Social media sites are transforming not only the daily lives of consumers, but also how companies interact with consumers. Here at Morrison Foerster, across all of our practice groups, we are seeing complex, cutting-edge legal issues arising out of social media. As with the Internet boom during the mid-to-late 1990s, social media is generating new legal questions at a far faster pace than the law’s ability to provide answers to such questions. In an effort to stay on top of these emerging issues, and to keep our clients and friends informed of new developments, Morrison Foerster publishes this blog devoted to the law and business of social media.<h2>ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

Social

Search

sociallyaware-abajournalweb100-1

Aaron is the chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and co-chair of the Interactive + Digital Media Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data- and technology-intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud-based technology, digital media (social media, AR/VR, gaming, streaming media, AdTech), AI, healthcare, consumer electronics, e-commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on branding and marketing, trademark licensing, and content-related transactions, as well as the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin-offs, and private equity investments.He has represented clients such as Autodesk, Meta, OpenAI, Splunk, Konami, Kaiser Permanente, SoftBank, Visa, and Yahoo, among others.Aaron has been recognized by numerous publications for his work on market-defining technology transactions. He is currently ranked by Chambers USA for “Technology Transactions.”Aaron also serves as co-editor of Socially Aware, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics. Aaron is also a sought-after speaker on new and emerging areas of law, and is a frequent presenter and panelist at conferences and legal services programs. In addition to his active practice, Aaron regularly provides pro bono assistance to various nonprofit and charitable organizations such as Common Sense Media and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. He is a member of the board of directors of California Lawyers for the Arts.While in law school at the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Aaron served as executive editor of the California Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Following law school, Aaron served as law clerk to the Honorable William H. Orrick and the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, both United States District Judges for the Northern District of California.

rubin_aaron_blog_150x150.png

rubin_aaron_common_640x280.jpg

rubin_aaron_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

rubin_aaron_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

rubin_aaron_social_600x600.jpg

Partner

Aaron is the chair of our Technology Transactions Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals. Aaron’s practice focuses on advising both established and emerging companies in a variety of data– and technology–intensive sectors, including software, SaaS, cloud computing, AR/VR, AI, gaming, healthcare, consumer electronics, social media, e–commerce, other online business models, and mobile applications. He also maintains an active practice counseling companies on the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, asset spin–offs, and private equity investments.

Aaron P. Rubin

Lawrence Gallick is of counsel in the firm’s Austin office and a member of the Technology Transactions Group.Lawrence focuses his practice on technology transactions and licensing matters. His diverse experience includes advising on SaaS agreements, cross-licensing agreements, research and collaboration agreements, development agreements, and distribution agreements. He counsels a broad range of companies across the software, hardware, life sciences, biotech and FinTech spaces, as well as other entities including universities.He advises clients in connection with general corporate matters including contract negotiations, and leasing and technology placement agreements.Lawrence also serves as co-editor of <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank">Socially Aware</a>, the firm’s award-winning newsletter and blog devoted to the law and business of social media, and regularly publishes on various IP and technology-related topics.Prior to joining the firm, Lawrence was counsel at another major law firm. Before earning his law degree, Lawrence was a web consultant, project manager, and web developer in Portland, Oregon, where he managed and consulted on projects using industry methodologies and performed custom development and integration of content management systems.Lawrence was named a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in 2015 and 2018–2022, and is licensed in both California and New York. Lawrence earned his J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law, where he was the electronic systems editor for the Buffalo Law Review and awarded the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law.

gallick_lawrence_blog_150x150.png

gallick_lawrence_common_640x280.jpg

gallick_lawrence_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

gallick_lawrence_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

gallick_lawrence_social_600x600.jpg

Of Counsel

Lawrence Gallick

Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster.Anthony advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. He regularly advises companies on the IP aspects of their M&A transactions. His clients include technology, digital media and content for television and music, financial services, and communications companies with diverse intellectual property assets and issues.His practice focuses on the legal aspects of developing, licensing, and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts, including outsourcing transactions, as well as content and data licenses. He regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to licensing and commercialization of digital media and content, digital content that is distributed over the Internet or streamed, mobile applications and social media, as well as the licensing of recorded music for distribution via digital platforms. Anthony is also experienced with issues relating to open-source software, software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud-based technology, and protection of proprietary information.Anthony has extensive experience working on matters involving disruptive technologies, such as blockchain. He has helped fintech clients with general intellectual property issues in connection with terms of service for online financial products and services.Anthony is an integral part of the outside pro bono legal team for nonprofit organizations based in New York, including advising clients on legal issues regarding entertainment, social media, privacy rights, and the negotiation of outsourcing and service agreements. Anthony received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2009. He received his B.S. from Cornell University in 2004.

ramirez_anthony_blog_150x150.png

ramirez_anthony_common_640x280.jpg

ramirez_anthony_heroretina_2700x1160.jpg

ramirez_anthony_mobileretina_750x1040.jpg

ramirez_anthony_social_600x600.jpg

Anthony Ramirez is a partner in the Technology Transactions Group in the New York office of Morrison Foerster. He advises clients on general commercial and transactional matters. His clients include technology, media, and communications companies with considerable intellectual property assets. His practice focuses on the legal aspects of licensing and commercializing technology and intellectual property, as well as negotiating general commercial contracts. He also regularly assists clients with legal issues relating to mobile applications and social media.

Anthony M. Ramirez

favicon.ico

favicon-16x16.png

favicon-32x32.png

apple-touch-icon.png

MoFo Favicons

Socially Aware is devoted to the law and business of social media, proactively addressing emerging issues and keeping our clients informed of new developments. We cover fields such as artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, Section 230, intellectual property, and much more.

Welcome to Socially Aware

240920-socially-aware-header.jpg

Welcome to Socially Aware

240920-socially-aware-header

Socially Aware is devoted to the law and business of social media, proactively addressing emerging issues and keeping our clients informed of new developments. We cover fields such as artificial intelligence, privacy and data security, Section 230, intellectual property, and much more.

News and Announcements

Blog - Terms of Use

Blog - Privacy Policy

Blog - Blog Disclaimer

Blog - Attorney Advertising

morrison-foerster-blog-logo.png

Provides a data-driven look at the Federal Circuit.

Federal Circuitry

Brings together legal insights and in-depth analyses on trends and complex issues shaping the global technology industry.

MoFo Tech

Mofo Tech

Equips our clients with the most up-to-date and relevant information on employment and labor law issues.

Employment Law Commentary

In-depth analysis of developments and trends impacting government contracting.

Government Contracts Insight

Government Contracts Insights

Provides insights and reports on the most current class actions lawsuits and product liability issues that affect consumer-facing companies.

Class Dismissed Blog

Class Dismissed

MoFo’s Socially Aware blog provides timely updates and analysis of the many complex and cutting-edge legal and business issues arising out of social media.

Socially Aware

  Linkedin

MoFo LinkedIN

Socially Aware Blog - RSS

Stay Connected

Never miss a post from Socially Aware. Enter your email below to stay up-to-date.

Subscribe

The Law and Business of Social Media

Morrison Foerster - Footer

Blogs -  Home Button

Home

Blog - Topics

Web Scraping

Advertising

Antitrust

Arbitration

Artificial Intelligence

Asia

Autonomous Vehicles

Bankruptcy

Big Data

Blockchain

Class Actions

Cloud Computing

Compliance

Contracts

COPPA

Copyright

Crowdsourcing

Cyberbullying

Cybersecurity

Data Security

Defamation

Digital Content

Disappearing Content

Discovery

DMCA

E-Commerce

E-Discovery

E-Personation

Electronic Contracts

Employment Law

Endorsement Guides

Ephemeral Messaging

Ethics

European Union

Event

Fair Use

FDA Regulations

Financial Institutions

First Amendment

Fraud

Free Speech

GDPR

Hacking

Influencer Marketing

Infographic

Internet of Things

Investment Management Law

JOBS Act

Labor Law

Litigation

Live streaming

Marketing

Mobile

Online Contracts

Online Endorsements

Online Promotions

Online Reviews

Patent

Privacy

Product Liability

Protected Speech

Right of Publicity

Right To Be Forgotten

Section 230 Safe Harbor

Securities Law

Social Media Policy

Statistics

Status Updates

Stored Communications Act

Supreme Court

Terms of Use

Trademark

UK High Court

User-Generated Content

Wearable Computers

Topics

Blog - Editors

Editors

Blog - About

About

Blog - Subscribe

More

Lawrence W. Gallick

2024 Recap: Ten Lords A-Leaping!

Social Links: If the Suit Fits

Social Links: Age Verification, X Appeal, and the Great White North

Social Links: Fake Reviews, Real Rulings, and an Epic Fail

Lawrence W. Gallick on Toth v. Everly Well, Inc.

LinkedIN

Social media has upended a number of industries. Is <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/social-medias-next-disruption-the-investment-industry-2016-06-09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wall Street next</a>?Facebook is getting into the video game live-streaming business.Steven Avery’s defense attorney is <a href="http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2016/06/07/avery-attorneys-social-media-strategy-questioned/85233596/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">keeping her 163,000 Twitter followers abreast of her ongoing defense work</a> on behalf of the “Making a Murderer” documentary subject, and some lawyers think it’s a bad idea.Five quick and easy ways to <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/276564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">double your social media following</a>.Fake Internet traffic schemes will become the second-largest market for criminal organizations behind cocaine and opiate trafficking.<a href="http://adexchanger.com/featured-2/bots-and-fraudsters-are-feasting-on-political-ad-dollars/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bots and fraudsters</a> are feasting on political ad dollars.People are spending <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/06/people-are-spending-much-less-time-on-social-media-apps-said-report.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less time on social media apps</a> these days? With <a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/snapchat-twitter-pinterest-us-users-2016-1201791237/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat on pace to have more than 58 million active users</a> this year, we’re skeptical.The man who created the Internet wants to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/08/technology/the-webs-creator-looks-to-reinvent-it.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">create a less centralized web</a> with more privacy and less government and corporate control.Should Twitter <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2016/06/this-simple-tweak-could-fix-twitter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">limit the number of tweets</a> users can send each day? <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/02/17/status-updates-85/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Other platforms</a> see the value in limiting posts.In the UK the number of arrests over <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3624059/Arrests-offensive-social-media-posts-soar-police-target-internet-trolls.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offensive social media posts</a> is soaring.Research shows an alarming number of people in the UK <a href="https://www.research-live.com/article/news/misleading-social-media-marketing-putting-businesses-at-risk/id/5008012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can’t distinguish between marketing and non-commercial content on social media</a>, indicating potential breaches of the CAP Code (the UK’s version of the <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/12/21/influencer-marketing-tips-for-a-successful-and-legal-advertising-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FTC’s Endorsement Guides</a>). Here’s how social media marketers in the UK can stay on the <a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/10/05/how-uk-brands-that-use-vlogger-endorsements-social-media-for-marketing-can-stay-on-the-right-side-of-the-law/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right side of the law</a>.Google co-founder Larry Page is <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/9/11893032/google-co-founder-larry-page-is-secretly-building-flying-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">secretly building flying cars</a>.Our attention spans are decreasing. Here’s how that should affect your brand’s <a href="http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/john-stevens-guest-post-decreasing-attention-spans/640539" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website and social media strategy</a>.In a massive recent theft of Twitter usernames and passwords, “123456” was the most commonly used passcode by far. Sigh.

Aaron is the chair of the firm’s Technology Transactions Group and co-chair of the Interactive + Digital Media Group. He advises clients on a wide range of complex transactions involving intellectual property and technology, including structuring and negotiating strategic licensing, development, collaboration, procurement, and distribution deals.

Aaron Rubin

Social Links: Social’s potential to upend the investment industry; online ad fraud; a proposal to fix Twitter

Social media has upended a number of industries. Is Wall Street next? Facebook is getting into the video game live-streaming business. Steven Avery’s defense at

Social Links: Social’s potential to upend the investment industry; online ad fraud; a proposal to fix Twitter

In a fascinating, must-read article, a Google design ethicist explains the techniques that engineers and entrepreneurs employ to keep us hooked on the web.A majority of U.S. adults—62%—now get their news on social media.An apartment complex in Utah is trying to force its residents to “friend” the complex.Will the next head of state take over the vast online infrastructure that the Obama administration created as the first administration to digitally engage with its constituency?Get ready for 74 new emojis.Tired of being reminded about potentially painful past social media posts? Here’s how to turn off Facebook’s “On This Day” notifications.Texas inmates are now barred from using social media.Participating in online social networks in Russia has become risky business.To comply with a new code of conduct in the European Union, the biggest social media platforms have agreed to remove hate speech within 24 hours.Are websites a dying business?Instagram’s mobile app has a new dashboard that allows small businesses to measure the reach of their posts.Periscope users can now moderate comments during their broadcasts.Stop telling people there’s a dot in your Gmail address—it doesn’t matter.Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes says it’s important to hop on the Snapchat bandwagon, no matter how old you are. Here’s why.

Social Links: The rise of social news; how technology hijacks our attention; are websites a dying business?

In a fascinating, must-read article, a Google design ethicist explains the techniques that engineers and entrepreneurs employ to keep us hooked on the web. A ma

Social Links: The rise of social news; how technology hijacks our attention; are websites a dying business?

A lawsuit alleges this Snapchat feature is making driving even more dangerous, and it’s not texting or instant messaging.<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2016/04/25/california-weighs-crackdown-on-social-jurors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This state</a> is considering imposing hefty fines on jurors who post information to social media about the lawsuits they’re hearing.Facebook pulls back the veil (ever so slightly) on political ads.The exposure of the personal data of <a href="https://www.wired.com/2016/04/beautiful-people-hack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more than one million members</a> of the dating site BeautifulPeople.com might inspire schadenfreude, but everyone is probably vulnerable to “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/25/shame-hack-beautiful-people-ashley-madison-online-dating?CMP=twt_a-technology_b-gdntech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shame hacking</a>.”Speaking of embarrassing revelations, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2016/04/27/oops-tinders-new-friend-finding-feature-tinder-social-is-outing-which-of-your-friends-use-the-app/">a new Tinder feature</a> is automatically displaying which of a participant’s Facebook friends—even married friends—are also using Tinder. Oops.Sharing on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/facebook-live-video-poll_us_571f6f74e4b0f309baee7baf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook is declining</a>. Is <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/snapchat-versus-facebook_us_570ba9c9e4b0885fb50d76ec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat to blame</a>?A surprising nine out of 20 of the<a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/instagrams-app-based-ad-revenue-being-fueled-money-startups-171113" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> companies advertising on Instagram’s app</a> received venture capital funding in the last year.Did you know that once a social media influencer’s following grows beyond a certain point, engagement actually drops? It turns out “<a href="http://digiday.com/agencies/micro-influencers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">micro-influencers</a>” are the ones having maximum impact.You’ll never believe how many views Snapchat Stories are getting every day.

Social Links—Fines for social-media-posting jurors; Microinfluencers; Snapchat’s and Tinder’s sketchy new features

A lawsuit alleges this Snapchat feature is making driving even more dangerous, and it’s not texting or instant messaging. This state is considering imposing hef

Social Links—Fines for social-media-posting jurors; Microinfluencers; Snapchat’s and Tinder’s sketchy new features

January is the month when lists—lists of predictions, lists of trends, lists of feats and lists of failures—pervade social media newsfeeds and publications’ headlines. Here at Socially Aware we’re making an annual tradition of curating a “List of Lists”—an inventory of the roundups that we think will be of most interest to our readership.We’ll update this page throughout the month as additional pertinent content is published.Happy 2016!<h3>Apps</h3><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391521,00.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 100 Best iPhone Apps of 2016</a><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2393097,00.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 100 Best Android Apps of 2016</a><h3>Social Media (General)</h3><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/31/whats-ahead-for-social-media-in-2016.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What’s ahead for social media in 2016?</a><a href="https://econsultancy.com/blog/67325-11-pivotal-social-media-trends-for-2016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">11 pivotal social media trends for 2016</a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/layla-revis/social-media-trends-2016_b_8914190.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social Media Trends 2016</a><a href="http://fortune.com/2015/12/23/2016-social-media-facebook/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virtual Reality Takes Off and 4 Other Social Media Trends in 2016</a><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2014/12/17/15-social-media-companies-to-watch-in-2015/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social Media Sites You’ll Be Seeing More of in 2016</a><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/beyond-twitter-other-social-media-platforms-2016-candidates-are-using-n481181" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyond Twitter: The Other Social Media Platforms 2016 Candidates Are Using</a><h3>Social Media Content</h3>Top 10 social media misfires of 2015Top Social Media Stories of 2015<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/12/07/top-social-media-moments-of-2015/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter’s Top Social Media Moments of 2015</a><h3>Digital & Social Media Marketing</h3><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2016/jan/05/brands-social-media-marketing-2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Five things great brands will do differently on social media in 2016</a>20 Things Social Media Professionals Can’t Ignore In 2016<a href="http://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-skills-2016-podium/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Skills Social Media Managers Will Need in 2016</a>From Likes To Tweets: Marketing Land’s Top Social Media Marketing Columns Of 2015<a href="http://heidicohen.com/2016-social-media-marketing-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 Steps To Improve Your 2016 Social Media ROI</a><a href="https://contently.com/strategist/2016/01/04/21-content-marketing-predictions-for-2016/?utm_source=contently&utm_medium={contently}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">21 Content Marketing Predictions for 2016</a><h3>Legal Tech</h3><a href="http://www.lawsitesblog.com/2015/12/the-10-most-important-legal-technology-developments-of-2015.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 10 Most Important Legal Technology Developments of 2015</a><a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2015/12/4-legaltech-trends-to-watch-for-in-2016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4 Legal Tech Trends To Watch For In 2016</a><a href="https://bol.bna.com/what-technologies-will-most-affect-big-law-in-2016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What Technologies Will Most Affect Big Law in 2016?</a><h3>Startups</h3><a href="https://www.cbinsights.com/blog/startup-failure-post-mortem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">146 Startup Failure Post-Mortems</a><a href="http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/28/15-interesting-startups-to-watch-in-2016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15 interesting startups to watch in 2016</a><a href="http://www.ceoblognation.com/2015/12/15922/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 Business Trends for 2016 Success </a><h3>Tech, Privacy and Social Media Law</h3><a href="http://www.corpcounsel.com/id=1202746471373?keywords=privacy+stories&publication=CC+Corporate+Counsel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Five Privacy and Security Stories That Mattered in 2015</a>Wired.com’s Predictions on the Intersection of Technology and the Law in 2016<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35220442" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tech trends 2016: Cybersecurity in the connected world</a>

Our List of Lists

January is the month when lists—lists of predictions, lists of trends, lists of feats and lists of failures—pervade social media newsfeeds and publications’ hea

Our List of Lists

Since its launch in 2011, the social media platform <a href="https://www.snapchat.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat</a> has generated its share of negative press, with most of that press in some way related to the very characteristic that, at least initially, helped Snapchat to become popular among its mostly youthful user base: its “disappearing” messages feature.Yet, despite reports that the<a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/disruptions-indiscreet-photos-glimpsed-then-gone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> app began as</a> (and <a href="http://www.dailydot.com/technology/snapchat-sexting-reddit-porn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continues to be</a>) a popular sexting tool, that Snapchat’s less-than-ironclad security measures resulted in<a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/overexposed-snapchat-user-info-from-4-6m-accounts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the posting of millions of the app’s users’</a> personal information, and that <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2014/05/13/snap-judgment-ftc-alleges-snapchat-did-not-keep-its-privacy-and-security-promises-but-suggests-broad-new-duty-in-the-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat inaccurately represented its privacy and security policies</a>, Snapchat was the fastest growing app in 2014 and is the third-most-popular social app among millennials.So what accounts for Snapchat’s $19 billion valuation? According to senior Fortune editor <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/02/19/snapchat-worth-19-billion-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andrew Nusca</a>, the social media company has employed a “well worn” business model: “marshal a captivated audience, sell advertisements against it, profit.”Since that sounds a lot easier said than done—especially in light of Snapchat’s public missteps—we attempted to discern exactly how the company has managed to achieve those milestones. What has it done right?There is, of course, no exact formula for success; surely the rearing of all unicorns involves some measure of magic pixie dust. But a close examination of Snapchat reveals certain strategies that tech entrepreneurs seeking to duplicate Snapchat’s success might wish to emulate.<h4>1. Identify and pioneer a highly desirable feature.</h4>Because they encourage spontaneity and reassure social network users that they’re not sacrificing long-term privacy, disappearing messaging apps have been <a href="http://www.saydaily.com/2014/09/disappearing-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">popping up everywhere over the last couple of years</a>. But Snapchat was one of the very first social media companies to recognize the appeal of ephemeral posts—the app was premised on the claim that photos and texts sent using Snapchat disappeared after 10 seconds—and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-First-Last-Competition/dp/0470624353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being first never hurts</a>, especially when it comes to attracting an audience.In the last couple of years, however, doubts have arisen regarding Snapchat’s “disappearing messages” claims. Most notably, a 2014 Federal Trade Commission investigation concluded that, because several work-arounds exist, <a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/6853/20140512/snapchat-image-sharing-images-photos-videos-fcc-privacy-online-privacy.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the company’s statements about its messages being ephemeral are essentially false</a>.Surprisingly, use of the Snapchat app <a href="http://www.globalwebindex.net/blog/snapchat-was-the-fastest-growing-social-app-of-2014" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to increase</a> even as the scandal broke, perhaps because, by then, Snapchat had already become popular with teenagers, or because the company had already implemented even more “<a href="http://time.com/4049026/snapchat-live-stories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">addictive</a>” features (see numbers 2 and 3, below).Nevertheless, Snapchat has since toned down its <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/snapchat/id447188370?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">description of the app in the iTunes store</a>—the description now clarifies that Snaps disappear “unless [the recipients of the Snaps] take a screenshot”—and the company is also taking steps to beef up security and convince users that it’s worthy of their trust.<h4>2. Improve on a feature that has already proven popular with social media users.</h4>Snapchat’s reputation as the first “disappearing message” app may have been responsible for marshalling its young audience, but<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/20/5827666/snapchat-stories-bigger-than-snaps-electric-daisy-carnival" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the social media company’s innovative online video features are likely the reason that audience has stuck around</a>.As a medium that allows people to easily “<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2014/jan/14/video-content-marketing-media-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">satisfy their information and entertainment needs</a>,” online video is one of social media users’ favorite features, industry experts agree. But the video functionality of many social media platforms has left a lot to be desired, according to some social media enthusiasts. Until now.In his own <a href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/131313-what-s-the-point-of-snapchat-and-how-does-it-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a> explaining Snapchat’s popularity, YouTube personality <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/caseyneistat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Casey Neistat</a> explains what online video fans have always wanted most from social media platforms: “It’s never been about just sharing a moving image,” Neistat explains. “It’s about giving people an easy way to tell a story.”With the introduction of Snapchat Stories, a feature that allows users to stitch several photos and quick videos together throughout their day to create a narrative, Snapchat “became the first company to figure out video on mobile,” according to Neistat.Snapchat Stories also have an authentic, unedited quality that the platform’s young users really appreciate. “You can’t, like, lie,” one of the Snapchat fans in Neistat’s video explains, “It’s in the moment.”“Snapchat is about now, not about photos with pretty filters or perfectly edited videos,” Neistat said. “It’s about sharing stories of your life with people who are interested.”<h4>3. Create compelling content by leveraging human resources.</h4>Recognizing that even the most sophisticated algorithms have limitations, many tech companies are starting to rely on human curators for their content, <a href="http://time.com/3973459/tech-human-curation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">writes</a> Time tech reporter Victor Lukerson, and Snapchat is no exception. Snapchat Live Stories, a feature Lukerson <a href="http://time.com/4049026/snapchat-live-stories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describes</a> as the app’s “most addictive feature,” uses teams of actual people to choose from among as many as 20,000 user content submissions for each story. The curators create montages with narrative arcs by stitching together the best of the users’ photos and short video submissions.Based on the numbers—Live Stories reportedly attract 20 million viewers in a 24-hour window—Snapchat’s use of human curators is clearly paying off.<h4> 4. Give brands a unique and attractive way to advertise.</h4>With privacy concerns at an all-time high, social media users may become less inclined to patronize sites that use personal data to serve targeted ads, predicts Forbes contributor Jayson DeMers.That works for Snapchat. In contrast to most of the top social media platforms, Snapchat “has very little information about its users,” Time’s Lukerson <a href="http://time.com/4049026/snapchat-live-stories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>. And Evan Spiegel, Snapchat’s CEO, has <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/technology/heres-buyers-guide-ad-targeting-8-social-platforms-167754" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he doesn’t want to populate his platform with “creepy” hyper-targeted ads.Snapchat’s abstention from user-info aggregation may or may not prove important to its youthful user base; the <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/technology/heres-buyers-guide-ad-targeting-8-social-platforms-167754" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nearly 100 million daily users</a> who continue to log in despite reports about the holes in the platform’s “disappearing messages” claim apparently don’t place as much of a premium on privacy as everyone originally thought.The important part is that Snapchat has hit on another—potentially more lucrative—way to monetize its business. According to Lukerson, the company “is pitching advertisers the same way TV executives do: by touting the massive audience that can view a single piece of media at the same time.”<a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/snapchat-tweaking-story-ad-sales-strategy/298082/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Advertisers love content that’s live</a>, and Snapchat’s Live Stories are exactly that. Snapchat’s presentation of its live content in a linear feed makes it <a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/snapchat-tweaking-story-ad-sales-strategy/298082/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">very much like live event feeds on television</a>, a medium that Snapchat’s coveted demographic is slowly but surely <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/are-young-people-watching-less-tv-24817/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abandoning</a>.Advertising on the platform is still risky. After just three seconds, <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3052407/behind-the-brand/how-coca-cola-cracked-snapchat?partner=venturebeat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60% to 70% of Snapchat’s users stopped watching ads</a> on the app. For that reason, some industry observers <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3052407/behind-the-brand/how-coca-cola-cracked-snapchat?partner=venturebeat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">assert</a> that Snapchat advertising is still probably best left to big brands with big advertising budgets.And a big budget they’ll need. Snapchat has been tight-lipped about exactly what it’s charging, but, according to sources familiar with the business, the platform is selling $400,000 worth of ad space for a story generating 20 million views.

43909832_thumbnail-300x300-1.jpg

Building a Successful Social Media App: Four Lessons Learned From Snapchat

Building a Successful Social Media App: Four Lessons Learned From Snapchat

Since its launch in 2011, the social media platform Snapchat has generated its share of negative press, with most of that press in some way related to the very 

Facebook: Fact or fiction? These days, courts are more and more frequently faced with disputes over whether, as part of the discovery process, a litigant should be entitled to view the opposing party’s social media posts. As we’ve <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/05/01/status-updates-94/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discussed</a>, some courts deciding <a href="http://www.4dca.org/opinions/Jan%202015/01-07-15/4D14-138.op.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical</a> and emotional injury claims have held that the photos and status updates that the plaintiffs in those cases posted to Facebook were relevant to proving or disproving those claims. But are they always? A <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/users/2015/04/social_media_and_the_law_if_you_re_claiming_emotional_distress_don_t_appear.single.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent column in Slate</a> points out that some judges and experts are questioning whether a person’s social media posts are adequate reflections of his or her emotional well-being. In one 2013 case over alleged disability discrimination—the plaintiff claimed her work supervisor mocked her after she told him she’d been diagnosed with adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—a federal district court judge in New York held that “The fact that an individual may express some degree of joy, happiness, or sociability on certain occasions sheds little light on the issue of whether he or she is actually suffering emotional distress… For example, a severely depressed person may have a good day or several good days and choose to post about those days and avoid posting about moods more reflective of his or her actual emotional state.” We at <a href="https://www.sociallyawareblog.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Socially Aware</a> tend to agree with this more skeptical view of the extent to which one’s “social” life reflects one’s real life. After all, if <a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/15498/20140914/photoshop-fake-vacation-facebook-artist.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a woman can fake an entire vacation on Facebook</a>, many of the platform’s users are likely posting status updates and pictures that are out of sync with their actual moods.Cutting words. Stories about people being fired or having a job offer rescinded because of their social media missteps have been around almost as long as social media itself, but <a href="http://time.com/money/3019899/10-facebook-twitter-mistakes-lost-job-millennials-viral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they usually involve “what were they thinking?” types of behavior</a>. We recently came across one that is a little less clear-cut. An engineer who’d just gotten job offers from Uber and Zenefits tried to crowdsource information that would help him decide between the two employers by posting <a href="http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-start-my-career-Uber-or-Zenefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what he considered to be the pros and cons of each</a> opportunity on Quora, a Q&A social network that allows users to pose questions to the community. He said good things about both companies, but in his “cons” list for Zenefits, he wrote, “My biggest problem with Zenefits is that it isn’t a buzzword like Uber. Most people won’t know what Zenefits is (or so I think). I think that this isn’t as exciting a brand name to have on your resume when applying to the likes of Google.” Zenefits CEO and co-founder Parker Conrad saw the Quora post and responded, right on the thread: “Definitely not Zenefits (n.b.—we are revoking the questioner’s offer to work at Zenefits),” he wrote. “We really value people who ‘get’ what we do and who *want* to work here, specifically. It’s not for everyone, but there are enough ppl out there who do want to work here that we can afford to be selective.” Conrad later edited his response, deleting the part about revoking the engineer’s offer, but his decision stands: The engineer is no longer welcome at Zenefits. Reactions on Twitter went both ways, The Washington Post reported. And <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/losing-job-offer-quora-uber-vs-zenefits-tai-tran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some commentators</a> felt that both parties were at fault.Here today . . . Perhaps inspired by social media users’ concerns that their posts will be used against them in the ways we’ve just described—and, in the case of Cyber Dust, billionaire investor Mark Cuban’s receipt of a subpoena for his own text messages—<a href="http://www.saydaily.com/2014/09/disappearing-updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new disappearing messaging apps</a> are springing up all the time. One that recently <a href="http://linkis.com/snip.ly/S2UNU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">got the attention of the crowd at a tech conference in New York</a> is the photo-sharing app Rewind. Rewind allows you to create photo timelines through which the members of your network can scroll. As a result of the scrolling feature, a whole set of photos only takes up the space of a single photo in users’ feeds. The posts vanish after 24 hours. According to Tech Crunch, by making the photos disappear, the app’s creators hope “to elicit the same sort of spontaneity as Snapchat Stories,” which have been heralded as the future of social media.

Status Updates: Facebook Posts—Reliable Evidence?; Quora Post Costs Applicant a Job; a New Ephemeral Messaging App

Facebook: Fact or fiction? These days, courts are more and more frequently faced with disputes over whether, as part of the discovery process, a litigant should

Status Updates: Facebook Posts—Reliable Evidence?; Quora Post Costs Applicant a Job; a New Ephemeral Messaging App