Real-time web

A customer uses a computer at an internet cafe in Tehran. (Photo: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi)

Iranians Get Brief Taste of Free Access to Social Media

Conflict & Justice

On Monday afternoon some Iranian social media users got a big surprise. They were able to connect to Facebook and Twitter directly, without the use of proxies. The tweets, however, were short-lived.

Twitter Files for #SecretIPO

Bet You’d Never Guess What the Iranian President Tweets

Arts, Culture & Media

Meanwhile, the Syrian Electronic Army is Busy Attacking Twitter

Global Politics

Scientists use Twitter to discuss experimental methods

Environment

Tweets about Chris Brown fuel discussion of the perception of domestic violence

Arts, Culture & Media

The perception of domestic abuse, especially among young people, has become a hot topic after Chris Brown took home the Grammy for Best R&B Album at this year’s award ceremony. Some fans took to Twitter, not only forgiving the singer, but also claiming they would be willing to submit to abuse from Brown.

British 20-something takes to real-time tweeting of World War II

Alwyn Collinson, a 24-year-old, has taken to Twitter to mark the 72nd anniversary of World War II. For the next six years, he’ll tweet multiple times a day what was happening on that day, 72 years ago.

Hedge fund uses Twitter to profitably predict market swings

The $40 million dollar fund made a profit of almost two percent in its first month of trading by using Tweets to gauge public’s mood.

Facebook helps foment revolution in Egypt and Tunisia

Social media is helping dissidents rise up against the government in Egypt and Tunisia, and social media companies are helping.

Sorry Ashton Kutcher, John Quincy Adams’ tweets cooler

Environment

Tweeting the diary entries of John Quincy Adams from 200 years ago, when he journeyed to Russia as a US minister.