Could have been a love story

Came across this little cute could have been love story on Youtube.

It shows a pair of friends communicating via the Facebook chat function, and while they are clearly into each other (to the viewer), they keep revising what they want to say, stripping off all sentimentality and emotion from their original expressions and paring them down to seemingly nonchalant and platonic responses, such as a simple cool.

While social media platoforms do make it easier for someone to access another person and communicate with each others, especially in real-time, the usual should-I say-this and what-will-he/she-think-of-me-if-I-say-this hang-ups still remain in (budding) relationships.

In a way, that’s quite reassuring and that’s what makes this such a cute little story. Could-have, should-have…well, it could have been a love story. Enjoy.

I’m sure you will smile when you watch it.

The Digital Story of the Nativity

Christmas may be over, but then there are 12 days of Christmas, and it’s never too late to look at this interesting video!

Actually, I see it more as a Christmas story for Digital Natives! While the format has been updated with new media, the traditional values and message still remain and are important.

Have a blessed Christmas and happy new year, everyone!

Is Social Media Making Students Dumb?

I just read this interesting article about how social media and cellphones could be making students dumb!

It cites some examples from a recent report about how growing up digital could be wiring young people up for distraction.

• 14-year-old girl sends and receives 27,000 text messages a month. The girl texts every spare moment she can. Yet believe it or not, sometimes she “forgets” to do her homework.
• David Reilly, a high school principal in California, moved the start of classes to 9 a.m. Reason: Too many students coming into school “bleary-eyed” from texting and surfing the Web all night.
• 17-year-old student spends hours every day playing video games and surfing social media sites. His teachers think he’s gifted. Yet he’s carrying a 2.3 grade point average. Instead of finishing the short novel “Cat’s Cradle” this past summer, he read Facebook.

Is technology and social media breeding a generation of restless students with short attention spans and abilities that at best can be for superficial analysis?

What do you think? Do share your views.

Digital Media Across Asia

Just a quick post to share with you a comprehensive wiki devoted to Asia’s social media:

http://comm215.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

Charice Pempengco to join the cast of GLEE

Philippine teen singing sensation Charice Pempengco will be joining the cast of GLEE, the hit musical TV series for its Season 2. What’s this got to do with new media?

The thing is that Charice Pempengco was relatively unknown and shot to fame because of Youtube.  I have written many previous posts on how Youtube and other new media sites have helped to launch the careers of many artistes and Charice is yet another one.

Since gaining her Youtube fame, she has gone on to be invited to talk shows with hosts such as  Oprah and Ellen, which has undoubtedly catapulted her to greater heights!

How she got to be on GLEE is quite a strange story. Apparently, she heard rumours that she was going to be on GLEE and after hearing them,  decided to audition for the show and promptly got the part.

And how did we learn about her new role – from her use of new media of course. She announced it on Twitter.

Here’s another clip of her exceptional talent!

Twitter Dress

What in the world is a Twitter dress?

If you have not seen one yet, take a look at UK singer Imogen Heap’s strange outfit at the Grammys earlier this year.

Also known as the ‘Twitdress’, it’s seen as the first ever outfit to combine social media and fashion in interesting mix.

Twitter Dress

The dress is connected to the Internet and the collar she has around her neck displays the tweets and messages sent by her fans and she is also able to send tweets to update her fans – that’s real live action from the red carpet and stage! The dress is apparently designed by Waldermeyer, and it looks like the Twitdress not only causes talk, but talks as well, and we will be looking at more of such creations in the future.

Fake Fann Wong on Twitter

What does Steve Jobs, Bill gates, Obama and Fann Wong have in common, besides the fact they are all celebrities in their own ways? Well, they have all had fake profiles created in their name.

Fake Steve Jobs lasted a really long time before people found him out.

The impersonating of these public people now take on new media proportions. Just a quick search shows up many fake sites including the ones on Fann Wong: http://twitter.com/fannwong; http://twitter.com/aggeltzimgr/statuses/8893187753; http://www.mahalo.com/fann-wong

Disgruntled fans are complaining and there are forums discussing the issue.

Well, I guess that’s part of the price of fame – you are bound to inspire imitators. The only thing is for your fans and loved ones to know you well enough to spot the real from the fake.

Charities go new media

Just a quick blog post during this Christmas season.

Just want to share about how social networking and gaming are used by charities to raise funds. Go to ClicktoAid website and you can play games, and accumulate points that would help needy children. This is a great way to get the young started on charity using something they are familiar with and something that they find fun!

So go on, get to the site and start giving!

Blessed Christmas to one and all.

Facebook can save you from a jail term!

Who would think that being on Facebook can save you from a jail sentence!

That thought definitely did not cross 19 year old, Rodney Bradford’s mind when he posted a question to his girlfriend about his breakfast on his profile.

That timing proved to be the time when a robbery he was suspected of as being the criminal, was staged, and the investigators were able to trace the post to be from his father’s keyboard, which indicated that he was nowhere near the crime scne.

So, in a way, Facebook saved him from a jail term, and the facebook alibi  saved him!

By the same token, I wonder if someone who posted on his profile or blog that he was drink driving or using his handphone while driving or, worse, that he had committed some great crime, would be charged for his ‘online confession’?

Evian’s social media marketing with “Roller Babies”

A one-minute video clip by Evian has been making waves on the Internet.

How so? It’s the new Evian ad that has been launched on Youtube. Of course that in itself is not new. Nor will it always make for a successful viral marketing campaign.

Add the cutest babies doing sleek and smooth rollerblading stunts, and you have a sure winner on hand!

The cute, chubby and charismatic babies dazzle with their cool moves! The producers hired about 800 bloggers to launch the ad campaign online and this advertising campaign using social media has proven to be a great success! The ad is also one of the most watched videos on Youtube.

There’s even a video that shows the ‘making of’ the ad as well! It acts like a certain part 2 of the campaign.

There are two versions of the Evain ad: the International version that starts with Let’s observe the effect of Evian on your body and the US version that starts with How does drinking Evian make you feel? This is followed to a series of shots showing the babies breakdancing, moonwalking and all to the Rapper’s Delight.

Well, I like Evian but does anyone actually think that Evian is the elixir of youth? Do the producers think that anyone would fall for that line?

Of course not, but then, when you have such cute and bubbly babies that lift your spirits, who cares!