Brilliant or Insane?: Facebook

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Facebook Paper is revolutionizing how we curate content

via: DigitalTrends.com

In all honesty, I've always hated Facebook.

Sure, I use Facebook, because it's a necessary social network, and I am a content curator -- that is, someone who creates, maintains and shares a ton of information across many platforms. So, because my friends and colleagues like Facebook, I use it.

Still, I've always believed Facebook to be an incredibly clunky tool. It took hours one day just to learn how to set up folders and arrange pictures, and I'm a pretty tech savvy guy.

For the longest time, it's bothered me that the world's largest information source couldn't figure out the simplicity of sharing content. Why hadn't Mark Zuckerberg and his minions followed in the footsteps of Twitter, Feedly and Flipboard -- social networks that sport remarkably clean, user-friendly platforms.

Although Facebook may still have features I don't love (why doesn't Facebook automatically size pics and banners to fit?), all is forgiven, thanks to the recent launch of Facebook Paper.

Arguably the most user-friendly, aesthetically-pleasing, downright cool content curation tool ever created, Paper is a true game changer.

Not only can you interact with Facebook the old way, you now can pull in content from a myriad of sources around the Internet in just about any subject you wish.

Scared of change? Worried you won't know how to use Paper? Don't worry; a sexy woman (just an automated voice, really) will tell you exactly what to do, with every swipe. It took me all of about three minutes to download Facebook Paper, learn how to navigate, add my desired content and start, reading, liking and sharing.

Facebook Paper is more than just a social network. It's the new generation of content curation.

Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Buy or Sell Facebook Paper?

The way we share information is changing. Reading stories, personal anecdotes and even viewing videos from a Facebook news feed is as second nature for most people as pouring a morning cup of coffee.

As of February 3rd, your Facebook news page will have a dramatically different appearance.

via: TechCrunch

Following in the steps of Flipboard, Feedly and other popular magazine-type services, Facebook's Paper will look and even feel different.

Buy or Sell Paper?

I'm buying Facebook's Paper and can't wait for the new platform to launch. There's nothing more aesthetically pleasing in the digital world than a magazine-like app that makes every story and picture stand out.

If you use Facebook on a mobile device, you're sure to love this style. Navigation is easier than ever, and each share and story will fill your device for a more enjoyable reading experience.

Plus, I may be in the minority, but I've always felt Facebook was a bit clunky in it's current format. I guess I've always expected more. Hopefully, I'm about to get it.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Hey, Mark Zuckerberg, when is Facebook going to do something significant for education?

via: startupeducation.org

Mark Zuckerberg's foundation, Startup:Education, claims that it invests in "high quality school models to help all children succeed."

On the surface, this seems very altruistic. What troubles me is that Zuckerberg, while presumably well intentioned, appears to also be frighteningly misguided.

While we can't be sure what Startup:Education's idea of a high quality school is, it's clear from Zuckerberg's donation of $4 million to Panorama, a startup company that administers surveys, that the Facebook creator doesn't understand the real issues in American education. There are plenty of more experienced companies already exploring school climate and bullying -- not to diminish these important issues.

How about something more significant?

Since Zuckerberg has a foundation in place, why not contribute something more significant than surveys and $100 million to one school district? Here are three causes that come to mind:

How about a national program that puts a book in every child's hand? The U.S is a country littered with nonreaders. Quality research says that lack of books is the culprit.
How about funding a movement to eliminate standardization? Sound unrealistic? Put the power of Facebook behind it, and we'll see about that.
How about at least one powerful, standalone app for students of all ages? Maybe build a simple platform to facilitate communication between a student and all of her teachers that she could access from her mobile device?

I'm sure there are dozens of other excellent ideas to maximize the power of Facebook and Startup:Education. I hope Mark Zuckerberg will consider these and add a leader to his foundation who is a teacher.

Consider this post my application for that position.