I lost my keys. Got new copies of them. Then found the old set. Awesome. Here are some links for you to check out if you feel like it.
I very recently booked accommodations using Airbnb for the first time. I was kind of nervous about it, but the private bedroom in a historic house looks good enough for two nights in Rhode Island and it’s cheaper than staying in a hotel. But anyway, CouchSurfing, Airbnb’s predecessor, is no longer non-profit and has since raised $22 million in venture capital. But unlike Airbnb, which is a rental service, CouchSurfing is about creating a sense of community and helping people connect with locals. That is why the service is still essentially free – and why you shouldn’t expect super-swanky quarters. (Wired)
Who doesn’t love a bright and shiny infographic? Here is one on the presidential candidates’ social media usage. Obama has way, way more Twitter followers than Romney. Just saying. (Ad Age)
Is it possible to make “non-creepy” personalized technology? It seems unlikely that developers will ever be able to completely get around the natural human paranoia about technological advancement. You know, science going too far, machines taking over, etc., etc. (Slate)
Fortune writer Jessi Hempel says we don’t need more tools to help us digest more information and be more connected; instead, we need tools to help us unplug and avoid information overload. (Fortune)
And because it’s Friday in August — why aren’t you on vacation? — watch this video of a bulldog puppy making cute and weird sounds. (Buzzfeed)
More in Media
Amazon expands media footprint with iHeart sales deal and new TV outcome tool
Amazon is deepening its role in streaming advertising with an expanded iHeartMedia sales deal and outcome-based TV buying technology.
Media Briefing: Inside publishers’ real Cannes agenda – AI money vs agentic hype
For publishers, Cannes this year isn’t just about showing up for clients and sponsors. It’s a mid‑year checkpoint on two hard questions: who is going to pay for the open web in an AI world, and whether agentic media buying is a real fix or just a freshly branded ad‑tech tax.
Forbes tests a creator-led audience play to grow off-platform reach
Forbes is yet another publisher tapping creators and their audiences to drive off-platform growth – with a slightly different structure.