When a report of a possible explosive device on the roof of a city parking garage came in to the Lakeland, Florida, Police Department, public safety officials there sprang into action. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are mostly used by those who want to keep their friends and families informed about their lives [...]

Social networks allow people to reach beyond the usual barriers. They let individuals connect with others to create innovative new technologies, consider new solutions to old problems, and help build vibrant, expansive online communities. Despite well-understood interest in social networks, when Mark Yolton published the blog, Why Social Networks Matter Now back in October, I was surprised a [...]