Hey, time-line haters, there’s still hope for you if you want to recover the classic Facebook layout. All you have to do is move to Russia! Yeah, sorry, not so simple. Introducing VK.com, Russia’s largest social networking site. It has more users than Facebook in Russia, but it’s basically a knockoff of Facebook circa 2006. You know, the really old school layout. With the status update box that still says “Garnet is…” and the good old “wall.”

So the original Facebook isn’t gone, it just relocated to Russia. We don’t quite understand all the hate directed toward Facebook’s new time-line profiles, but seeing the old layout did make us a bit nostalgic. We started to wonder if some of the other classic things we had when growing up have also moved over to Russia. Maybe our 90s/early 2000s favorites aren’t gone after all! Here are 9 things we hope still exist in Russia.

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On the first day, the technologically savvy gods said, “Let there be…. MySpace!”

On the second day, the technological gods woke up with hangovers and thought better of their earlier creation and so they said, “Let there be….. Facebook.” (And really, we can’t thank you enough!)

From there, the technological gods gave us Twitter. A social media platform that allowed us to follow all of our favorite stars, friends and frenemies. And on the seventh day (okay, I know I skipped a couple days here but there were parties and hookahs and lamb offerings and Beyonce-themed karaokes), opting to work instead of enjoying their day of rest… the gods gave us Tumblr.

In a maze of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Stumble, the weary brethren (myself, included) struggled to understand the meaning of the seventh creation. Tumblr? A place to…. tumble? An ode to the gymnasts? A home for floor routine inspired decor?

And as the world continued to grapple with the gods’ latest creation – a masterpiece of technology, another home for social media savvy wise (wo)men – we raised our monitors and shouted to our computers for answers!

“What exactly is Tumblr, and how the freak are we supposed to use it,” we cried out!

Now, let me share with you a personal anecdote. When I first heard about Tumblr, my best friend was calling me to explain that she had found a place – a mecca of sorts (if we’re keeping up with all of my awesomely bad mythology themes) – where she could house her thoughts and feelings. She explained to me that she was feeling really low recently and in a place that both physically and emotionally disconnected her from the rest of the world. And because I am super sophisticated, social media savvy and just all around awesome, I thought that to create my own account in order to look at hers. Genius right here.

I would receive emails that informed me that “so-and-so is now following you”. And immediately, I locked my windows. Following me? What the hell. What kind of internet site is this? I don’t need to be followed, I manage just fine on my own. So for a long time, I would just log on and stare at my friend’s page, hoping whoever was following me could not see through my closed blinds, scrolling through her recent updates. In April I received an embarrassing text from her basically asking why I had a tumblr if I was never going to use it. Now, on top of the stress of picking out what song will play at my funeral (one of these peeps following me is bound to have some success sooner or later and kill me), I’m embarrassed that my best friend has uncovered the meaning of life before me.

She answered the basic questions for me:

What is a Tumblr? An online community that shares photos, stories, quotes, links, videos, recipes, personal stories, and whatever the hell else you think the rest of the world would even be remotely interested in you. So clearly, my earlier notions of a safe-space for once-was gymnasts was way wrong. 

Why are these people following me? And how do I follow them? You pick the people you want to follow. And no, Kylie, you idiot, they’re not really following you. They either know you or they hope to be interested in something that you post. You can pick from anything – vintage tumblrs, fashion tumblrs, food tumblrs, photographs, stories, literature, anything. You just search and follow people.

How do I make stuff appear? You reblog them. There are tabs that appear if you click on a photo you like, or on a post you like. You can ‘like’ it, you can comment on it, or you can reblog it. Tumblr is all about the things that YOU like and what YOU think represents your interests.

And there it suddenly was: all of the answers to this universe, the meaning of life, the purpose of my existence, all laid about before me by my best friend. God, talk about a prophet.

So if you’re eager like me to check out the most interesting people/photos/places/stories from all over the world, here are some of my favorite tumblrs to check out: this, this and this! And if you’re eager to begin your blogging career: Tumblr is F-R-E-E and a great place to upload your own content, search for interest people to follow and make a digital collection of all the things that interest, excite and captivate you!

And be not afraid, I go tumbling before you always!

If you’ve been anywhere on the interwebs or have some sort of smart phone, then you know about Instagram. Facebook recently acquired the photo-sharing company for some Zuckerberg pocket change of $1 billion. Apps like this always have knockoffs, kind of like designer handbags. Remember when Pinspire ripped off Pinterest? Well that’s still going on, and Pinspire is failing. And I’m going to shamelessly plug our Pinterest account while I’ve got you’re attention!

Anyway, there are similar apps to Instagram like Hipstamatic, which is still less trendy so if you’re a hipster you can still use it. We happened to stumble upon Boobstagram. And yes, it’s real. I wasn’t all that surprised when I found out given the kinds of things we have access to these days. But I was extremely surprised when I found out that Boobstagram isn’t quite what you think. Upon first glance, it seems like a site with Instagram photos of boobs. It’s boobs galore! They’re all clothed and not super scandalous, but it’s some serious cleavage. But once you look up,  you notice that the header says, “Showing your boobs on the web is good, showing them to your doctor is better.”

Yeah, I didn’t think that’s what it was about either. As I kept my glance up toward where the website’s eyes would be if it were a chick, I noticed a WHY? tab.

“Taking risks against breast cancer risk

The fight against cancer is long-standing; progresses are real but can seem slow compared with other diseases, despite considerable human and financial ressources dedicated to it.

We cannot all become doctors or surgeons. But we can all take part in prevention, for ourselves, for our friends and family and for others. But how? How to be heard in the public area overwhelmed with messages ? How to avoid the pitfall of moralism ? How to build a popular communication matching with the up-to-date scientific knowledge ? And how to create a rather fun prevention campaign when most campaigns use fear ?

That is what Boobstagram will attempt to realise, using the appropriation of the latest technologies.
by each.

By using this approach and by targeting young people, those most comfortable with new technologies and most comfortable with unconventional messages, we attempt to raise awareness amongst those who must change their behaviour today, in order to change their future tommorrow. It is indeed one extra challenge of this disease, that one prepares one’s cancer in 20, 30 or 40 years. However, raising awareness amongst young people about real but distant risks is extremely complex. There are several types of preventions:
Primary prevention that targets unhealthy behaviours
Secondary prevention that promotes early detection of disease, when medicine can be most effective

It is on those two axis that we will attempt to intervene with those illustrated messages that we hope to see circulate widely on social networks.

Glamorous, audacious, original, whatever the means, as long as the objective is fulfilled : To stay alive.

Julien GLT (founder of Boobstagram) and Lionel Pourtau (sociologist)”

So there you go. You can upload some pictures of your boobs to Boobstagram and fight breast cancer! I’m not so sure this is actually raising awareness as much as it is raising erections, but it’s an interesting tactic in the fight against breast cancer.

What do you think of Boobstagram? Is it really raising awareness for breast cancer or is it just pictures of cleavage?

Caitlin is a senior at the University of Alabama who has an obsession with cupcakes, coffee, and Harry Potter. She always has random fun facts on reserve and aspires to be a professional blogger, social media bug, and/or James Franco’s assistant. Follow her fabulous life @caitlincorsetti. You’re welcome!

[Image via We Heart It]

I refuse to get timeline. Several of my friends have given in because they’re tired of the ads popping up on their profile, and they don’t want Zuckerberg to win. Well, Facebook is going to have to force me into the change next week. I’m not doing it. I’m tired of Facebook making changes, and then they went and bought Instagram. Yes, I understand that they’re growing social media, but it’s getting out of line. I miss the old Facebook days when you actually needed a .edu email address to access it. Facebook is great, but honestly the constant changes and updates are turning me off.

Maybe I’m just stubborn, but I am holding onto old Facebook for as long as possible. I don’t want a large cover photo and a subsequently smaller profile picture. I don’t want everyone to easily go back in time on my profile. I like my wall the way it is right now. Why, Zuckerberg, why?! I feel like Facebook is becoming the Apple of social media. Every time they announce something new, we have it for a few months, and then another change is made. Make up your mind!

You know how many times Twitter has changed since I got it? Once. And it wasn’t even that big of a change. It was just basic formatting stuff, and they made everything look nicer. I’m a huge proponent of social media and its capabilities, but I don’t need everyone knowing what I’m listening to on Spotify or reading an article. Once you get timeline, you have seven days to hide what you don’t want to be seen. That sounds like the Facebook version of The Ring. The constant changes are making me not even want to get on Facebook anymore. I no longer tell people to Facebook message me. I tell them to find me on Twitter or send me an email.

What do you think of Timeline? Have you switched over or are you waiting for the forced change?

Caitlin is a senior at the University of Alabama who has an obsession with cupcakes, coffee, and Harry Potter. She always has random fun facts on reserve and aspires to be a professional blogger, social media bug, and/or James Franco’s assistant. Follow her fabulous life @caitlincorsetti. You’re welcome!

[Lead image from Facebook]

If you haven’t heard already, Facebook bought Instagram today. Mark Zuckerberg has been quoted saying the following:

“For years, we’ve focused on building the best experience for sharing photos with your friends and family. Now, we’ll be able to work even more closely with the Instagram team to also offer the best experiences for sharing beautiful mobile photos with people based on your interests.”

Some have speculated that Facebook’s latest buy is an attempt to box out the competition. Others have also complained heavily that, under Facebook’s administration, Instagram is ruined. While this may be true, Facebook, a billion dollar company, is pretty good at running the show. In fact, Facebook would probably successfully run several other companies as well. Here are some companies I think Facebook should buy:

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[Lead image via androidauthority.com]

Before we get into the thick of this, I want to make something very clear. I am not an overly romantic person. I roll my eyes at cheesy love songs, have absolutely no plans for my wedding, and think the idea of giving each other gifts for every single holiday is not only a bit much but also expensive. I am not a high maintenance girl. I swear– you can check my references. But I’ve noticed a disturbing trend as of late that has made me stop and say something I never thought I would say…

What happened to wooing? What happened to a guy and a girl getting together for a date and getting to know each other? What happend to calling a girl to speak to her instead of sending an endless stream of texts? Why are guys trying to arrange and cancel dates via Facebook? It’s awkward and unnatural, and honestly, kind of cowardly. And completely unromantic.

But it’s happening.

Social media has really changed the dating game. Not only does it create a need for instant gratification, but it also creates a whole new set of barriers between people. Why bother making the effort to call a girl when you can just text her? Or better yet, text three girls at the same time? Why try to think on your feet and be charming in person, when you can analyze your every word before sending a carefully worded Facebook message? And most importantly, why bother getting to know a girl when you can just look at her Facebook profile?

A few months ago one of my friend’s Facebook friends added me on Facebook, because he “thought I was cute.” Or at least that’s what he told my friend who told me beforehand.  He friended me, messaged me, and then began talking to me as if he already knew me. As if this is a perfectly normal way to meet someone, instead of, oh, I don’t know…at a bar or in line for coffee.

Call me old fashion, but I think the weirdness of these interactions should at least be addressed. By stalking me via my friend’s Facebook, he essentially picked me out of a catalogue. Then he assumed I would go along with it. There was no wooing whatsoever, no lead up or getting to know each other. There was no effort at all. He just skipped that stage and assumed he knew me, because he glanced at my Facebook profile. And when he did ask me out, for the same night, he was offended that I already had plans. And that “ask out” was for drinks. I’m sorry but when did dinner become out of the question? Are you really supposed to get to know someone in a crowded bar awkwardly sipping a cocktail as you try to decide if you should go ahead and get that third drink?

I mean how much quicker can we make the dating game? Has the need for instant gratification become so great that we don’t even think its worth sharing a meal with a person if we don’t know for sure that it will work out? Technology essentially makes it effortless for guys and girls to get in touch these days. So why not put in a little effort somewhere else? Like on the actual date.

Why not, dare I say it, add a little romance?

Jenn is a communications grad student and social media fanatic who spends her free time reading, writing, watching too much tv and shopping for shoes she can’t afford. At least that’s what her Twitter bio says. Follow her @jenninzetta. 

I’m going to give you a clue for anyone who’s ever wondered what my secret identity really is: I’m not Josh Hartnett. I’m not even a fan of his, but I am a fan of 40 Days/40 Nights and since Ash Wednesday was oh, so, recent, I felt inspired to re-watch that rom-com romp. In case you’ve never seen it, it’s about a heartbroken Hartnett who is socially and emotionally crippled from being dumped by his long-term girlfriend that he takes a vow: no sexual gratification for Lent and thus freeing himself from her…influence? I don’t know, the logic takes some selling, I’m sure Sarah Palin could make sense of it. Being as this is the season of Lent, when good Catholic boys and girls are sacrificing one of their favorite luxuries for 40 days, I started to wonder, how productive an idea is this for the 21st century? I’m all for penance, don’t get me wrong, love me some BDSM, but while you can give up certain things, are their ones that you shouldn’t give up? I mean, Josh Hartnett becomes unable to work, have friendships, or eat pancakes. Is that healthy? Isn’t that going a bit too far? So, after some extensive research, I’ve come up with a list of 11 things that women should not give up for Lent, for the good of mankind.

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There you have it, ladies. 11 things you shouldn’t sacrifice for Lent. Some of these might be shocking. Some of these might be bewildering. But that’s the way it goes sometimes. What did I miss? What couldn’t you live without for 40 days and 40 nights? Before you even ask in the comments, don’t worry, this is just part one. Next time, we’re going to tackle the boys…figuratively speaking.

Fire in the hole!

The Dude

Even though it’s so cathartic to vomit a few passive aggressive phrases on your Facebook status update or TwitPic a shot of the horribly dressed person standing ahead of you in line, don’t ever slam your parents on social media. Because you just might end up with BULLETS in your laptop and accidental YouTube infamy, just like Hannah did.

An upset father made the following video to rant about his daughter’s rebellious activity on Facebook: posting a list of her first world problems and slamming her parents on the social networking platform. Watch it for a reading of her posts and his response as a father, a guy who works in information technology for a living, and a guy with a gun:

And here’s the Hot Button Issues of the week: clearly, this guy is upset with his lazy and entitled 15-year-old daughter, but is that a reason to shoot her laptop and tape it for the world to see? He could have donated that laptop to a less-fortunate family or a local school that needs another piece of equipment; he could have sold the laptop to make up for all the money he’s invested in what’s become her gadgets used solely for social media purposes.

I understand that he’s trying to make an example out of her horribly embarrassing and immature behavior—which he does, in my opinion, up until he gets out of his chair, grabs the video camera and wastes a perfectly upgrade laptop and a good set of bullets on his anger. Because in that moment, he went from the caring father with a daughter who seriously slammed her parents on Facebook to the trigger-happy daddy whose daughter is lucky she wasn’t home while he made this video.

What do you think about this father’s punishment for a daughter who slammed her parents on Facebook? Was it a little immature himself, or is it right on target?

Ashley is a UC San Diego grad who is holding on way too tightly to a potential career in magazines and goes to Vegas all too often. She’s fascinated with celebrities and strawberry beer and doubles as a pathological texter/emailer/blogger. Feed the addiction with tweets @cashleelee. Thanks in advance.

Although Facebook has dramatically changed the rules of social interactions, there are some things that are still not allowed. This includes writing certain comments on certain people’s walls. As much as I’d like to tell my crush how much I like him, that sort of thing has yet to be deemed socially acceptable (unfortunately). So, instead of writing these comments on my Facebook friends’ walls, I’m just going to post about it…hopefully they don’t see this. Anyway, here’s what I would say if consequences/embarrassment didn’t exist…

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What would you write if you could say anything on anyone’s wall?

Ashley is a freshman at George Washington University and she’s majoring in Overanalyzing Situations and International Affairs. Follow her on twitter @ashleybrooks25

[Lead image via Tom K!/Shutterstock]

You wake up. You reach over to your bedside table, grab your ringing phone and click the dismiss button to stop the alarm. Phone still in hand, you rub your left eye, but leave the right one open and peek at the device in your palm. Eleven new emails and four texts. You check them sleepily–texts from your mom, your sister and two from your best friend. Then move on to the emails–one from work, a few from school, some announcing sales at your favorite stores and lastly, a notification that John Smith wants to be your friend on Facebook. John Smith? Who is that?

Getting out of bed, you plop down in front of your computer and pull up the social networking site. You check out John Smith, but still don’t know who he is. Then you realize he has sent you a message. “Hey, we met at a bar the other night. It wasn’t anything big, we just introduced ourselves. How are you?” You still don’t really remember him, but you accept the friend request anyway. Then you go back to your news feed, where you see that your friend in Texas has put up new pictures. Clicking through them, you realize you haven’t talked to her in almost two years, but still know most of what’s going on in her life.

So much of our lives has been infiltrated by virtuality and technology that it’s rare that we have more actual face time in a day than virtual. We text, BBM, Facebook chat, Gchat, Skype, iChat and tweet far more often than we take the time to meet up face to face, and we don’t have a problem with that. (In fact, I just stopped and typed out a text in the middle of writing that sentence.) Often we have online friends that we have never met outside of the digital world–something that not long ago may have been considered a little strange, but has recently become a social norm. The number of online dating sites grows almost daily, and people find shared interests on all different kinds of blogs–from fashion to comics to music. But just because we like to look at the same website as someone, does that mean we should be friends?

Many people believe that virtual relationships are fake and watered down, and in a lot of instances that is true. Think about it–how much do you really know about all of your Facebook friends? Are the majority of them even your friends at all? Are they even real people? Or just fakes created by a lonely woman in the middle of nowhere like in that Catfish movie?

We may feel like we know people that we meet online because we spend such a huge portion of our lives in front of our computer screens, but who we are online can be totally different from who we are in real life. The internet provides a safety filter through which we feel we can be more outgoing, wittier and all around more impressive than we may be when approached on the street. Imagine that you start following someone on Twitter because every single one of their tweets makes you almost pee your pants, but you decide to meet them in person and discover they look a little bit like Chewbacca with even less social skills. Or, there’s always the chance he looks like Bradley Cooper and is just as funny as his 140-character one-liners. Either way, meeting people on the internet is a gamble, no matter how well you think you know them. And we’re always crossing our fingers for a jackpot.

So is it bad that so much of our personal lives and relationships are online? Maybe. But it doesn’t seem to be a trend that will go away soon.