NASA Discovers New Solar System With 7 Planets That Could Have Organic Life

By David Erickson | February 24, 2017

Beyond Social Media Show, Episode 176

Co-hosts BL Ochman and David Erickson discuss the 7 new planets NASA discovered that may prove we are not alone; what happens when you go Trumpless; Hot.Kenobi’s silly Instagram super heroes; seeking journalistic light because “Darkness Kills Democracy;” Twitter’s live-streamed sports success; flaming dragon drones; autosound on Facebook videos, and much, much more.

Best Digital Cases

NASA Discovers 7 Earth Size Planets That May Prove We Are Not Alone in the Universe!

Nasa’s announcement of the discovery of a new solar system including seven exoplanets that resemble earth is the subject of today’s Google Doodle. It appears that three of them might be able to support organic life. Finding a second earth is not just a matter of if, but when

Exoplanet discovery: Five facts you didn’t know about Nasa’s new solar system
Seven Earth-Sized Planets Have Been Spotted Around a Nearby Star

Democracy Dies In Darkness

The Washington Post sports a new motto for a new, more dangerous authoritarian age.

Jeff Bezos now: "Democracy dies in darkness" and he wants to expand the Washington Post into a "global" paper pic.twitter.com/Y90wAXwYMx

— Mary Jordan (@marycjordan) May 18, 2016

I Ignored Trump News for a Week. Here’s What I Learned.

I include this brilliant long read because of its implications for brands.
“He is the Harambe of politics, the undisputed king of all media.”

I Ignored Trump News for a Week. Here’s What I Learned.

Twitter Time Out Rooms

Twitter has begun throttling the reach of abusive accounts to discourage malicious behavior. Right wing snowflakes are up in arms that they can’t hurl vitriol a will.

Twitter Is Now Temporarily Throttling Reach Of Abusive Accounts

Twitter is now your digital daddy.
According to @faggotfriday, it's put him on the naughty step for 12 hours. pic.twitter.com/sGK97nV1k1

— Harmful Opinions 🍧 (@HarmfulOpinions) February 15, 2017

Hot.Kenobi Uses Action Figures to Create a Humorous, Surreal Universe

Wildly popular Japanese photographer Hot.kenobi plays with his action toys and uses photography to tell their entertaining stories.
They range from Hulk smashing a can of soda, or Spiderman trying to ‘play’ Captain America’s shield on a CD player.

Instagram Photographer Hot.Kenobi Uses Action Figures to Create a Humorous, Surreal Universe
Hot.Kenobi Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQSpqa4FhVg/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQCj-eXFoE9/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMTULjWg-ai/

Twitter Wants To Re-Up With The NFL

Twitter was super pleased with its NFL live streaming deal and the numbers have got to appeal to the NFL as well.

Twitter looks to partner with the NFL ‘in a bigger way’ as it ups its live sports focus

Minnesota Twins Live Stream Spring Training Batting Practice

A simple but superb example of how to use Facebook Live.

The person running Sweden’s Twitter account is on a massive anti-Trump rant

Max Karlsson, is tasked with running the national Twitter account this week. Every week, a new Swede is allowed to run the @Sweden account, and Karlsson used his opportunity to unleash a volley of facts 45’s fake news about a terrorist attack in Sweeden.

The person running Sweden’s Twitter account is on a massive anti-Trump rant

https://twitter.com/sweden/status/833611081968971776
https://twitter.com/MollyEMcCluskey/status/833888557966180353

Worst Digital Cases

Facebook Videos Will Automatically Play With Sound On

So much for playing Facebook videos at work undetected! Facebook’s autoplay videos will soon play with the sound on, the company announced Tuesday.

Facebook’s autoplay videos will now play with the sound on

Learning To Leak

In a new era of governmental secrecy, media organizations have been forced to take the unprecedented step of teaching people how to leak securely.

20th Century Fox Gives Real Apology for a Fake News Campaign

Fox was forced to apologize for it’s thoughtless decision to create fake news sites to promote “A Cure for Wellness.” A Facebook page linked to five fake local news websites that have been spreading hoaxes about vaccinations, Trump, and other topics. Several of those fake stories, including one about Lady GaGa, went viral thanks to the stupid strategy.