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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Lawrence W. Gallick

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.

Social Links: Going Back to Cali

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A nice overview of the rules on researching jurors’ social media accounts in various jurisdictions from Law.com.The importance of appearing at the top of Google search results, especially on mobile devices, is driving retailers to spend more and more on the search engine’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/23/technology/google-parent-company-alphabet-advertising.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_tu_20170424&nl=bits&nl_art=1&nlid=69264395&ref=headline&te=1&_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">product listing ads</a>, which include not just text but also the photos of products.Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology <a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/mit-construction-robot-3d-print-building/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">designed a mobile robot that 3D-printed a building that is 50-feet-wide</a> in 14 hours.In the second half of 2016, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/27/government-requests-for-facebook-user-data-up-9-in-second-half-of-2016-but-content-restrictions-declined/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook received 9% more global government requests for users’ account data</a> and—largely because users had stopped posting images of the 2015 Paris terrorist attack victims’ remains, which was against French law—28% fewer global government requests to remove content that violates local law.After Kashmiris posted photos and videos depicting alleged military abuse in the days following a violence-plagued local election, authorities in the Indian-controlled region banned 22 social media sites, claiming it was necessary to restore order.At the UEFA Champions League final in Cardiff, Wales, this summer, British police will pilot a new automated facial recognition (AFR) system to scan the faces of attendees and compare them to a police “persons of interest” database.To show concerned citizens—and criminals—that they mean business, police in an Alabama city are live-broadcasting arrests on Twitter.The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/25/fitbit-data-murder-suspect-richard-dabate?CMP=twt_a-technology_b-gdntech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data collected by the physical-activity-tracking device</a> worn by a Connecticut murder victim contradicts the timeline of events given by her husband, a suspect.One of the Kardashians is being sued by a photo agency for allegedly copying a copyrighted photo of her and posting it to her Instagram account.And on the subject of user-generated content, owners of video content that is posted by users to Facebook without authorization can now <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/04/27/not-so-freebooting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claim ad earnings for the infringing content and set automated rules</a> that will determine when infringing content should be blocked.The editor of the MIT Technology Review provided interesting insights to Chatbots Magazine regarding <a href="https://chatbotsmagazine.com/mit-technology-reviews-jason-pontin-technologists-consistently-underestimate-the-awfulness-of-926b49b4cc98" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the future and current state of artificial intelligence</a>.Police in Silicon Valley arrested a man for allegedly <a href="http://abc7news.com/1915713/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">knocking down a 300-pound security robot</a> while he was intoxicated.

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: Rules for researching jurors via social media; law enforcement and new technologies; Facebook tool allows copyright owners to claim ad earnings from unauthorized video uploads

A nice overview of the rules on researching jurors’ social media accounts in various jurisdictions from Law.com. The importance of appearing at the top of Googl

Social Links: Rules for researching jurors via social media; law enforcement and new technologies; Facebook tool allows copyright owners to claim ad earnings from unauthorized video uploads

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-lets-you-hide-inappropriate-comments-2016-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram now allows users to hide offensive comments</a> posted to their feeds. Take that trolls!Soon you’ll be able to watch Twitter content like NFL Thursday Night Football on <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/14/twitter-launches-on-apple-tv-fire-tv-and-xbox-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Twitter app on Apple TV, Xbox One and Amazon Fire TV</a>.“Ballot selfie” laws—laws that prohibit posting online photos of completed election ballots—are being challenged in Michigan and <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/09/13/federal-court-hears-challenge-ballot-selfie-law/IvfIzaZLriQS5DQVGzSJeN/story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Hampshire</a>.Google may be <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/google-voice-search-records-stores-conversation-people-have-around-their-phones-but-files-can-be-a7059376.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recording you regularly</a>.YouTube content creators can now <a href="http://www.androidauthority.com/youtube-community-beta-launches-716334/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">communicate with their followers in real time</a>.AdBlock Plus has launched <a href="http://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2016/9/13/12890050/adblock-plus-now-sells-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a service that allows website operators to display “acceptable” ads</a> to visitors using the popular ad blocking software. Irony, anyone?The EU might soon require the same things of chat apps like Skype that it <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-to-get-tough-on-chat-apps-in-win-for-telecoms-1473607662" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requires of telecom businesses</a>.A controversial proposal aims to give the EU’s 500 million consumers <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/business/international/eu-tv-online-streaming-bbc-netflix.html?emc=edit_tu_20160915&nl=bits&nlid=69264395&te=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more digital streaming content choices</a>.An Austrian teen whose parents overshared on social media <a href="http://www.dailydot.com/irl/facebook-photo-lawsuit-austria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looks to the law for recourse</a>.Baltimore County officials warned government employees to watch what they say on social media.With so many alternative content providers around these days, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/technology/television-the-social-medium.html?emc=edit_tu_20160915&nl=bits&nlid=69264395&te=1&_r=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">why do we still watch so much TV</a>?Here’s a list of 50 Snapchat marketing influencers who Mashable says are worth following.

Social Links: Instagram’s “offensive comment” filter; Twitter’s TV app; YouTube’s “Community” feature

Instagram now allows users to hide offensive comments posted to their feeds. Take that trolls! Soon you’ll be able to watch Twitter content like NFL Thursday Ni

Social Links: Instagram’s “offensive comment” filter; Twitter’s TV app; YouTube’s “Community” feature

Facebook Messenger joins the elite “one billion monthly users” club just four years after its release as a standalone app.A Canadian judge ordered a couple convicted of child neglect to post to all their social media accounts his decision describing their crime.Leslie Jones of Ghostbusters highlights Twitter’s trolling problem. One tech columnist says the platform needs to rethink its application programming interface strategy to enable users and communities to insulate themselves from abuse.Don’t drive and Facebook Live.Google erased Dennis Cooper’s 14-year-old blog without warning or explanation. We recently examined the outcome of lawsuits challenging a platform’s right to remove user content (spoiler alert: the platforms usually win).Twitter now lets anyone apply to get verified.Researchers say there’s a correlation between an increase in the psychological stress that teens suffer and the amount of time they’re spending on social media.A Playboy model who “fat-shamed” a woman by photographing her and posting it to Snapchat risks prosecution.Forensic psychologists explain why people post evidence of their crimes to social media.We may soon have a federal law making revenge porn illegal. Our blog post from 2014 took a look at some of the legal issues raised by revenge porn.There’s now a dating app that sets people up on Pokémon Go dates. Want to know more about the most popular mobile game of all time? Read our Pokémon Go Business and Legal Primer.

Social Links: Twitter’s troll problem; Snapchat fat-shamer risks prosecution; a federal anti-revenge-porn law?

Facebook Messenger joins the elite “one billion monthly users” club just four years after its release as a standalone app. A Canadian judge ordered a couple con

Social Links: Twitter’s troll problem; Snapchat fat-shamer risks prosecution; a federal anti-revenge-porn law?

The UK wants to use the blockchain to track the spending of welfare recipients.Some believe that a recent <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/07/10/sharing-netflix-password-crime/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ninth Circuit holding</a> could turn sharing passwords into a federal crime under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.And another Ninth Circuit <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/07/12/facebook-cfaa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opinion sided with Facebook</a> in a closely-watched case interpreting the same federal law, this time involving unauthorized access to Facebook’s website.The fashion world is embroiled in a <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/15/the-fashion-world-s-up-and-down-romance-with-social-media.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rocky romance with social media</a>.Snapchat filed a <a href="http://tech.co/snapchat-explores-image-recognition-tech-ads-2016-07" target="_blank" rel="noopener">patent application for image-recognition technology</a> that may help the platform’s ad sales.Scientists think they’ve found a way to <a href="http://www.popsci.com/scientists-think-theyve-found-way-to-eliminate-virtual-reality-sickness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tackle virtual reality sickness</a>.What’s going on at Vine? First a bunch of <a href="http://digiday.com/platforms/swinging-vine-half-top-influencers-left-platform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">influencers cut ties</a> with the platform. Now a group of its top executives have jumped ship.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/technology/live-streaming-breaks-through-and-cable-news-has-much-to-fear.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Livestreaming services</a> are giving cable TV networks a run for their money.You didn’t think we’d ignore the Pokémon Go craze, did you? Here’s advice on how to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/14/technology/personaltech/how-to-protect-privacy-while-using-pokemon-go-and-other-apps.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protect your privacy</a> when you’re using the app. We’re also preparing an article describing the game and the business and legal issues that are arising from it. Stay tuned.

Social Links: Appeals court opinions show reach of anti-hacking law; a virtual reality sickness cure; intrigue at Vine

The UK wants to use the blockchain to track the spending of welfare recipients. Some believe that a recent Ninth Circuit holding could turn sharing passwords in

Social Links: Appeals court opinions show reach of anti-hacking law; a virtual reality sickness cure; intrigue at Vine

Snapchat has <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/snapchats-teen-fans-grumble-as-app-catches-on-with-their-folks-1467661872">caught on with “oldies”</a> (that’s people 35 and older, FYI).Facebook Messenger is testing “Secret” mode, a feature that allows some messages to be read only by the recipient.A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/technology/snapchat-snow-korea.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Korean copy of Snapchat</a> has taken off in Asia.Using social media to help promote your brand? Here’s a list of top <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-lorenzen/top-6-facebook-marketers-_b_10661018.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook marketers</a> and some advice on how to get your customers to <a href="http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/getting-customers-to-buy-using-social/641809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">make social platforms their point of purchase</a>.<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-mikmak-the-mobile-shopping-network-that-sells-via-video-1467832496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meet MikMak</a>, the mobile shopping network that sells via video.A 14-year-old <a href="http://nypost.com/2016/07/08/snapchat-let-my-14-year-old-read-sex-stories-suit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and</a> his mother are <a href="http://nypost.com/2016/07/08/snapchat-let-my-14-year-old-read-sex-stories-suit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suing Snapchat</a>, claiming the app regularly exposes him to sexually explicit content.Dieters are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/health/instagram-diets.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flocking to Instagram</a>.Twitter is looking to ink more NFL-style streaming deals.Young performers are trying to achieve stardom by <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/business/media/young-performers-look-to-apps-for-stardom.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-0&action=click&contentCollection=Technology&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broadcasting on apps</a>, such as YouNow. Perhaps they should go old school, and follow this advice on building the perfect YouTube channel.The Wall Street Journal <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/instagrams-kevin-systrom-unfiltered-1467392074" target="_blank" rel="noopener">profiles Instagram’s founder</a>, Kevin Systrom.China is reportedly <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/china-internet-idINKCN0ZK07V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launching a crackdown</a> on “fake news” spread on social media sites.<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/07/06/snapchat-memories-is-a-huge-change-for-users/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snapchat’s new feature, “Memories,”</a> will allow users to retain some content.

Social Links: Kids roll eyes as parents embrace Snapchat; teen sues Snapchat over sexual content; Snapchat to become less ephemeral with new “Memories” feature (plus some other news not involving Snapchat)

Snapchat has caught on with “oldies” (that’s people 35 and older, FYI). Facebook Messenger is testing “Secret” mode, a feature that allows some messages to be r

Social Links:  Kids roll eyes as parents embrace Snapchat; teen sues Snapchat over sexual content; Snapchat to become less ephemeral with new “Memories” feature (plus some other news not involving Snapchat)

Facebook signs more than <a href="http://marketingland.com/facebook-live-contracts-181912" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$50 million worth of deals</a> with media firms and celebrities to create videos for its live-streaming service.<a href="http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/tumblr-live-video-youtube-younow-kanvas-upclose-1201800117/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tumblr is jumping on the live video</a> bandwagon, too—but via live-streaming platform partners, not through its own service.C-Span picked up <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/arts/television/c-span-gun-control-house-sit-in.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">live feeds of the Democratic sit-in</a> over gun-control legislation that representatives shot on Periscope, Facebook Live and other social platforms.Twitter will now let you <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/24/what-when-where/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see when tweets are from a specific place</a>, like a business, sports stadium, or music festival.Is Snapchat on its way to becoming the first “<a href="http://qz.com/715103/snapchat-has-quietly-introduced-the-world-to-augmented-reality/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social augmented reality platform</a>”?An <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-shooting-prosecutor-fired-facebook-posts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orlando prosecutor was fired</a> for posting offensive statements about the city on social media shortly after the Pulse nightclub shooting.A guy in Australia faces three years in jail for “<a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160621/08112434772/guy-australia-pleads-guilty-to-criminal-trolling-facebook-faces-3-years-jail.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criminal trolling.</a>”After a judge running for re-election commented on a case he was presiding over on his campaign page on Facebook, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued <a href="http://nmappellatelaw.com/nm-supreme-court-restricts-judges-use-of-social-media-did-it-go-too-far/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guidance for judges on social media use</a>.Social Times explains why <a href="http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/matthew-yeoman-guest-post-lego/641412" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lego’s social media marketing</a> efforts are worth emulating.Twitter launched <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/21/11983954/twitter-engage-influencer-app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a standalone app</a> designed to help famous people interact with their fans and build a bigger following.Speaking of celebrities, here’s a list of <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/06/24/7-celebrities-who-refuse-to-use-social-media.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven movie stars</a> who refuse to participate in social media.

Social Links: Livestreaming goes mainstream; social-media-use guidance for judges; three years in jail for trolling?

Facebook signs more than $50 million worth of deals with media firms and celebrities to create videos for its live-streaming service. Tumblr is jumping on the l

Social Links: Livestreaming goes mainstream; social-media-use guidance for judges; three years in jail for trolling?

Here’s how <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/16/11686112/twitter-140-character-count-limit-change-link-photo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter is loosening up its 140-character limit</a>.The federal government will now check the social media history of prospective employees before granting them security clearance.One expert says C-level executives <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/05/16/hearsay-social-ceos-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shouldn’t entrust millennials with their companies’ social media</a> feeds.Federal court <a href="http://digitalcommons.law.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2201&context=historical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refuses to dismiss a lawsuit against Google</a> for allegedly removing sites from its search engine results.Before a larceny arrest, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/16/nyregion/before-a-larceny-arrest-a-cry-for-help-on-facebook.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“cry for help” on Facebook</a>.Do strong <a href="http://adcontrarian.blogspot.com/2016/05/does-content-build-brands.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media campaigns really beget successful brands</a>, or is it the other way around?A lawyer representing students suing Google is questioning the impartiality of the federal judge hearing the case because the judge was just hired by <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/05/19/gmail-scanning-grewal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this unrelated tech giant</a>.The New York Times live streamed one of its pitch meetings on Facebook Live, and not everyone thinks it was a great idea.Some <a href="http://www.theonion.com/article/2-hour-meeting-spent-thinking-hashtag-absolutely-n-52924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media marketing satire</a>, courtesy of The Onion.

Social Links—Twitter loosens up; case against Google stands; should millennials be in charge of big social media campaigns?

Here’s how Twitter is loosening up its 140-character limit. The federal government will now check the social media history of prospective employees before grant

Social Links—Twitter loosens up; case against Google stands; should millennials be in charge of big social media campaigns?

The Great<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/technology/the-great-instagram-logo-freakout-of-2016.html?smid=tw-nytimesbusiness&smtyp=cur&_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram Logo Freakout</a> of 2016.A UK council policy reportedly grants its members power to spy on residents by <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3586927/Fakebook-fury-Uproar-council-awards-powers-set-false-social-media-profiles-spy-law-abiding-locals.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">setting up fake Facebook profiles</a>.Guess who spends more of their <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/rise-in-access-to-social-media-at-work-survey-finds-1.2644419" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workday on social media</a>, women or men?<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/style/we-saw-what-you-did-there-ijustine.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=3&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2016%2F05%2F14%2Fstyle%2Fwe-saw-what-you-did-there-ijustine.html&eventName=Watching-article-click" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lessons</a> from one of YouTube’s first (and most successful) stars.Should sharing tragic images on social media be against the law?A team of Google employees proposed adding <a href="http://nyti.ms/1UWr6Wv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new emojis to represent women</a> in professional situations.Has social media forced everyone to brand themselves?Nearly 500 startup companies offer <a href="http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/nearly_500_startup_companies_offer_tech_solutions_to_legal_industry?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=navigation&utm_campaign=navbar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tech solutions for the legal industry</a>.Using <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/10/opinion/using-tweets-and-posts-to-speed-up-organ-donation.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&moduleDetail=inside-nyt-region-1&module=inside-nyt-region&region=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region&_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media to speed up organ donation</a>.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/world/europe/periscope-suicide-france.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suicide on Periscope</a> prompts France to open inquiry.Now an online <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/what-is-dead-social-2016-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">service helps people to prepare their “digital legacy</a>.” Will the “<a href="http://www.sociallyawareblog.com/2015/03/10/who-will-update-my-status-when-im-dead-the-biggest-social-media-platforms-policies-on-deceased-user-accounts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media assets after death</a>” issue never die? (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.)Study finds <a href="http://www.wbal.com/article/163125/110/social-media-manipulation-is-most-common-form-of-sextortion-study-finds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media manipulation</a> is the most common form of sextortion.

Social Links—Instagram’s logo change causes a stir; stats on social media use at work; lessons from a YouTube star.

The Great Instagram Logo Freakout of 2016. A UK council policy reportedly grants its members power to spy on residents by setting up fake Facebook profiles. Gue

Social Links—Instagram’s logo change causes a stir; stats on social media use at work; lessons from a YouTube star.

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