Cyber Flashmob Attacks WSJ Facebook Page

An individual claiming to be associated with online hacking group, Anonymous, posted a call to virtual arms on a German Facebook page today. They were requesting that people show their opposition to the Wall St Journal’s portrayal of the group and the “deliberate dissemination of false information” and “lobby journalism“.

The Facebook post stated: “ATTENTION PLEASE! 3.15 p.m. – Comment flashmob on the site of the WSJ! We hope for active participation”

Comments were directed to both the German Wall St Journal Facebook page and the paper’s main page with the ‘spam attack’ lasting several hours.

Read more on this here.

Is the social media novelty wearing off?

New research from UK market research agency, You Gov, reveals that two in five (41%) of the UK online population claim to be getting bored of social media.

Some of the stats

Unsurprisingly Facebook is still the social network frontrunner when it comes to the volume of active users. 65% of the UK online population logged in within the last month as compared to 50% for YouTube, 23% for Twitter, 13% for LinkedIn and 12% for Google+ during the same period. However almost a quarter of these active Facebook users are using the site less this now than they did a year ago. This ‘weaning off’ the network looks to continue as 19% expect to use Facebook less in a year’s time. The question is will new users to the site replace those who have lost interest? i.e. is usage cyclical?

The search for value

The recession is also having an impact on social media behaviour with people moving from spending time in online networks for recreation to getting involved in networks that serve a specific purpose. As people focus on ‘brand me’ and develop their professional networks for career development, LinkedIn usage is on the increase. Over half of UK internet users using the site more than a year ago and 30% also expect to use it even more in one year’s time.

Financial advice and ‘deals’ site, Moneysavingexpert.com, now has as many active users as Twitter. Similarly 10% of online consumers are active on music sharing network, Spotify.

For more on this research, click here.

Other useful articles of relevance:

Facebook Growth Over, Onset of Slow Decline

Facebook’s share of UK social networking declines

Young people ‘bored’ with social media

Flash Choir in a Centra

I always find it interesting to see how smaller community groups utilise social media to promote themselves in their localities. Here’s an example of a ‘flash choir’ in a Centra in Co. Clare. A great way of increasing awareness of the Ennis Gospel Choir group and getting local people talking. I believe this even got a mention on the Ray D’arcy show last week. Watch out for the grumpy old woman who is clearly not amused!

Tropicana Harness the Sun for Marketing Stunt

As part of their ‘Brighter Morning with Tropicana‘ campaign, the juice brand came up with a clever stunt which took place Monday in London’s Trafalgar Square.

To the surprise of Londoners making their way about on a typically grey Winter’s morning in the city, a huge sun which took six months to construct and was 30,000 times bigger than a football rose up to brighten up the square. Apparently the artificial ‘sun’ could be seen from space as the light was the equivalent of 60,000 light bulbs!

The brand is also running complimentary Facebook activity with competitions and the opportunity to join Tropicana’s ‘Breakfast Club’.

A Decade of Video a Day Uploaded to YouTube

Today YouTube announced that one hour of video is uploaded to the site every second. A decade of footage a day!

Struggling to wrap your brain around that? Well YouTube have launched this really nice site, onehourpersecond.com, which is full of interesting stats and figures which serve to put the volume of video and length of time spent on the site in context.

For example, who knew that ‘In 4 minutes 48 seconds of uploads to YouTube, the ostrich continues running at full speed, traveling 12,384 miles’?

Definitely worth checking out over your morning coffee.

Of course, YouTube being YouTube, they’ve posted a video along the same lines.