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Latest by Kate Knibbs

The Twitternet of things? How robots use Twitter for good … or evil

When you think of robots on Twitter, you think of spambots. But Twitter and its users can benefit from automated accounts.
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The case of the mysterious, vanishing Facebook Timeline redesign

Facebook gave some users a taste of the Timeline. But what Facebook giveth, Facebook taketh away.
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The Internet way to do your Spring Break vacation on the cheap

Want to get away for spring break? Look online for ways to save big.

R.I.P Yahoo Mail Classic Messenger, we hardly knew ye

Yahoo pared down its Messenger service again today. Say your goodbyes, and move on.

The funniest Twitter birthday tweets

Twitter turned 7 today, and fans wasted no time with wacky well wishes.
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Facebook Timeline redesign arrives, here’s what you need to know

Facebook's new look highlights pictures and tries to streamline Timeline. Will it be a hit or miss?

Are you an Instagram wizard or wannabe? Your favorite filters are more revealing than you think

According to a tongue-in-cheek new infographic, what you choose as your Instagram filter reflects your personality.

#Facebook? The News Feed isn’t the only thing changing – Facebook is embracing hashtags

If the rumors are true, hashtags are coming to Facebook, along with searchable comments.

Facebook aims for Google with Entity Graph real-world mapping

Facebook Graph Search may have snagged all the headlines, but its new Entity Graph may be the game-changer that tops Google.

The Oatmeal creator Matthew Inman goes from comics to crowdfunding

SXSW Interactive is winding down, but "The Oatmeal" creator Matthew Inman discussed how to keep crowdfunding efforts and online comedy going indefinitely.

MakerBot launches the true 3D printing beginner’s tool at SXSW

3D printer creator MakerBot is spicing up SXSW by unveiling a new printer prototype for people without design experience.

TastemakerX: A fantasy league … for music?

Launching at SXSW, TastemakerX turns listening to music into a fun, social game.
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The best SXSW Twitter feeds to follow the madness in Austin as it unfolds

If you're headed to SXSW or following from home, use Twitter to find out what's going down. We rounded up some of the best Twitter accounts to follow.

Facebook has crossed the line from social network to ad platform

Facebook's "personalized newspaper" is getting disturbingly ad-heavy.
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Instagram insights services Nitrogram expands, gets hashtag-happy

If you want to boost your social media profile, Nitrogram will help you figure out how to make the most of your Instagram account.

Facebook’s money-grubbing advertising model gets called out

Does Facebook rig its Newsfeed to benefit Promoted Posts? The website says no, but journalists and users beg to differ.
How social media leverages shame for better and worse

From motivation to slander: How social media leverages shame for better and worse

How shame manipulates, embarrasses, and provokes social network users.

It’s National Day of Unplugging, and here are five ways Internet addicts can get through it

Constantly on your phone? At your computer? Surfing the Web? If this sounds like you, it might be time to take a brief hiatus from constant connectivity.
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Will the companies feeding Vine’s growth ultimately poison it?

Celebrities and brands love the new video-sharing app. Can Vine survive its rapid growth?
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Terrifying Facebook security flaw lets hacker access anyone’s page

A hacker unearthed a terrifying Facebook bug that gave him full access to everyone's Facebook accounts.

Facebook will start giving your old, unpopular photos less attention

Facebook is sending older pictures to "cold storage" in an attempt to save money and energy.

MTV hacks MTV: The anatomy of a dumb Twitter prank

MTV and BET tried to replicate the Burger King hack that drew attention and 30k new followers - turns out, we don't appreciate copycats.
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Can 10 million tweets measure happiness? New research says so

A new study claims it can measure a location's happiness by Twitter sentiment.

LinkedIn spams Twitter by appealing to our big, fat egos

If you shared your elite LinkedIn status on Twitter or Facebook, you're not alone. LinkedIn's congratulatory e-mails created big social media waves.

19 clicks of separation is the Internet’s Kevin Bacon rule

It only takes 19 clicks to connect any random page to any other page, according to a new study.
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Are social apps creating or killing romance?

A slew of new apps promising real love from your preexisting social network are hitting the market.

Thanks to the App Store, Vine is now an R rated social network

Apple punishes Vine for porn slip-ups by slapping a 17+ user rating on the fledgling social network.

Facebook makes it (slightly) easier to opt out of targeted ads

Facebook is owning up to its targeted ad practices by adding a logo to notify you of third party ads.
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Want that Twitter verification badge? Watch out for hoaxers

No matter how badly you want that blue check mark, avoid looking like a rube by ignoring Twitter pranksters promising verification.
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Tumblr gets a facelift, shows off new inline posting feature

The new, sleeker Tumblr allows for inline posting and an improved photo uploader, among other changes.
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Twitter enters a brave new – GIF friendly – world with Vine release

Twitter is trying to win GIF-loving fans by integrating a new, fun service.
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Turns out, chefs hate your food porn habit

If you like standing on your chair to get the perfect iPhone shot of a truffle-encrusted organic croque monsieur, you might be in trouble.
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Will Facebook Graph Search Make You Look Like an Idiot? Check out these actual Graph Search results

The new Facebook Graph Search holds a lot of promise, but it could also make you look really, really dumb.
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What’s so special (and so dangerous) about Snapchat

Snapchat is the hottest new app, but it isn't as secure as users think, and it leaves young people vulnerable to cyberbullying. So is it worth the risk?