eModeration Links of the Week: New Year's Edition

A social media links list curated from a (mostly) US perspective. Below are just a few of the end o' year Social Media reads that captured our imagination. Enjoy!

Social Media New Year's Resolutions
Bianca Bosker for HuffPost is thinking about her online habits and making a few resolutions.  We especially liked her "privacy audit" resolution and suggest not just checking the privacy settings on Facebook, but also perform a reputation audit.  Reppler is one tool of many that makes a periodic check of your personal online reputation easy-peasy. 

What Does 2012 Hold for Social Media?
The web is making its best guesses for what the future holds for social media (mobile social networking and social TV are on our short list, too.)  For our eModders in the field, we predict:  interesting conversations, one on one communications, stimulating discussion starters, laugh-out-loud witticisms (our water cooler talk is full of "best of the web" chat,) and a sprinkling of trolls, flame warriors, and true social media crises and emergencies, just to keep us on our toes. 

How Much is that Twitterer Worth?
The case of PhoneDog vs. Kravitz (via The New York Times) raises some interesting questions, including who owns a Twitter account, how much a Twitter follower is worth, and just what is a follower in real world terms, anyway.

Viral Grinchiness:  FedEx and UPS Drivers Caught in the Act
In this age of online purchasing, it is no wonder that the men and women who carry the physical boxes from trunk to door felt a tad overwhelmed this holiday season.  FedEx and UPS have both responded with semi-aplomb to the viral videos of their drivers being less than professional with package deliveries last week, but the videos themselves are still shockers.

Teaching Online Privacy - for Kids, by Kids
We are fascinated by "Gaming Privacy," a Canadian game development and research project by Kate Raynes-Goldie and David Fono aimed at creating a privacy literacy game, wherein the children who are research participants are also co-designers.  The game is on prototype 5 - can't wait to see the finished result. 

SuperBetter
Likewise, we are eager to see SuperBetter, the private gaming/self-improvement network by Social Chocolate's Jane McGonigal, open its door to more testers.  Currently, employees of Zappos are doing testing rounds ... we think telecommuting workers for a company with a virtual office model might make for great contrast subjects.  Hint, hint!