Stop SOPA!, 'Listen with' Facebook, Bald Barbie gets big & BT's social goals

Internet blackout planned for the 18th January against SOPA

If one of your favourite websites is down this Wednesday, chances are it's down in protest against SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act.  Sites like Reddit, Facebook, Google, Twitter and Zynga have all shown their disappointment towards this act, which is consequently an 'internet death penalty'.  It will allow the US attorney general to seek court orders against websites they believe to be infringing intellectual property, forcing internet providers to shut them down. 

Read more about SOPA here.

Facebook introduces "Listen With" button

You'll now be able to listen to the same song "at the exact same time" as your friends, so "when your favourite vocal part comes in you can experience it together", said Facebook Product Designer Alexandre Roche. The feature, made for streaming services like Spotify and Rdio, will allow users to select who can see when they're 'listening with' a friend, as well as allowing them to join in, creating a sort of 'group listen and chat'.  This resembles Turntable.fm, where groups are created around shared listening.

Facebook campaign for 'Bald Barbie' approaches 120,000 likes

After a year of political activism, social media continues to play an important role to bring forward different social issues. A Facebook Page was created to petition against Barbie's makers, Mattel, to create a bald Barbie doll to represent girls that've lost their hair from cancer treatment, alopecia or trichotillomania.  Mattel responded to the Page owners, stating that the company 'does not take unsolicited ideas from outisde sources'. 

BT adds social media to Pay TV

BT's internet TV service will now have social media elements to match competitors such as Netflix and Lovefilm.  The updated BT Vision aims to increase interactivity and social sharing amongst its users, especially around TV shows.