Topic: Social Web

A massive data breach involving Florida-based background check company National Public Data (NPD), operating as Jericho Pictures, allegedly exposed 2.9 billion records. While the number of records exceeds the U.S. population, the stolen data includes names, address histories, and social security numbers. The data was reportedly leaked for free on the dark web by a hacker known as Phineas after initial attempts to sell it failed.

The No Agenda Social community on the Mastodon platform continues to grow, requiring new members to answer specific show-related questions to join. The platform offers a decentralized alternative to mainstream social media, allowing users to follow hosts and artists without corporate oversight.

The No Agenda Stream reached a near-record number of live listeners, despite a dip in financial donations. The hosts discussed the benefits of No Agenda Social, a decentralized Mastodon-based server, and the interactive "Troll Room" where listeners congregate during live broadcasts.

Academic researchers in the UK are studying "toxicity" on the decentralized web, specifically targeting platforms like Mastodon and Pleroma. Using a dataset that includes posts from No Agenda Social, the researchers developed a model called "ModPair" to help independent server owners automate the moderation of content they deem toxic.

Adam Curry reflects on his upbringing in the Netherlands during the 1970s, noting the 75% income tax rate and the trade-offs of universal healthcare and social benefits. The discussion touches on Glenn Beck's analysis of George Soros and the presence of Marxist organizations like the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) in modern political discourse.

BuzzFeed's emergence as a significant digital media entity is examined following its high-profile presence at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Co-founded by Jonah Peretti and led by Ben Smith, the publication is scrutinized for its unconventional hiring requirements, which include a "native grasp" of social web trends and a "no haters" policy. The discussion highlights the perceived lack of journalistic integrity in BuzzFeed's job postings and its focus on shareable, non-traditional content.

Adam Curry announces the completion of a new open-source social networking tool based on RSS and OPML. He positions this "river" project as a decentralized alternative to centralized platforms like Facebook and Google+, allowing users to maintain control over their data and identity.

The show has launched its own social network, nasocial.net, as an alternative to Facebook's tracking. Producers are requesting community-designed web banners of various sizes to help propagate the "No Agenda" formula across the internet.

A software program named "James M. Titus" was revealed to be a social bot designed to engage humans in conversation on Twitter. The bot was created as part of a contest by the Web Ecology Project based in Berkeley, California. The hosts suggest that such technology is likely being used by intelligence agencies to manipulate social media narratives.

The rise of mobile technology and social media platforms like Twitter has altered the dynamics of public speaking, with audiences often distracted by devices rather than engaging with the speaker. This shift in social decorum is compared to changes in classroom environments where traditional boundaries between students and teachers have eroded.