Going under the knife for a perfect Facebook profile pic

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) College student Shayna John was not happy with her nose. And to give it the perfect shape, she recently underwent nose correction surgery - all this for her profile picture onFacebook.

Cosmetic surgeons said an increasing number of people, especially school and college students, across India are going under the knife to get that perfect face for their Facebook account. The trend is growing as social media, along with online dating, has today become the common trend. The way one looks online is considered to be the first impression of one's overall image and personality.

Popularly known as 'Facebook Facelifts', aesthetic plastic suregons said it is equally common among men.

According to Anup Dhir, chief cosmetic surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, good looks are desired by all humans and cosmetic surgery is an effective tool to fulfill this desire.

"People want to look attractive on social sites. This trend is gaining popularity. Many girls and boys are coming forward for Facebook Facelift - a word coined in west - to acquire aesthetically pleasing looks," Dhir told IANS.

Dhir said young women mostly opt for rhinoplasties or nose jobs, lip injections or brow lifts, while young men prefer laser treatments to remove unwanted hair and scars.

Women also go for chemical peeling, botox and body contouring to get those attractive looks, the doctor added.

"An interesting trend I have noticed is that men are more conscious about their looks. I get 30 to 40 queries in a month and 50 percent of them opt for procedures," he said.

The treatment varies as per the recipient's age, genetics and lifestyle, Dhir said.

"The people coming for such treatment are in the age group of 20-40 years and the majority of them are in their late 20s or early 30s. This treatment helps in having more attractive and striking look from a social media perspective," Dhir said.

Annie Singh, a first year Delhi University student, said she went under the knife to get the perfect mugshot for her profile photo.

"I hated my nose. So I decided to undergo rhinoplasty. I also went for chemical peeling to remove pigmentation and get a glowing spotless skin. I have got so many compliments from my friends on Facebook and it feels good," Annie Singh told IANS.

John, a final year English student, said looking good on Facebook is the new 'in' thing.

"It is not just a platform to meet new friends or keep a tab on existing ones it but can also be used for professional work," she said.

"Through Facebook one can get so many opportunities like modeling, acting or even marriage proposals. So, if I put up my best picture with a perfect face, it will do no harm. I am very happy after getting rhinoplasty," the 23-year-old said.

Experts said an increasing number of professionals are also choosing facelift options.

"A lot of people come for nose correction as the nose is the most prominent part of the face. Many youngsters also opt for face countouring to get a chiseled face and look good for socialising," Ajaya Kashyap, senior cosmetic surgeon at Nova Specialty Surgery, told IANS.

Kashyap said there are some non-surgical treatments also available for getting that aesthetic look.

Anuradha chopra, a receptionist in a private company, decided to undergo laser treatment for permanent hair removal on her upper lip and plastic surgery to reshape her chin.

"I didn't like the way I looked in online photos. Before the advent of Facebook and similar websites, I hadn't noticed my weak chin. After spending so much time on social media pages, I decided to have a surgeon reshape my chin," Chopra told IANS.

"I feel happy when I see my photographs now. The complements are just flowing. It makes me feel good," Chopra added.

Microsoft seeks beta testers for new Facebook for Windows Phone refresh

A new version of the official Facebook app, plus Skype video messaging for Windows 7 are now in the testing pipeline, according to Microsoft officials.
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Microsoft is seeking beta testers for a refreshed version of the official Facebook app for Windows Phone, which was developed by Microsoft in conjunction with Facebook.

Microsoft officials blogged on April 30 that the company is seeking testers for the refreshed Facebook app for Windows Phone 8. The beta isn't available via the Windows Store (to avoid confusion, according to the Softies). Instead, the beta is available via this link.

The refreshed Facebook app is "undergoing a major redesign," according to the blog post, and will include several "much-requested" features, including support for high-res photos, post sharing and Facebook Timeline. Microsoft is requesting users to submit bugs and feature requests by going to Settings>About in the app.

The Verge's Tom Warren noted that the refreshed Windows Phone 8 Facebook app looks a lot more like the iOS and Android versions in terms of navigation than it does the current Windows Phone Facebook app.

Microsoft is keeping the existing Microsoft-developed Facebook app (version 4.2.1) around for the time being, allowing both apps to be installed side-by-side on users' phones.

There's no word as to when Microsoft expects to make the final version of the new Facebook for Windows Phone 8 app available.

Microsoft is in the midst of a major app push for Windows Phone 8. The company is expected to roll-out an app designed to encourage Android phone users to switch to Windows Phone 8possibly some time this week. (It was originally expected last week.)

Speaking of app pushes, the Microsoft Skype team also announced today that it is making available a preview of Skype video messaging for Windows 7. Last night, the Skype team also announced plans for its preview of Skype video/audio call integration within Outlook.com. The Skype Video Messaging preview also will be made available "shortly" for Windows 8, according to Skype officials.

Skype Video Messaging users record a video message and send it to other Skype users so that they can watch it next time they are online. 

To get the Skype Video Messaging preview, users need the latest beta version of Skype for Windows desktop. This feature requires Flash, the Softies note. Skype for Windows 8 and Skype for Windows phone users can receive and view these video messages, but so far cannot record or send them. Those capabilities are "coming to these platforms soon," according to today's blog post.

Microsoft announced the Skype Video Messaging preview for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android users in mid-February, ahead of the Windows version announced today -- timing which didn't sit too well with a number of Windows users.

Microsoft wants beta testers for new Win Phone Facebook app

A new version of the official Facebook app, plus Skype video messaging for Windows 7, are now in the testing pipeline, according to Microsoft officials.
----------

Microsoft is seeking beta testers for a refreshed version of the official Facebook app for Windows Phone, which was developed by Microsoft in conjunction with Facebook.

Microsoft officials blogged on April 30 that the company is seeking testers for the refreshed Facebook app for Windows Phone 8. The beta isn't available via the Windows Store (to avoid confusion, according to the Softies). Instead, the beta is available via this link.

The refreshed Facebook app is "undergoing a major redesign," according to the blog post, and will include several "much-requested" features, including support for high-res photos, post sharing, and Facebook Timeline. Microsoft is requesting users to submit bugs and feature requests by going to "Settings > About" in the app.

The Verge's Tom Warren noted that the refreshed Windows Phone 8 Facebook app looks a lot more like the iOS and Android versions in terms of navigation than it does the current Windows Phone Facebook app.

Microsoft is keeping the existing Microsoft-developed Facebook app (version 4.2.1) around for the time being, allowing both apps to be installed side-by-side on users' phones.

There's no word as to when Microsoft expects to make the final version of the new Facebook for Windows Phone 8 app available.

Microsoft is in the midst of a major app push for Windows Phone 8. The company is expected to roll out an app designed to encourage Android phone users to switch to Windows Phone 8possibly some time this week. (It was originally expected last week.)

Speaking of app pushes, the Microsoft Skype team also announced today that it is making available a preview of Skype video messaging for Windows 7. Last night, the Skype team also announced plans for its preview of Skype video/audio call integration within Outlook.com. The Skype Video Messaging preview also will be made available "shortly" for Windows 8, according to Skype officials.

Skype Video Messaging users record a video message and send it to other Skype users so that they can watch it next time they are online.

To get the Skype Video Messaging preview, users need the latest beta version of Skype for Windows desktop. This feature requires Flash, the Softies note. Skype for Windows 8 and Skype for Windows phone users can receive and view these video messages, but so far it can't record or send them. Those capabilities are "coming to these platforms soon," according to today's blog post.

Microsoft announced the Skype Video Messaging preview for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android users in mid-February, ahead of the Windows version announced today -- timing which didn't sit too well with a number of Windows users.

UPDATED: Jim Breyer Will Leave Facebook’s Board Of Directors In June

Jim Breyer, who has been on Facebook’s Board of Directors since 2005, will leave his position in June, according to a form 8-K filing. Facebook reported that Breyer will not be up for re-election, and that his final meeting will be June 11. In a statement, Breyer said that he is stepping down to focus more on his position with the Harvard University Corporation Board.

According to the document, Breyer notified Facebook on Apr. 23 that he will leave his position on the board, where he’s currently the chairman of the compensation committee:

On April 23, 2013, James W. Breyer notified Facebook, Inc. (the “Company”) of his decision not to stand for reelection to the Board of Directors at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 11, 2013 (the “Annual Meeting”). Mr. Breyer will continue to serve as a director until the date of the Annual Meeting.

Breyer, a venture capitalist and partner at Accel Ventures, was one of the integral figures for Facebook as it started to grow from dorm room project at Harvard into a multi-national company.

Breyer made a statement, saying why he’s leaving his post:

It has been a genuine honor to serve as an investor and board member since April 2005 as Facebook has grown from an emerging social network for U.S. college students to a global service that connects over a billion people.  After over eight years of board service, it’s time to step aside in light of my other responsibilities, including my recent election to the Harvard University Corporation Board.  I will leave the board knowing that Facebook is a global Internet leader with exceptional leadership within the company and on the board.

Facebook commented on Breyer’s departure:

Jim made many, many important contributions during his long tenure on the board and we were well-served by his presence.  We will continue to have a strong relationship with Jim and going forward, we’re thankful we can continue to rely upon the tremendous depth and expertise of our recently expanded board.

Is Pinterest Cutting Into Facebook’s Market Share?

While marketers figure out how to convert sales on Facebook, it appears that Pinterest is beating the social network to the punch. New research from RichRelevance shows that Pinterest is starting to take up a bigger slice of the marketing pie among brands seeking conversions.

According to RichRelevance, a company that offers personalized shopping experiences for major brands, Facebook has been losing traffic and sales since the 2012 holidays, while Pinterest has been steadily trending upward.

Facebook’s share of traffic hit 92 percent in mid-December, then plummeted to 69 percent in the week leading up to Easter. Pinterest has grown from 6 percent to 25 percent in that time. Also in mid-December, at the peak of the holiday shopping season, Facebook’s market share of sales hit 89 percent, then fell to 78 percent by Easter. Pinterest grew from 10 percent to 21 percent in that same period.

Not only are more people buying based on what they’ve seen pinned, they’re spending more. RichRelevance found that Pinterest shoppers are spending $140 to $180 per order, compared with $60 to $80 on Facebook. This gap became more vast in the days leading up to Easter, as Pinterest users started spending $194 percent (versus $84 on Facebook and $35 on Twitter).

RichRelevance Chief Marketing Officer Diane Kegley feels that the fundamental differences in how people use Facebook and Pinterest make the latter a better option for commerce. She likened Facebook ads to a marketer pitching wares while users are having conversations with friends, while Pinterest is more like window shopping at a store that the user chooses. If a user pins several photos of home furnishings (which accounts for 60 percent of Pinterest’s referrals), that user would be much more likely to purchase a couch or another piece of furniture for their house.

This is not meant to knock Facebook. The social network is great for building awareness and connecting with customers, Kegley told AllFacebook, and Pinterest is better for conversions, since users already know what they want, but are simply discovering where to buy these items. Smart brands that work across Facebook and Pinterest can both build awareness and get users to buy.

Kegley talked with AllFacebook about the main difference between the two sites, and how companies can decide which to use and when:

When shoppers or consumers are on Pinterest, they’re in that mindset. They can almost meander through merchandise and then find something that they really like and click on it. They’re able to put together more of a complete picture, whereas Facebook is like being out with friends, but all of a sudden, a merchandiser is trying to push a product … I think that it’s about identifying which channel is right for the campaign, and for what they’re trying to accomplish in their marketing. I think it goes back to respecting the channel for what it is. If you’re trying to drive awareness and the point of promotion, I think Facebook is highly valuable. Pinterest offers a very different type of exposure.

WALL STREET: Three Analysts Tout Facebook

Facebook was on the receiving end of some Wall Street praise Friday, as three analysts said positive things about the social network on CNBC’s “Fast Money.”

Raymond James & Associates Analyst Aaron Kesslersaid he sees mobile advertising boosting the social network’s stock to $37 per share within 12 months, adding that the company was showing improvement in advertising, and Facebook Exchange was “gaining some traction,” and saying:

I think in the near term, there is going to be upside to first-quarter estimates here. I think a few things are going on. We think mobile will be strong in the quarter.

Mike Murphy of Rosecliff Capital added:

I think Facebook is completely underloved. I think if we get a positive surprise to the upside as they’re looking for, you’re going to see the stock break above $30 quickly.

And OptionMonster’s Pete Najarian feels that the mobile advertising success of companies likeeBay and Expedia bodes well for Facebook, saying:

Some of the data we’ve seen suggests pretty good interaction with mobile advertising on Facebook.

HOW TO: Unfollow A Post In The New Facebook News Feed

You know what happens when you’re among the first to comment on a Facebook post where a friend announces a new job, an engagement, or anything else that produces a stream of “Congratulations.” Your phone ends up constantly buzzing, and the notifications area is always active. But there’s a way to comment on a post and then mute notifications.


When you mouse over the post in the News Feed, you’ll see a little arrow in the top right corner of that post. Click the little arrow, and this drop down menu will show. When you click “Unfollow post,” you will no longer receive notifications from that post.



You can also do this on photos.



Another way to unfollow a photo is to click on it, opening it in lightbox view. There’s an option to unfollow the post that way, as well.

When News Breaks, How Does Facebook React?

The recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon showed the expanding role of social media when it comes to the spreading of news. As Facebook users shared stories, photos, and videos, news sources worked hard to make sure the stories they posted were true. Representatives from ABC News and The Huffington Post talked with AllFacebook recently to discuss how they run their Facebook pages as news changes rapidly, such as during the bombing at the Boston Marathon and the search for the suspects.


AllFacebook: What is the first step that is taken with regard to Facebook when a major news story first breaks?

Andrew Springer, senior editor for social media, ABC News: The very first thing we want to do is tell our users what’s going on — what ABC News has confirmed. Then our team starts scouring social media (including Facebook) to help us find information, photos, videos, and witnesses.

Dean Praetorius, senior editor, HuffPost: The first step, especially for us, is to simply get all of your ducks in a row. The more serious the situation becomes, the more you clamp down. Once we know a situation is serious enough, like once the bombings on Monday became more than Twitter chatter, we essentially scrap whatever we have in the queue and prepare to move forward on what we have.

AllFacebook: With so much information (and misinformation) flying around social media, how do you determine what is valid and good to post on Facebook?

Praetorius: Well, for one, we’re going to give preference to our own content on our own pages in these situations. That’s not for traffic purposes, but because if we’re willing to run it on our site, we should be willing to promote on social media, especially around breaking news. The same can’t be said for content from other sources. Twitter moves fast, and it’s easy to do short updates and know they won’t stay in the public eye very long. Facebook, however, especially because of the lifespan of a post, requires a bit more patience. Ultimately, there’s a reason those who contribute to our feeds are called editors. They’re supposed to use their editorial judgement to appropriately frame any story.

Springer: We’ve set up a social media desk that gets activated in breaking news. We take the lead for the news division on verifying and getting permission to use pictures, videos, and accounts from social media. It is critical that our users can trust what we are putting out, so we only post to Facebook what ABC News confirms. We’d much rather be right than be first.

AllFacebook: How are comments moderated in times like this?

Springer: Our social team monitors the conversation happening on our page, flagging when appropriate for our editors at digital and broadcast producers questions and comments from our users. We look to those comments for a better understanding of our users, what they’re interested in, and what they are confused about. We’re also concerned with private messages sent to our page.

Praetorius: On-site comments go through strict moderation, both through our back-end machine-learning system, JuLiA, and human moderators. I’m not the best person to talk to about on-site moderation — we have a separate team for that — but I can say simply that there’s quite obviously a high alert. Facebook comments, however, go unmoderated for the most part. There aren’t great tools on hand in regards to moderating Facebook comments at our volume (and I sincerely wish there were), so in times like this, when we’re focused on the news at hand, people are responsible for their own commentary. That said, we don’t moderate Facebook much at all, so it’s much less of an issue for us than some others.

AllFacebook: What kind of strategy is in place for Facebook posting during major developing stories?

Praetorius: Not going to give away all of our secrets, but a variety of content types and links to other orgs is key in this situation. No one source can provide complete coverage, but Facebook is a great place to take things from all across the spectrum and become a hub for coverage. We do that on-site, as well, but we don’t hesitate to push directly to sources on Facebook. Another important angle is that Facebook allows us to actually be of service in these situations. When the photos of the suspects were officially posted, we distributed them on Facebook, essentially using the power of virality to help authorities in a responsible manner. Otherwise, our strategy is to keep things clean, follow the story closely, and be sure to use all of the tools Facebook puts at our disposal to paint a full picture of the story.

Dan Milano, social media editor, ABC News: Our strategy, across the news division, is to make the most of whatever platform we’re using. Just as we try to create compelling television, we work to identify what will work best across all of our social platforms. We’re relying more than ever on photographs and albums to tell stories on Facebook. One great advantage to photographs in breaking news is that captions can be edited and we can keep our users up to date with the latest information. With link posts (and, indeed, tweets) this isn’t a possibility. But it’s an evolving process, and at the heart of the decision is what is most important for our users to know right away.

Introducing Home

Today we're introducing Home - a new way to turn your Android phone into a great, living, social phone.

We all want to share and connect. That's how we discover new information and build meaningful relationships. But today, phones are built around tasks and apps. To see what's happening with your friends, you pull out your phone and navigate through a series of separate apps.

We asked ourselves ­if sharing and connecting are what matter most, what would your phone be like if it put your friends first?

Our answer is Home. Home isn't a phone or operating system, and it's also more than just an app. Home is a completely new experience that lets you see the world through people, not apps.

Cover feed
From the moment you wake up your phone you become immersed in cover feed. Cover feed replaces the lock screen and home screen. It's a window into what's happening with your friends - friends finishing a bike race, your family sharing a meal or an article about your favorite sports team. These are the beautiful, immersive experiences that you get through Home.

You might have missed these updates before, but now they're a central part of the Home experience. Since Home is both your lock screen and home screen, the content comes right to you. You can flip through to see more stories, and double tap to like what you see.

Cover feed is for those in-between moments ­like waiting in line at the grocery store or between classes ­when you want to see what's going on in your world.

Chat heads
With chat heads you can keep chatting with friends even when you're using other apps. When friends send you messages, a chat head appears with your friend's face, so you see exactly who you're chatting with. Messages reach you no matter what you're doing - whether you're checking email, browsing the web, or listening to music.


You can move chat heads around and respond to messages. And since SMS is integrated into Facebook Messenger for Android, chat heads include Facebook messages as well as texts.

Notifications
Cover feed is great for seeing everything going on in the world. But when something happens that's more important and directed at you, like a friend posting on your timeline, you'll receive notifications with their profile pictures.

To open notifications, just tap them. And if you don't want to deal with them right now, you can just swipe to hide them and keep flipping through cover feed until you want them back.

Apps
It's as easy to get to your apps in Home as it is on any other phone. Swipe up to see your favorite apps in the launcher. There's also a screen containing all of your apps, and you can drag your favorite apps to the launcher.


How To Get Home
Home will be available as a free download from the Google Play Store starting April 12. Home works on the HTC One X, HTC One X+, Samsung GALAXY S III and Samsung GALAXY Note II. Home will also work on the forthcoming HTC One and Samsung GALAXY S4, and on more devices in the coming months.

Home will also be available pre-installed on phones through the Facebook Home Program. HTC and AT&T are the first companies working together to deliver a phone with Home. It's called the HTC First and it goes on sale April 12.
We designed Home to be the next version of Facebook. But we also wanted to do something more. We wanted to reimagine the way we all use computing devices to make us more connected and bring us closer to the people we care about.

Download Home ­and put your friends front and center on your phone.

Additional Media Resources:
To learn more about Home, go to www.facebook.com/home
To learn about partnering on the Facebook Home Program, go to www.facebook.com/home/partners
To learn more about Home and developers, click here.
To download our introductory video, click here.
For additional questions, visit Help Center.


FAQ:

What is Home?
Home is a whole new experience for your phone. It’s software that turns your Android phone into a great, living, social phone.

How can I get Home?
You can download Home for free from the Play Store starting April 12, or purchase a phone with Home pre-installed. The first phone to come with Home is the HTC First, which goes on sale in the U.S. on April 12.

Where is Home available?
Home will initially be available for download in the U.S. on April 12, and will be available in other countries shortly after that.

What Android phones does Home work on?
Home is available on:
HTC First
HTC One (Future)
HTC One X
HTC One X+
Samsung GALAXY S III
Samsung GALAXY S4 (Future)
Samsung GALAXY Note II

How can I buy a phone with Home on it?
AT&T will offer the HTC First for sale on April 12.

Is Facebook building a phone?
No. Facebook Home is a software experience designed to run on Android devices.

Is Facebook home an operating system?
No. Facebook Home is a family of apps. You install them and they become the home of your phone.

Improvements to Timeline

Today we’re rolling out improvements to timeline that help you express what's important to you.
A place for things you care about
Now it’s easier to organize the things you care about on your About page. Redesigned sections give you one place to add music, movies, TV shows and books that interest you, alongside your photos and friends.

If you’re a movie buff, you can add your favorites to your movies section or use apps like Flixster and Netflix to share what you’re watching.



If you’re an avid reader, you can keep track of the books you want to read or add more with Goodreads.



If you see a book a friend read recently, you can add it to your books section by clicking the add button.



You can also add other apps to share more things you do. For example, you can include your Instagram photo stream as a section on your timeline. If you ever want to remove an app from your About page, visit your Activity Log.



A cleaner layout We heard from you that the current timeline layout is sometimes hard to read. Starting today, all posts are on the right side of your timeline, with photos, music and other recent activity on the left.



We'll continue rolling this out in the coming weeks. Learn more about these improvements in the Help Center.

Adding What You're Doing to Status Updates

Starting this week, people can express what they're watching, reading, listening to, eating, drinking or how they're feeling in status updates.

For example, if you share that you're watching a movie like Jurassic Park, your post will contain the movie icon and a link to the movie's page.

Jurassic Park will be added to the Movies section on your timeline. Today, TV shows, movies and books appear in those sections of your timeline.

These updates, and the stories added to your timeline, respect the privacy settings you choose for your post.

We'll continue rolling this out to people in the U.S. in the coming weeks. Learn more in the Help Center.

Messaging updates for iPhone and a new look for iPad

Today we’re announcing an update to the Facebook app for iPhone and iPad with new features in private messages.

Chat heads
Now you can keep chatting even when you’re doing other stuff on Facebook, like checking your News Feed. Tap chat heads to reply, drag them around, or flick them down to close.

Stickers
Tap the smiley to add stickers to your messages. Get more stickers in the Sticker Store – just tap the basket.

A new look for iPad
We’re also rolling out the improvements to News Feed we announced in March. The biggest change is on iPad, where you’ll see brighter, more beautiful stories.

How to get the update
This update to Facebook for iOS will be available later today in the App Store. Chat heads and stickers on the Facebook app for iPhone will roll out fully over the next few weeks.

Facebook, MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla, and the Family Online Safety Institute Launch Project:Connect

Facebook, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla, and the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today announced a series of activities to advance healthy online experiences so young people can more easily make smart and responsible choices on the Internet.

Under the banner Project:Connect, the four partners will launch an all-day “hackathon” in New York City on Thursday, May 9. The event will bring together programmers, designers, and educators to develop prototypes for social tools, including apps, badges, and curriculum in pursuit of a better Web.

“Supporting healthy online communities is a top priority for MacArthur,” said Connie Yowell, Director of Education at the MacArthur Foundation. “Research shows us that the Internet has become a place where young people are learning and growing. The online world is rapidly becoming a hub for civic activity and lifelong learning, and we need to give youth the tools they need to become engaged and responsible digital citizens.”

Surfacing Innovative Ideas – The Project:Connect Hackathon
Borne out of a shared belief that technology can advance a dialogue about what it means to participate responsibly in a digital world, Project:Connect’s May 9 hackathon will award prizes in the following areas:

· Social Tools for Social Good – Enabling people to create a culture of kindness and respect that enhances civic participation.

· Social Tools that Enable Control of Information – Helping people understand how to control their information, and manage privacy and security.

· Social Tools that Enable Literacy – Helping people build, access, and understand or make components of the Web.

Top concepts, as identified by a panel of expert judges, will be awarded cash prizes.

"We’re thrilled to partner with the MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla, and FOSI to promote innovative solutions that can help parents, teachers and teens connect and share safely and do good online,” said Marne Levine, Vice President for Global Public Policy at Facebook. By encouraging digital literacy and responsible online behavior, we can enable teens to use technology as a vehicle for opportunity, learning, and social change.”

Continuing Momentum For Youth During The Summer
The May 9 hackathon will be followed by a series of events at museums and libraries around the country for youth and their families to learn new skills related to digital literacy and civic engagement.

“The beauty of the Web is that when you want to make it better, you don’t have to sit back and wait for someone to fix it for you," said Mark Surman, Executive Director of Mozilla. "You can build it yourself. We’re thrilled to come together with such great partners to help people make the Web what they want it to be.”

A Platform for Good
In addition to monetary awards, winners of the May 9 hackathon will have their social tools featured on FOSI’s A Platform for Good (aplatformforgood.org), a site dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and students connect, share and do good. A Platform for Good is supported by MacArthur and leaders across several industries, including social media, telecommunications, software and the Internet.

"This hackathon is a great way to highlight the best new thinking around digital citizenship and we are excited to host some of the winners on ‘A Platform for Good’," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute. "Events like this allow for collaboration on some of today’s biggest challenges and show how technology can be used to do great things.”

For more information about Project:Connect, please visit http://dmlcompetition.net/project-connect.

About Facebook
Founded in 2004, Facebook's mission is to make the world more open and connected. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what's going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. To find out more about Facebook, visit our website at www.facebook.com.

About The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society. Since 2004, MacArthur has invested more than $100 million in research, design, and practice to better understand how digital media are changing the way young people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life, and what that means for learning and the institutions that support it. More information: www.macfound.org/reimagine.

About Mozilla
Mozilla is a global non-profit that promotes openness, innovation and opportunity on the Web. It strives to make the Web a force for good, while encouraging the users of the Web to also become makers of the Web.

About the Family Online Safety Institute
The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI convenes leaders in industry, government and the non-profit sectors to collaborate and innovate new solutions and policies in the field of online safety. Through research,resources, events and special projects, FOSI promotes a culture of responsibility online and encourages a sense of digital citizenship for all.