Google Filters Orkut and Youtube too!

History of Google Filters ::

In 2003 April, Google tested its SafeSearch porn filter but the results were not as accurate as expected.
How did it worked?Google did exclude the porn / objectable sites via link analysis and will not display the content and the even the site, no matter you did visit the site or not.
In October 2005, Google did test the "similar page filter" or "duplicate content filter" whatever you find suitable, the major change it has created was if a page trigger a duplicate content filter during the SERP ( Search Engine Result Page) ranking, some observed all the pages of the particular site, go in duplicate data /index.
The latest in the Filter tool saga is Google's Orkut Content Filter, here the funda is to automatically screen and mark unsafe, mature content which may not be safe for the users, preventing Orkut from a potentially unsafe future.
How does it work?
Well you have to do nothing to start the filter, it will be ON by default if you are visiting from India.
All the objectionable material including pics, data, text etc will be marked as unsafe and will be placed along with a warning signal.
Google owned Youtube is showing a welcome message today mentioning a new filter well this is a " Suggested Country Filter".

Now this filter is all about setting your country (gathered as per your IP, to my understanding) and expected to help in finding more of the country-specific videos, it can still be changed to Worldwide.

Is this a breach of privacy ? lets keep it to the users to decide...

Orkut Results in Google Search !!!!

This is the first time, I've seen Google Orkut's Profile in a Search Result.....what about you?
Adding some more interest in the Universal Search, as they say, it will be very intelligent search, Orkut profiles with the keywords will be an added advantage.
Taking a step forward and connecting one of the in-house content source Google will not give any chance to its competitors, while making the life of SEO's difficult.

Social media optimizers and contributors will get importance as the net will be a good place to live.

Checkout the result snapshot below :



By the way.... its me there...

Web 2.0 Indian Social Media Networking Updates

Top Social Networking sites with Indian presence:
1. MySpace (US)
2. Orkut ( Mostly in India and Brazil)
3. Facebook (US)
4. Linkedin (Professional Networking)
5. Friendster (US)
6. BigADDA (India)
7. Rediff Connexions
The growing Web2.0 boom and the social media enthusiasts have a lot to tell.Here is a news from Businessweek, which shows why India is at the top of social media marketing and where is the web going next....

For the past year, global networking sites have been growing in popularity among young Indians. According to JuxtConsult, a New Delhi-based online research and advisory company, 44% of Indian online traffic uses the Internet just for social networking. Google's (GOOG) Orkut is the most popular social networking site in India, with a 64% market share. Facebook is also winning many Indian fans, especially students.
India is as hooked on social networking as any other country. Part of the reason is easier broadband connectivity. A 2007 report by the software industry association group Nasscom estimates broadband subscribers—currently 1 million—will hit 20 million in three years. By 2010, the total number of Internet users in India will grow to 100 million, from 40 million now. This will surely enhance virtual hangout plays like the social networking sites.

Read the full story here at Businessweek.

Top Keyword Searches : India : World

Looking for Top keywords searched world wide and India?
Interesting , some news are reporting about Google has included India in its 2007 end-of-year Zeitgeist annual report.

Here is some information you can use:

Global - Top Search - Keywords : 2007

1. iphone
2. badoo
3. facebook
4. dailymotion
5. webkinz
6. youtube
7. ebuddy
8. second life
9. hi5
10. club penguin

US - Top Search - Keywords:2007

1. iphone
2. webkinz
3. tmz
4. transformers
5. youtube
6. club penguin
7. myspace
8. heroes
9. facebook
10. anna nicole smith


India - Top Search Queries: November 2007

1. bank of maharashtra
2. easymovies
3. income tax department
4. PAN CARD (income tax card)
5. lord hanuman (one of the Hindu gods)
6. maruti true value (car company)
7. sony cybershot
8. Harry Potter
9. goa hotels
10. hindu astrology
11. Indigo (A car brand)
12. tata mutual fund
13. financial express
14. logitech
15. miss india

Fastest Falling (global) Keywords

1. world cup*
2. mozart
3. fifa
4. rebelde*
5. kazaa
6. xanga
7. webdetente
8. sudoku
9. shakira
10. mp3

Source: Google Zeitgeist

SEO Tip :
Just consider relative keywords if your developing a new online presence. Search Volume can be a criteria.

Orkut Hate Clubs flourishing online..

There are communities you can identify with persons (fan clubs), names, hobbies, professions and even cities and alphabets too. But have you ever been to visit a "Hate Club"
Google and other social networks do a lot of efforts to curb such menace which will be some-day affecting the use and number of visitors; effectively reducing the online spending and income for the service provider.

A news from Techtree has something to surf on....

If you happen to hate Big B's smug face, beaming across from every other channel, or those tireless 'K's' from Ekta Kapoor's 'soap factory', you now have space to vent your emotions.

Hate communities or hate clubs are becoming increasingly popular on social networking Web sites like Google-owned Orkut.

On Orkut, the Ekta Kapoor hate club leads the pack with a membership of nearly 76,468 and counting. Followed by Himesh Reshamiya (of the nasal twang) with 33,137 members; Shah Rukh Khan with 11,179; Greg Chappell with 7,659; yes, Mahatma Gandhi with 6,647; General Musharraf with 1,362; and the Big B with 1,410.

Ironically, while the Father of the Nation boasts a thousands-strong hate club, his killer, Nathuram Godse, does not even warrant a mention on Orkut or Facebook.

Psychiatrist Sameer Parikh explains that people possess a certain amount of hatred, dislikes, and complexities, and they get a chance to express these on such communities and groups. However, Parikh says, too much thought should not be dispensed on this entire phenomenon.

Yet, in recent times, concerns have been raised over certain communities for hurting social sentiments. So much so that the social networking sites themselves are opting to play safe on such issues.

A Google spokesperson voiced the view that they take abuse of Orkut very seriously, and are constantly developing new tools to review inappropriate content on the site.

Orkut users too can report content to reviewers by clicking on the 'report as bogus' button. Recently, a priority reporting tool has been introduced for reporting serious aberrations on the site.

A news article from MSN shows something like that, here the target is Dogs and those who hate them ( may be due to personal reasons or social) are observed using hate as a medium to discuss the feelings.

Drop them from building tops, run them over with your car - are just some of the ways to kill dogs that Orkut's canine-hating members suggest while socialising online
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has now complained to the police.

Peta accused Orkut, the social networking site, of promoting cruelty to animals and has demanded action against it by cyber cells of the government.

Peta has written to the Mumbai police and complained that among topics discussed on Orkut community sites was "I hate dogs".

Here organizations like PETA come into picture to save the interest of the pets.

Rediff Foreys Info Social Media Marketing

Google - Orkut and YouTube, MySpace, and now Rediff in the Social Share Networking Arena.

According to Economic Times,

Buoyed by the growing popularity of social networking and content sharing sites like Orkut and Youtube, Rediff.com today joined the bandwagon by launching a social content sharing platform --iShare--to publish and share videos, music and images.
iShare is a multimedia social content sharing platform for the users and would also enable the professional content owners to distribute their work.
"Multimedia growth is driving the internet in a big way and by bringing together audio, video and images through 'iShare' we are targeting maximum online users," Rediff.com Chairman and CEO Ajit Balakrishnan told the media.
Rediff.com, which currently claims 40 per cent of the internet users visiting its various verticals, is targeting over 50 per cent of people accessing internet in this country with the help of this new initiative and leverage form the multimedia boom.

Complete Story Here

Banned Organization ULFA using Orkut !!

Its a great way to use Social Media Marketing or Community Sites for virtually "Any" purpose now! Don't believe me ?
Check out the news in which ULFA is utilizing the potential of India's biggest Social / Community Portal Orkut...

According to DNA news,

The banned ULFA is using the internet to attract sympathisers for its cause, with the popular networking site Orkut being used for the purpose.

ULFA is already known to be techno-savvy, with its mouthpiece 'Freedom' updated on internet and its statements to the media routed through email. It is now suspected to be targeting the techno-savvy new generation and the people living outside the state, including NRIs, through forums on Orkut.

There are more than 20 Orkut communities related to Assam, which in some way or the other are a platform to discuss issues of militancy in the region. Though most forums are platforms for constructive discussions, at least a couple of them propagate a 'sovereignty' campaign and are sympathetic to the cause of the militants.

It seems now everyone is grabbing its share of the www and not the only Search Optimizers or webmasters, time to see the future :)

Google Invading users privacy?

According to Privacy International, Internet users concerned about prying eyes following their online lives would be dismayed to learn that Google records all search results from its Toolbar search service, and is able to individually identify all users and track their Internet use.

In a report issued over the weekend, California-based Google, which has thrived on its image of enlightened management, is ranked worst for invading privacy.

The company is also accused of retaining information about people who use its services, even after they have deleted their accounts.

And Google can acquire additional personal information - including everything from what a user's hobbies are to where he or she works - through its networking service, Orkut. "Throughout our research we have found numerous deficiencies and hostilities in Google's approach to privacy," said Privacy International.

Read the full news here

Deleting all Scraps in Orkut

Orkut .com : Scrapping Bug or Feature?

Google's Orkut.com, a popular social community portal and indirect marketing tool if you can use it properly.Being a tremendous hit in India and Brazil, orkut offers some great features.You can add,delete or modify your friends list according to your preference. Join and unjoin communities etc.
Scrapping is posting some quick text which is most commonly used, here anyone having an account with Orkut can scrap to any member. So what the big deal?
Sending ( or writing ) a scrap is nothing new, but deleting other's scrap ? well think about this...
Yesterday I got a scrap from my friend, he is a good friend of mine. Mentioning ' Sorry Pravin, I have hacked your account and deleted all scraps'
When I say he is my good friend because I know him since many years now and he has no motive to hack my account anyways,
Anyone can Delete your Scraps!!
It was just a mischief from my friend with no intentions to hurt me anyway, but I took it seriously that deleting 350+ scraps is something I may not recover soon. Some of them were having important data like phone numbers and quick notes.
When I realized my mistake , I was feeling ashamed and thought not to tell anybody!!

Does this happen to you too ?