- An interesting study by an education council is out highlights that colleges and universities are underutilizing social media in times of crisis. The full report can be downloaded at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12336117/SocialMedia%26Advancement_2012.pdf and an article highlighting the study is available at http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/08/31/colleges-may-neglect-social-media-in-times-of-crisis-study-says
- SocialxDesign announced that they will be launching a daily election analysis tool in coordination with social data firm Traackr. The tool will aim to monitor key political influencers and aggregate their thoughts and messages leading up to the November election. More information can be found at http://www.sys-con.com/node/2343848
- Quantum Leap Innovations has launched a free social media search and monitoring tool for Twitter and Facebook. The updated release includes automated discovery of key patterns for filtering and organizing social media data. The new tool can be downloaded for free at http://www.quantumleapbuzz.com/ and a press release highlighting the new announcement is at http://www.execdigital.com/press_releases/quantum-leap-innovations-launches-free-social-media-search-and-monitoring-tool-for-twitter-and-faceb
- The strange world of viral memes that brought us planking and Tebowing now extends into the political realm with a new inspiration from Clint Eastwood known as "Eastwooding". Countless social media users have begun uploading empty chairs as their profile pictures or posting on Instagram. A New York Daily news story explains the phenomenon at http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/eastwooding-inspires-social-media-users-upload-empty-chair-pics-clint-eastwood-speech-article-1.1148602
- DirecTV and social TV leader Viggle have launched a loyalty program that will allow subscribers of DirecTV to recommend programs to friends and family on Viggle. For more information, a short story about the announcement can be found at http://www.fiercecable.com/story/directv-launches-loyalty-program-social-tv-service-viggle/2012-08-30