The U.S. Army recently mentioned in a report that Twitter, the popular microblogging service, could be used as a tool for terrorists. For example, the report explained how Twitter could potentially be used to detonate explosives and coordinate attacks. The analysts in the intelligence operations are thinking very creatively! Why do they publish these things? It isn’t likely that the Twitter community could recognize or decipher a terrorist conversation.  But now the military just gave the bad guys a new idea if they haven’t already thought of it, or at …

This is Part 1 of a new series that explores the science of Social Media Measurement.
Much attention has been given to the Web 2.0 generation of social networks and websites. Deservedly so, this next wave of Internet properties has quickly acquired humongous user bases, rich valuations, and cultural buzz worldwide. Venture capital investors are clamoring to fund the latest spin on crowdsourcing, content aggregation, social networking, micro-blogging, video sharing, and other different takes on social media. Fortune 2000 companies are all trying to figure out how to respond to this …

Social networking has thus far been primarily about connecting with lost friends, playing simple games, and gawking at strangers. Aside from the amazing ability to reconnect with buddies from middle school, the rest of social networking mirrors normal human behavior in real life. Lots of people need an avenue for rest and relaxation. Dumb games like Pirates vs. Ninjas on Facebook replaces old time-wasters like watching TV. Who hasn’t been to the mall or the park watching people pass by? We’re all voyeurs to some degree but social networks like …