Mediaboss Marketing

Some Facebook users will now be able to create their own GIFs using the camera function in the social networking giant's app.

Facebook is testing a built-in GIF creator in its iOS app with some users. The website The Next Web was the first to spot the app update on Friday, noting that the function lets you create short, looping GIFs that last just a few seconds.

Users can access the feature in the app's camera mode, where they have the choice between a "normal" or "GIF" tab at the top of the screen. The GIF function will also offer access to Facebook's wide range of effects (such as augmented reality masks and animations) and filters that were already available in the normal camera function. The new function follows last month's full rollout of a GIF comment button on Facebook that allows users to search an online library of existing GIFs and post them directly in Facebook's comments sections.

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Facebook-owned Instagram already has the two-year-old Boomerang feature, which allows users to create short, looping videos. Earlier this year, rival Snapchat introduced its own Loop feature for creating looping videos up to 10 seconds long. That new feature from Snapchat was the rare example of parent Snap Inc.'s ephemeral messaging service rolling out a copy-cat of something already available from either Instagram or Facebook, rather than the other way around .

Either way, now Facebook has joined the build-your-own GIF party, but its new feature does have limits. Notably, The Verge points out that Facebook's new GIF creations are primarily for use within Facebook's own platform, as they are only available to share on users' Facebook pagesor in Facebook's Stories feature for sharing feeds of photos and videosand they can only be saved as videos.

Excerpt from:
Facebook's New Camera Feature Lets You Create Your Own GIFs - Fortune

While job applicants are used to being told to ditch the beer pictures on Facebook, more than half of U.S. companies now are less likely to interview a candidate who has no online presence.

A national survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder found that more than 57 percent of employers are less likely to interview a candidate they cant find online. The majority of companies will dig through social profiles, but find it even more suspect if they see nothing at all.

Most workers have some sort of online presence today and more than half of employers wont hire those without one, said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. This shows the importance of cultivating a positive online persona. Job seekers should make their professional profiles visible online and ensure any information that could negatively impact their job search is made private or removed.

RELATED:What is cyber-vetting? It could cost you your job

The survey included a representative sample of more than 2,300 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries and company sizes in the private sector. Cyber-vetting, the practice of researching potential candidates online, is becoming one of the primary ways companies find the right match for an open position.

Jason Eckert, director of career services at the University of Dayton, has seen his share of social media faux pas committed by students looking to land a job after graduation. Hes also seen students land positions because of their social media skills.

More than 70 percent of employers will use social media to screen candidates before hiring, a significant increase from the 11 percent of companies who practiced cyber-vetting in 2006. Its become so important to employers that 30 percent of human resource departments have an employee dedicated to check social media profiles.

Eckert recalled one student in particular who had a job offer revoked after the employer saw his profile picture on Facebook. He made his Facebook profile picture a very unflattering picture of himself dressed very scantily and drinking alcohol, he said.

RELATED:Despite retail job loss, teen employment making a comeback

Approximately 54 percent of employers acknowledged finding content on social media that caused them not to hire a candidate for an open role. Because of that, UDs career services department talks to students about social media dos and donts and they encourage students to create a LinkedIn profile for employers to look at.

Its having a professional presence, he said. Its illustrating youre part of the professional culture of 2017. I still see instances where young people are making mistakes online, but that number has decreased compared to four or five years ago.

Doug Barry, president and CEO of Dayton-based BarryStaff staffing company, said job seekers should be aware of what their goals are online. Applicants should make sure theyre digital brand doesnt contradict the values or messages of the companies theyre trying to work for.

Be smart about it, Barry said of a persons online profile. Employers are looking for reasons not to hire you.

On the flip-side, he said, employers are making a mistake if theyre not hiring people for not having a digital profile. A lot of people dont want to live in the digital world. Its not a bad thing to be a private person. I would caution employers looking negatively upon that.

RELATED:Walmart hires more than 5,000 veterans in Ohio

Katie Sturgis, director of talent acquisition for Dayton-headquartered CareSource, said the company does have a social media policy to remind employees that they represent the company online and in person. CareSource still hires people who dont have an online presence, but Sturgis said social media can be a first impression for companies to get to know candidates.

A tool we utilize on a daily basis is LinkedIn, she said. I think the key is providing accurate and up-to-date information. Candidates need to realize this is their opportunity to represent themselves out on social media.

Employers are also using social media to monitor their own employees. More than half of employers use social networking sites to research current employees. Thirty-four percent of employers have found content online that caused them to reprimand or fire an employee, according to the survey.

Melissa Spirek, full professor of media studies at Wright State University, said companies use digital information to determine the ability of the candidate to fit the culture and they also use personal data posted online to learn information that would be illegal to ask in an interview.

Such information can include a candidates martial status, age, even sexual orientation.

Spireks advice to job applicants: They should ask themselves, What is the potential cost of posting this message?

By the numbers

70: Percentage of employers who use social media to screen candidates, up from 11 percent in 2006.

57: Percentage of employers who are less likely to interview a candidate they cant find online.

54: Percentage of employers who acknowledge not hiring a candidate based on their social media profile.

Source: CareerBuilder

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Employers less likely to hire applicants with no social media presence - MyDaytonDailyNews

SecureTribe is an advanced social network that lets users to create two distinct kinds of content sharing groups: private tribes that protect content with end-to-end encryption, and public tribes that can be accessed and enjoyed by anyone. The unique new app is available now from the App Store.

Cupertino, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2017

Families, friends, bands, artists, co-workers, teams, fraternities, and all other groups of any size that want an innovative, easy-to-use and extremely secure way to share content, can now head to the App Store and download the unique new app SecureTribe.

Developed by Just Two Dudes, SecureTribe is an advanced social network that lets users create two kinds of content sharing groups, which the app refers to as "tribes": private tribes and public tribes.

Private tribes secure all content such as photos and HD videos (up to 1280px) with extremely strong encryption, which can only be accessed by authorized users who have a unique decryption key on their device. Furthermore, there no risk of content from one private tribe leaking to another. In fact, private tribes aren't even listed anywhere in the app or online, and so their very existence is undiscoverable.

Public tribes allow users to share content with anyone within the global SecureTribe community. For example, nature lovers can openly share pictures and videos of their favorite scenes, artists can showcase their work to a worldwide audience, sports teams can display videos of great performances, and so on.

Users can easily create both public and private tribes, in order to separate their personal and professional lives. They can also:

"Unlike other secure content apps that are cumbersome and complicated for users who aren't information security professionals, SecureTribe is remarkably simple, easy and fast, and is designed with a beautiful interface to share life's memories and moments with friends, co-workers, family, associates, and anyone else in their tribe," commented Steven Carlsonof Just Two Dudes. "Essentially, SecureTribe is a new take on how a social media photo and video sharing service should truly work!"

SecureTribe is available now from the App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/app/securetribe/id1072860410

For additional app information including FAQs, visit https://www.securetribeapp.com.

A review of SecureTribe has already been featured on Gizmo Edition, read more at: http://www.gizmoeditor.com/2017/06/new-app-locks-shared-photos.html

For all other information or media inquiries, contact Mark Johnson on behalf of Just Two Dudes Ltd. at +1 408 757 0156 or press (at)appshout(dot)com.

About Just Two Dudes

Based in Virginia, USA, Just Two Dudes was founded by Steven Carlson.

Steven is a talented and experienced software expert, with a varied career including serving in the United States Navy as a Corpsman (medic) training to be attached to a Search and Rescue SH-60 Helicopter, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Steven started his first computer business at the age of 12 and went on to write a Windows security program used by Arizona State University in their computer labs at the age of 14. His software has been reviewed in numerous computer magazines, all with favorable endorsements. He is accomplished in Perl scripting, Objective-C programming, network security, Cisco firewall configuration, server load balancing techniques, Linux server administration, among others.

View the full Press Release in the appshout! Newsroom at: http://appshout.d.pr/7BTS0

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/appshout/securetribe/prweb14505817.htm

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New Social Networking App "SecureTribe" is an Innovative, Easy-to ... - Benzinga

Mary Hansen Staff Writer @maryfhansen

To help with cleanup after storms hit Springfield this week, Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor offered to coordinate branch pickup for residents in a Facebook post Tuesday night.

By Wednesday afternoon, the post had reached about 700 people, and six residents sent him messages through the social media site looking for help, Proctor said.

Hes hearing from constituents more frequently through Facebook, he said.

Hes not alone.

The majority of the city's 10 aldermen maintain an official page on the social networking site, sharing information on city services and sometimes seeking opinions on decisions before the Springfield City Council.

Some embrace social media sitessuch as Facebook, Twitter and NextDoor, a private social networking site organized by neighborhood,as an essential way to communicate with constituents. Although it also has the potential to backfire.

Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen drew criticism and even some calls for his resignation after a controversial Facebook post he wrote in response to an uptick in gun violence in Springfield in early June.

The 10-year veteran on the council said the experience changed his approach to using social media as an elected official.

"Ive decided that theres too much open for interpretation when you dont hear someone's inflection or you dont see the whole conversation," Theilen said. "Ive decided that other than just sharing things I find funny (or) things that are informational, Im not getting philosophical on there anymore. Its not a good forum for that."

He said he'll continue to respond to questions heoccasionallygets from constituents on the site and post construction or service updates from the city.

Keyboard viciousness

A couple of council members cite time constraints and a climate of divisiveness on the sites that deters them from using social media more frequently.

For example, Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer has a personal profile and an official page, Ralph Hanauer for Ward 10, which he started during his campaign.But he said keeping up with the page takes a significant amount of time on top of the time he spends answering phone calls and emails from constituents.

Plus, social media can bring out more vicious attacks, some that can get personal, Hanauer said.

He pointed to threatening comments state Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, received after voting last week in favor of a state spending plan that included higher taxes.

Im not afraid to sit there and discuss an issue, but youve got some people (who) will not meet person to person, Hanauer said. They want to do it online and they can be really vicious behind a keyboard. You cant talk to them, they dont want to hear your side.

He said that affects his decision to be less active on social media, but he plans to try to use it more.

Ryan Keith runs the Lincoln-based public relations firm RK PR Solutions and assists clients, mostly state lawmakers, with social media strategy.The best response to online attacks is ignoring them, he said.

Those who clearly have no interest in engaging in any thoughtful interaction, you ignore them, Keith said. You make your case, This is why I voted this way. You take your lumps and you move on.

While some use the sites to attack politicians they dont like, many others find raising a concern to their state representative or other elected officials on social media more comfortable than making a phone call, Keith said.

Its a perception change, he said. It breaks down some barriers that probably arent all that strong to begin with.

Exchange of ideas

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin sees things differently. He has a website(www.joeforward7.com) he updates regularly, but does not use Facebook or Twitter in his work as an alderman. Maintaining a social media presence can distract from deeper research that many issues the city council deals with require, he said.

"As an alderman, you need time to study the issues and research the issues," McMenamin said. "I think its important to put time into those areas."

However, there could be value in using social media on the campaign trail when looking for help from supporters, McMenamin acknowledged.

Despite some of the downfalls, Keith said sites like Facebook offer a free or inexpensive way to connect with voters. With limited campaign funds, that's an advantage for candidates.

Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso, the newest member of the council, found that to be true in her campaign. She said her frequent posts to Facebook and Twitter helped gain name recognition she needed in the short springtime campaign.

Now, shes continuing to keep up with constituents through social media. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, shes active on NextDoor, aplatform launched in 2010 that connects people who live in the same neighborhood. Users post about lost pets, petty crime reported in their neighborhood, block parties or other events and household items for sale.

DiCenso will often answer questions about city services such as branch pickup or road construction on the site.

Its just kind of a lot of ideas floated that may or may not be true, DiCenso said.

She's also conducted polls asking for feedback on the city's food truck policy and the proposed conversion of two-way streets downtown.

Many aldermen, including DiCenso, re-post information from the mayor's office and City Water, Light and Power's Facebook pages.

Despite the "Office of the Mayor" designation, city communications director JuliaFrevert uses the page to share updates from all city departments, everything from road closures to job opportunities to downtown events.

"Social media makes us more approachable than government has been in the past," said Frevert. "We hope that for residents, it's just one more they can communicate with us."

-- Contact Mary Hansen: 788-1528, mary.hansen@sj-r.com, twitter.com/maryfhansen.

Springfield City Council Facebook pages

Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath: None

Ward 2 Ald. Herman Senor

Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner

Ward 4 Ald. John Fulgenzi

Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor

Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin: None

Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen

Ward 9 Ald. Jim Donelan

Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer

Office of the Mayor - City of Springfield

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Aldermen experience highs, lows of social media - The State Journal-Register

Michael Newberg | CNBC

New virtual reality apps are revealed at Facebook's F8 conference in San Jose, California, on April 18 and 19, 2017.

Facebook's Oculus will release a $200 wireless headset in 2018, Bloomberg reported, marking a leap in affordability and technology for the virtual reality brand.

The device, code-named "Pacific," will be designed for immersive gaming, watching videos and social networking, according to Bloomberg's unidentified sources. Game designers will be briefed by October, according to Bloomberg.

Facebook told CNBC, "We don't have a product to unveil at this time, however we can confirm that we're making several significant technology investments in the standalone VR category."

The technology has already seen steep price cuts this year: This week, Oculus began charging $399 for its Rift device, controllers and some games, a bundle that was last priced at nearly $600, and even higher before that. The new device will not be a replacement for the Rift or third-party devices that use Oculus technology, like some Samsung phones, and does not mark a significant strategic change, sources told CNBC.

Oculus has lagged competitors in bringing a range of affordable headsets to market amid a series of setbacks.

Facebook's 2014 Oculus acquisition was the subject of a high-profile lawsuit. A jury ordered Facebook to pay $500 million indamages after a company sued Oculus, claiming Oculus "commercially exploited" computer code and trade secrets. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey recently left the company after some scrutiny over his political ties.

But Facebook has recently stepped up its ambitions in virtual reality. The company recently unveiled Facebook Spaces, a social VR product that is reportedly slated to include live virtual reality streams.

For more on the story, see the full report at Bloomberg.com.

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Facebook's Oculus will release a more affordable wireless headset next year, report says - CNBC