyme Community Connections hosts a Networking Luncheon & Discussion at the Old Lyme Country Club.

The guest speaker will be Old Lyme resident Rachel Edwards, CEO of dreamscapes marketing + design of Essex, who will give a valuable and topical presentation titled, Making Your Organizations Social Media Content Matter.

Edwards will discuss social media trends for 2022 heading into 2023, and important topics for local non-profit organizations such as:

Edwards will also touch on the importance of having a paid social media marketing campaign to enhance your organic posts.

A Q & A session, roundtable discussions and networking will follow the presentation.

The cost is $25 and all are welcome. Registration is preferred for planning purposes but walk-ins are always welcome.Register for the event via one of these options:

Checks can be mailed in advance payable to: CommunityConnections, PO Box 589, Old Lyme, CT 06371, or bring payment to the door (with advance reservations.)

Community Connections is a forum to discuss community issues and interests, and offer opportunities for collaboration among organizations serving Lyme and Old Lyme.

For more information, visit http://www.LOLCommunityConnections.org

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Community Connections Host Networking Luncheon in Old Lyme, Wednesday: Includes Talk by Rachel Edwards on Importance of Social Media - lymeline.com

Gen Z Social Media App Is Set To Quadruple Its Valuation: What You Need To Know About BeReal – GOBankingRates

Finn Hafemann / Getty Images

BeReal is a French startup that launched in 2020 and is considered part of the new generation of social media. While the app didnt gain much traction in the beginning, its now ranking No.1 in Social Networking on the App Store and for good reason.

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BeReal has been downloaded almost 28 million times, with the majority of those downloads happening in the past year. According to Apptopia, BeReal monthly active users have skyrocketed from 921,000 in July 2020 to 21.6 million in July 2021 to a whopping 73.5 million this past August.

BeReals latest funding round, a Series B round that took place in May, was anticipated to raise its value to $630 million, quadrupling its previous valuation of $150 million, according to Insider sources. Heres what you need to know about BeReal, which has been hailed as Gen Zs new favorite social media app.

BeReal touts itself as a way to help people be themselves in other words, be real. It states that its a new and unique way to discover who your friends really are in their daily life. This is a stark departure from the carefully curated feeds or silly, filter-heavy snaps found on other social media apps, like Instagram and Snapchat.

The way BeReal works is that every day, at a random time, all users of the app are notified that they have two minutes to take and share their photos. These photos arent the typical selfies, however. Instead, the app is unique in that it utilizes both the front and back cameras of your phone to snap photos of both you and your location.

If the photos didnt quite turn out right, you can retake the pictures as long as youre within the two-minute timeframe.

Once you post your photos, youll also be able to view your friends photos an unfiltered view of what they look like and where they are and react to them with RealMojis. RealMojis are pictures you take of yourself making a face like the specific emoji you want to emulate.

Of course, you dont have to take your photos within the two-minute countdown; you can take them later. But in that case you wont be able to see your friends photos until you do and your photos will be labeled X-hr late, indicating that you didnt use the app as intended.

It doesnt, said Dr. Jeremy Britton, DFA SAFin DD and CFO of Boston Trading Co.

Like Facebook in 2007-2009, BeReal is all about accumulating users. Once it has a massive user base, it will possibly update the terms and conditions (a la Facebook) so it can sell user data to major corporations and feature targeted ads.

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The cringe factor is far lower with BeReal than with rivals such as Instagram and Facebook, where people curate their best lives, or the platforms have been accused of deception and promoting body dysmorphia in young girls, said Britton. Just like Calvin Klein using plus-sized models, BeReal is a step towards a more genuine and accepting culture. For some investors, it is not just all about the money, it is also important to have a conscience and invest responsibly.

When it comes to the money, though, investors have reason to be excited. According to The Information, BeReal at a valuation of $600 million would equal $100 per daily active user. Thats less than the $149 each daily active user of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger is worth, but its more than twice than what users of Snapchat and Pinterest are worth, according to The Informations analysis.

But even with all the buzz around how much the app has gained traction with millions of users and how much each of those users are potentially worth, how BeReal will make money is a mystery at this point. According to Gen Z research firm dcdx, ads wouldnt really work well for the app because of the way its designed.

The research firm states, We expect numbers to average around 1.3-1.5 pickups per day for an average time spent of ~5 min per day. Compared to Instagram, Snap or YouTube, those numbers dont stand a chance to bring in the kind of advertising revenue necessary to build the next big social.

According to dcdx, BeReal will make it only if they can figure out how to make money. Monetizing the product is first reliant on a product that actually works, said dcdx.

One of the most frequently noted complaints about BeReal is that it legitimately does not work. Seriously almost never can users actually upload their photos on time. So it seems pretty powerful that people continue to use it in such high numbers despite this major issue, the firm added.

Dcdx went on to state that it checked BeReals careers page and it is currently focusing its hiring efforts on development, which likely means its working hard to get the issues corrected and the app running as smoothly as possible. Only time will tell if this antithesis of the most popular social media apps will survive.

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Gen Z Social Media App Is Set To Quadruple Its Valuation: What You Need To Know About BeReal - GOBankingRates

Intro To Social Media For Lawyers – Above the LawAbove the Law – Above the Law

In recent weeks, Ive been having a lot of conversations about lawyers on social media. Lots of people want to post content or build relationships online because it can be a great way to do business development, find a new career opportunity, or network with peers. The problem is that most people dont know how to get started or cant figure out which platform to focus on. So today Ill share a quick rundown of the four platforms Im most familiar with:

LinkedIn: Humblebrag Your Way To Riches

This is, hands down, the most commonly used platform by lawyers. Probably because the platform started off as a place to brag about your professional accomplishments. Most people are accustomed to using LinkedIn to find new jobs, but over the past few years, its emerged as a place where you can find interesting content and conversations related to the professional world. Having said that, its still full of humblebrags and cringey content so be prepared for that.

The good news is that most people there are extroverts and *want* to connect with each other, so you can build your network quickly. Some entrepreneurial lawyers have even built entire businesses around their audience there. I think LinkedIn is different from most other platforms because people on there have to use their real names and job titles, which lends a certain level of accountability to the interactions. There are fewer trolls on LinkedIn than anywhere else.

Twitter: The Best Way To Impress Other Lawyers

This is the best platform for lawyers to share thought leadership. Theres a ton of quality posts on Twitter, especially when it comes to the latest legal developments. You can build your professional network there too, although its a bit harder than on LinkedIn. Thats because Twitter lawyers are generally less interested in networking for its own sake, and more interested in learning or joking around.

What are the challenges? Well, the bar for quality content is pretty high on Twitter. Its difficult for your posts to stand out from everyone elses. Those who are successful on LinkedIn try to bring the same type of positivity and earnestness to Twitter but it often receives a lukewarm reception. Its a tough game. But if you are able to build a following on Twitter, youll gain a certain level of credibility that you cant get anywhere else.

Instagram: Make Them Jealous Of Your Life

This is the platform for showing your personal side on social media. Historically, Instagram has been a place to share curated, aesthetically pleasing image whether theyre of your family, your travels, or yourself. I still remember when I created my account. Back then, it was all about posting pictures of your food. In recent years though, the content has evolved to include other types of material. In fact, some of the biggest legal memelords out there built their reputations on Instagram.

Having said that, most of what I see from lawyers on the platform is still curated images. If LinkedIn is the best way to brag about your professional life, then Instagram is the best way to brag about your personal life. One major change I do see coming to IG though, is that theres going to be less of a focus on pictures and more of a focus on short form videos the platform is prioritizing Reels as a way to stay competitive against TikTok.

TikTok: Are You Cool Enough?

This is the Wild West of social media. Most of TikToks user base is still relatively young, but its still pretty useful for some lawyers to market themselves or their practices. The algorithm is incredibly good it relies on watch time to determine what other types of content to show you, which ends up being a pretty strong predictor of what you like. Plus, the way that its designed makes the videos easily shareable by others on competing social media platforms and group texts.

The challenge there though is that your videos have to be engaging or entertaining or else the content wont get very many views. Most lawyers are unaccustomed to the video format were more comfortable with text and writing. Which is kind of an opportunity, too. Like Twitter, its kind of tough to win over the crowd, but if you can pull it off the organic reach you can achieve is unparalleled. The fourth video I ever posted on TikTok received over 2 million views even though I had zero followers at the time.

Conclusion

When it comes to social media, theres no single best platform. It all comes down to what your ultimate goals are. Not everyone needs to go viral (but if that is your goal, you should check out this breakdown I wrote about how to create viral posts). And not everyone needs to have a social media presence, but given how many potential clients, hiring managers, and lawyers are active on various platforms today, you should probably at least dip your toe in the water.

Alex Su is currently the Head of Community Development at Ironclad, a leading legal technology company that helps accelerate the contracting process. Earlier in his career, he was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell and clerked for a federal district judge. Alex graduated from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where he was an editor of the law review and the student commencement speaker. In his free time, he writes about his career journey and legal tech in his newsletter Off The Record. You can find Alex on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and yes, even TikTok.

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Intro To Social Media For Lawyers - Above the LawAbove the Law - Above the Law

A day in the life with media entrepreneur Nana Agyemang – Yelp Blog

Entrepreneur Nana Agyemang got her start in the world of fashion journalism. From sending cold emails to editors she admired to running social media for The Cut, she worked her way up to building a social media empire of her ownEveryStylishGirland interviewing thought leaders and celebrities for national publications.

It was during one of these interviews that Nana received a crucial piece of advice from actress Gabrielle Union: Dont wait for someone to invite you to a seat at their table. Create your own.

Ever since, Nana has been doing just that: In 2020, during the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, she expanded her brand into a platform for Black and brown women who want to change the world of business. A home for aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives, EveryStylishGirls mission is to hold employers accountable for their commitments to diversity and to empower Black womenwho faced disproportionate job losses during the pandemicwith the tools they need to thrive in the media industry.

Between growing her company, hosting Yelps 2022 Black in Business Summit, and organizing her first international Sip n Slay event in Accra, Ghana this December, Nana has a lot on her plate. Heres how she makes the most of each day as a founder, CEO, and multimedia journalist.

The first thing I do in the morning is pray. It sets me up for the day, it keeps me grounded, and its a form of meditation for me. I like to focus my prayer on whats coming ahead in terms of that day, so Im manifesting a successful day for myself, manifesting the partnership Im pitching, manifesting successful growth for my company. Im manifesting everything that I need to do that day in that prayer.

I think so many of us are so quick to right away grab our phone, but I sit with my thoughts in the morning before I grab my phoneeven if its just for two minutes. Two to three minutes of discipline in the morning will take you so much further than grabbing your phone right away.

We have two company accounts, EveryStylishGirl Biz and EveryStylishGirl, and we have social media managers for both of those accounts. So Im checking in with them daily to say, Hey, are we good to go? Did we have any more timely content that needs to go up?

For example, this past weekend was such a phenomena at the Emmys because we had so many Black women winningit was back to back to back, [Sheryl Lee Ralph, Quinta Brunson, Lizzo, and Zendaya] finally getting the flowers that they deserve. Lets say we had a social media post that was set to go live, an inspirational quote or some type of career learning. Were gonna pause that, and were gonna push the timelier content. Thats why its always really important to check in during the day and figure out: What are our goals for today? What is the focus?

My DMs are always open. I kid you not, people are closing business deals in their DMs.

For my personal Instagram, I [check it for] maybe 10 minutes in the morning, and then I go on it [for two hours] throughout the day. I try to respond to DMs, whether its questions about my career or questions about something I wore. Im giving insights on my Instagram constantly. Im always trying to be a vessel for resources, support, or whatever it is. My DMs are always open. I kid you not, people are closing business deals in their DMs.

I box myself into three categories: lifestyle and fashion, media and business, and then social media strategy. Before I post any piece of content, I ask myself: Is it hitting any of these three buckets? If its not, Im not gonna work with you.

I recommend people create a niche for themselves and ask yourself if [an opportunity] meets any of your niche requirements. If it doesnt, maybe its not best to work with that company. Most of the time, youll see me doing panel engagements, hosting events, doing lifestyle and fashion content creation, or talking social media strategy. Thats whats so close and dear to my heart.

I like to build in regular pauses throughout my day. I will go hard for maybe one to two hourswhether its sending emails, pitching, creating content, reviewing business dealsI will do that for straight one to two hours, but then I need to close my laptop. I need to walk away. I go for a walk, I grab some yogurt and granola, I make a good lunch, I listen to a podcast that I know can build that momentum for me. Doing that really keeps me motivated to keep working harder.

And for self care, I love a good spa day, honestly. It doesnt have to be a full-on spa. You could just get a pedicure with a five-minute massage in it. I try to get that biweekly, and those small things mean so much to me. It takes me out of my work mindset. Im trying hard not to think about work, emails, and deadlines. Self-care to me is being in the moment, not touching your phoneI really try not to take my phone to the nail salon and just enjoy that experience because I dont get a lot of time to myself throughout my day.

So many women, specifically women of color, push themselves to become CEOs and work for Fortune 500 companies and [make their] goals and hit the salary. And its so exhausting. I think since COVID, a lot of people are taking time to self-reflect and realize that mental health is much more important than getting to the bag, you know? Id rather have a happy home, happy life, than be a top CEO at any company anymore. If it takes me having to sacrifice my mental health, I dont want it.

We are no longer sacrificing our mental health for corporations. We are in the time of putting ourselves first.

Im a huge advocate for doing whats best for your mental health. When you need to walk away from a job that is straining you, that is stressful, that is belittling you, that is keeping you up 24 hours of the dayyou need to walk away. We are no longer killing ourselves for corporations. We are no longer sacrificing our mental health for corporations. We are in the time of putting ourselves first. That is so important to me right now, and its important to my community [on EveryStylishGirl]. Whether it be with Gen Z Black women or millennial Black women, we are seeing that message across the board: Mental health first, my happiness first, and then your corporation.

[For networking,] you would think my immediate way to connect is Instagram, but its actually LinkedIn. Back when I was in grad school [at Columbia University School of Journalism] and really trying to transition from working in hard news to working in fashion media, I told myself that my goal was to try to have one coffee a week with someone doing a job that I aspire to be in. I sent a lot of cold emails and LinkedIn messages. A lot of like: Hey, so nice to meet you. Heres a little bit about me. I would love for us to stay in touch. Can we grab some coffee? I feel like its really hard to deny it when someone offers you coffee. Its a small gesturea little way to sweeten the deal.

Youre gonna get a lot of nos in your lifetime, but youll be surprisedthose same nos will turn around a few years later and say, Yes, hey, I remember you. I cannot emphasize enough: Relationships are the most important thing to business growth. Its barely qualifications, to be honest with you. Its that manager who remembers you from a great conversation at a coffee shop. So make sure you talk to as many people as you can and put yourself out there and build those relationships.

And then also dont be afraid to connect with your own peers. Its called horizontal networking. I wish I wouldve known that earlier. I think people are so focused on vertical networking, but its really the people around you that could one day help you propel in your career.

Theres one thing I do that gives me such a big sigh of relief: Its just crossing off my to-do list at the end of day. Oh my gosh. It is like getting a hundred dollars. Every time I cross it out, Im like, Im so proud of myself, like this is such a big achievement. Im not kiddingit could be as little as opening all my PR gifts for the week. But being able to cross that off gives me a huge sigh of relief. Its fulfillment. Its just such a good feeling.

Watch below for more of Nanas journey:

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A day in the life with media entrepreneur Nana Agyemang - Yelp Blog