Facebook and Depression

I deactivated my Facebook account about two months ago now. I’d had enough of reading about how hung over people were, how much they hate Mondays, how angry they were but “didn’t want to talk about it, ” and watching people constantly uploading pictures of them and their over exaggerated smiles on nights out to convince us (or maybe themselves) that they are happy, fun loving and lead exciting lives. Give me a break.

I also don’t miss the arguments over Facebook. I’m not going to ask how many of you in a relationship have argued because of Facebook, but rather how many arguments have you had? My guess would be over 80% of all your lovers tiffs nowadays are the result of Social Networking.

“Who is that girl commenting on your EXTRA LINKS REMOVED?”

“Why is he liking all your pictures?”

Sound familiar?

My biggest issue with Facebook – and the primary reason why I deactivated – is the risk of depression it can cause. I’m not saying it’s going to become a pandemic, but with so many socialites on there taking every opportunity to show off, only posting the best bits of their lives (which arguably they should) it can lead to a feeling of inferiority, insecurities and jealousy in those who aren’t doing as much with themselves.

The problem is that a lot of people will only post their “best bits, ” so to speak. They’re not going to air their dirty laundry out but will showcase each and every time they’re doing something they feel is worth sharing. So is this a EXTRA LINKS REMOVED representation of their lives? Probably not, everybody has their insecurities and doubts within. But for someone who has lower self-esteem, they won’t recognise that fact. Their fears and insecurities will instead be amplified by having other peoples lives thrown in their face.

To get a bit technical, a person will associate particular events, i.e. seeing people leading good lives on Facebook, with negative thoughts, i.e. feeling left out. This will become the norm process, so every time someone see’s a picture or status about an event that they didn’t attend, their thought process will lead them to feel left out, rejected and inferior to others. If you’re a smart ass, then you’ll know this is the area of Cognitive Psychology.

Cyber bullying is also a massive, massive area of concern and Facebook is the biggest platform for it. Poor kids, back when I was in school if you were bullied you’d get it between school times and at least then you could go home and relax. Today it is a non-stop 24/7 wave of abuse that doesn’t give children a chance to breath. What makes it worse is Facebook means more and more people can see the taunts and abuse, and ultimately join in. It’s difficult to police and control, especially if the victim doesn’t speak out – which they almost never do in cases of bullying.

This is not all to say Facebook isn’t without its quality points. For people who emigrate it’s an essential way to keep in touch with family back home, others reunite with long lost relatives and friends, and others even EXTRA LINKS REMOVED. It’s not got 900 million users for nothing.

But I fear for the long term. For all the heart warming stories Facebook creates, think of all the damage it does. Cyber bullying, broken relationships and “Facebook depression, ” are all outcomes from social networking. “On Facebook…” is becoming a more and more common phrase to the police, teachers and therapists.

After all, the world was full of heart-warming stories long before social networking arrived, but there wasn’t cyber-bullying. Arguments between couples were actually relevant to real life behaviour. And people’s insecurities weren’t intensified by artificial causes such as a photo album of someone’s happiest moments only.

Like I said I removed my account about two months ago and I feel liberated for it. I’ve remembered how to phone, text and visit people again because now I HAVE to in order to keep in touch. Facebook created the illusion that you see people all the time thanks to their status updates and pictures, which ultimately led to a lot of lost time.

Plus I love not having to read about what people are having for dinner every night.

Read More

Following Tweets to Find the Best Restaurant

following tweets to find the best retaurant

Twitter is currently being used by millions of people. The site is a great way to stay updated with friends, family, and even celebrities. One thing that people often do not think about when they are using Twitter is that it can also be a fantastic way to find a new restaurant and to receive promotions when dining out. There are a couple of ways that you can use tweets to find a great new restaurant and to actually save money when you venture out. Your dining experience will be fresh and new when using these online features.
There are a couple of ways for you to find a new restaurant by using tweets found on Twitter. One way would be to follow foodie blogger accounts. Foodies are people who tend to visit restaurants and blog about them. They will tell you all of the details concerning their visit. Because most of these bloggers go undercover when visiting a restaurant, they do not receive special attention when being served their meal. The blogger will tell you if it took long to receive their meal at the restaurant and if the food was not up to par. Many of these foodie bloggers have their own Twitter accounts that you can easily follow by visiting the Twitter and pressing one button.
The foodie blogger will then post tweets sporadically to tell you if they went to a new restaurant, where it was located, and what it was like. If you live in the vicinity of the blogger, you may even be tempted to try out the new restaurant yourself. Because of this, it may be a good idea for you to follow a blogger who is located somewhere near your home. This makes it easy for you to actually relate to their tweets and find a great restaurant without having to travel hundreds of miles.
Another way to find a restaurant when using tweets would be to search for them using the search bar on the site. Look for restaurants in your area and simply follow them. From there, you will be able to be kept updated when it comes to promotions and other followers and what they think. By following a restaurant's tweets, you may be inclined to actually visit the place and dine there with your loved ones. The entire process of finding the best new restaurant in your area can really be as simple as logging onto your computer and using Twitter to keep updated on new and exciting places.

This post was written by ezCater.com. For more information on great food click here.

Read More

Changing Security-An Inside Look at One Time Passwords

Authentication is widely used by businesses as a way to ensure privacy of certain information. Financial institutions use authentication to provide their customers with access to their own accounts. Healthcare facilities use authentication to ensure they’re treating the right patient with the right procedures.
There are numerous forms of authentication available today. Some are more involved than others, and some require the use of multiple factors in order to gain access to information. The type of authentication used by a company is totally their decision.
One of the more popular authentication tactics is the use of one time passwords, otherwise known as OTP. Put simply, an OTP is a password that is given to an individual for one time use to gain access. Once the password has been used, it is no longer valid and will no longer work to provide access.
What is the purpose of one time passwords?
Like any other authentication tactic, one time passwords help protect companies and their customers from fraudulent activity. Most hackers and scam artists rely on certain tools to access information, such as passwords, that people use to gain access to accounts or restricted areas of buildings. When companies use one time passwords, the risk of hackers and scam artists gaining information is eliminated, because once a password is used, it will no longer work.
How are OTPs delivered?
Since OTPs change quickly, it’s important that they are provided to the right individuals in a time efficient manner. For this reason, there are multiple ways that companies provide this information to their recipients. Some companies give their employees and/or clients a certain utensil, such as a token. Information including the new password is then sent to this token, giving the person access. Other companies simply send the new password to a mobile device or electronically through email. And then there are some who simply print out the password and hand it to the intended recipient.
Some companies generate their OTPs on a daily basis. For example, if you work for a company that requires OTP to access information on your computer, your employer may only require you to log in once at the beginning of the day and logout at the end of the day. Then, the following work day, you will be provided with a new password.
On the other hand, there are companies that change the password every time a user logs in or out of a certain system. For example, if you are trying to access information on a website that uses OTP, and you need to access this site multiple times throughout the day, you may be given a new password for every log in.
How are OTPs created?
Some OTPs are created based on time. The company that generates the OTP can have a new line of passwords sent to employees and clients at a certain time every day.
Some OTPs are created once the OTP before it has been used. For example, if you have an OTP and you log into a website using the OTP, you may receive your next OTP before you are even done using the site.
How much does implementing OTPs cost?
The cost of OTPs will vary on the type and extensiveness of your desires. If you are looking for an OTP to print out new passwords on paper or implement it to exist on devices you already own, then OTP is extremely cost effective. On the other hand, if you want a more intricate OTP experience that pushes new info out to new devices that you currently don’t have in your possession, you’re looking at spending a significant amount of money.
The bottom line is that authentication is becoming the norm, whether you want to access an area of a hospital, look at your online bank account or even log in to your social network. Companies are implementing tactics to keep you and your information secure, and using one time passwords is one of these options.


author : Stella Brown writes about custom authentication methods and other online security applications.

Read More

5 Motivational YouTube Videos

The human psyche is a wonderful receptor of good news. Human beings love to be motivated. We love to be told that there are no limits to how great we can become. We are told that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance that we can accomplish things we never thought possible. Motivational videos on YouTube can help us to explore our inner greatness and release it in a way that benefits everyone. Here are five YouTube videos to get your motivational juices flowing.

Ray Lewis Motivational Speech

The Stanford University basketball team invited Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to give them a motivational speech. As they prepared for their game in the NCAA NIT tournament, Lewis challenged them to leave their legacy by any means necessary. He told them that nobody can judge their effort since effort is an individual thing. Only the person involved knows how much effort they can give. He told them that if they aren't hungry for greatness then they are fine with being mediocre. He then looked them all in the face and said that he knew not one person in the locker room was fine with being mediocre. You can watch this video on YouTube by typing in "Ray Lewis Stanford speech."

Eric Thomas The Truth

Eric Thomas delivers a speech in which he tells people a story. A man told another man he wanted to be successful, so he put him under the water at the beach for a few seconds. When he came back up, the man told him all he wanted was to breathe. Eric Thomas says once you want to succeed as much as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful. This is one of the best videos on YouTube and you can watch it by typing in "Eric Thomas The Truth."

Carpe Diem

In the film "Dead Poets Society", Robin Williams is a teacher. He encourages his students to seize the day. He tells them of past students who are dead now that didn't take advantage of the lives and opportunities they were given. He tells to students to ask themselves if they are waiting too long to make something great out of their lives. You can type "Carpe Diem Dead Poets Society" into YouTube to watch this one.

Rocky Quote

A quote from "Rocky Balboa" offers some motivational advice. Rocky's son is down in the dumps and is full of excuses. Rocky tells him that it doesn't matter how hard you can hit. The only thing that matters is how much of life's punishments someone can take and keep moving forward. Please type in "Rocky Balboa’s Inspirational Quote" at YouTube to watch this clip.

Al Pacino Speech

Al Pacino gives a motivational speech in "Any Given Sunday." He compares football to life and says that the margin of error is so small in both games. The only people who succeed in football and in life are the ones who are willing to fight for every inch no matter what the price might be. You can watch this clip by typing in "Al Pacino's Inspirational Speech."


Frank is a Small Business Owner from Sydney, Australia. He says there is a lot of inspiration to found on YouTube but has also found Brett Kelly, a Professional Speaker from Sydney, to be a great motivation for his business success.

Read More

5 Reasons You Should Post a Video About a Product You Like

It is a widely known fact that videos about a product can propel a business that sells the product in terms of creating media attention, conversion rates, mass interest, and revenue. Posting a video about a product you like is a crucial element of marketing. In particular, posting a video about a product you like on YouTube or Pinterest is beneficial especially if the product or the business is new. This article is designed to highlight 5 reasons why you should post a video about a product you like.
 

Conversion Rates
Posting a video about a product increases the product's website's conversion rates. Conversion rates are very important especially for a new business. If the company that sells the product has a website, posting a video that has a link directing visitors to the website can greatly increase the rate at which visitors to the site make a purchase. According to a recent study, 85% of people are more likely to purchase a product if they have seen a video about the product.
The other reason why you should post a video about a product is that it will increase people's understanding about the product. For instance, an explainer video can be posted on a site like YouTube to offer details about the product. A video also helps to inform potential customers about what the product can do for them. According to research, just one minute of video is equivalent to 1.8million words. The fact that people do not always prefer reading makes video a perfect means of offering potential customers information about the product. Additionally, because video is also accompanied by audio, the chances of the viewers of the video retaining the information in the video about the product are greater. Research has shown that people can remember approximately 68% of what they see and hear on a video, while they can only remember 10% of what they see.
Gain Interest
Posting a video about a product you like also enables you to gain mass interest. Video has a far reaching appeal, and according to a recent survey 70.8% of people who use the internet watch online videos. This means that people prefer and actually love videos, and if the video that you post is funny or inspiring, the entire world will show interest.
Another reason why you should post a video about a product that you like is that it helps to improve a website's SEO. A key-word focused explanation, some relevant tags, and a strategic title is all that is required to harness the benefits of video SEO. The video could also include building links in the description to direct viewers back to your website. According to research, Google universal searches include video in approximately 38% of all searches.
Finally, you should post a video about a product that you like so as to inspire brand evangelists. Video is another type of social media, and it is great for inspiring brand evangelists because people are more willing to share interesting videos that they find online. This goes a long way in attracting mass interest.


Kaylie G. is a writer for the site Ukritic. This site can help you post product reviews online and earn money doing so! Take a look at this site today!

Read More

7 tips for twitter beginners

Twitter is a great way to connect with friends and, if you have a business or blog, your target market. But like any social networking, learning to use Twitter from scratch can be a bit overwhelming, and it's easy to get frustrated when you don't automatically have thousands of followers. So today, I put together seven of my best tips for Twitter beginners.
Tip #1: Be active every day.
It's hard to be successful on Twitter if you're only there once in a blue moon. In order to build your following and get more retweets, you have to be there every single day (or as often as possible). If you're active (and interesting) people will start to notice you.
Tip #2: Follow people. 
People are wary of following anyone who isn't following anyone in return. You don't have to follow back everyone, but it is important to get out there and find interesting people to follow. This is how people will find you at first. So, unless you're a famous celebrity, don't hesitate to hit that follow button.
Tip #3: Keep your tweets short and tweetable.
If you use every bit of the 140 character limit, people don't have any space to retweet you with their own comments. Worse yet are people who tweet one thought over the course of multiple tweets. That's not in the spirit of Twitter. 99% of the time, you should keep your tweets as short as possible so people are more encouraged to retweet.

Tip #4: Use hashtags.
Hashtags (anything that starts with #) are ways for you to join a conversation about a specific topic. You can join Twitter "chats" or "parties" were people use a specific hashtag at a specific time to talk to one another or you can simply use any hashtag you want to find other people tweeting about the same topic. In both cases, this is a great way to find people to follow (and for people to find you as well).

Tip #5: Be a giver.
On Twitter, don't just throw out your links and then wonder why no one cares. You have to be a giver on Twitter! Retweet others' links, spend time replying to them (just use @ and their username), and be interested in your followers. If you show people some love, they'll show it back to you.



Tip #6: Fill out your profile.
Who are you? Your tweets alone might not tell me. You want people to know who you are in less than three seconds. So, fill out your profile to include a headshot, a link back to your website if you have one, and a few words about yourself.
Tip #7: Tell people you're on Twitter.
If you already have an audience elsewhere, like on Facebook or through an email list, tell those people that you're now on Twitter. Make an announcement, put buttons on your website, and get your current friends to follow you. Once you start to build a following, it's much easier to find and get new people to follow you. But you have to start somewhere!



This guest post is from Allison with InternetService.net.

Read More