Social Media News Oct. 18: Is Facebook Selling Out Teens to Madison Avenue?

It's Friday and as we inch closer to Halloween, we have scared up a few key social media news treats. But privacy experts might suggest our first story is more of a trick...

Thursday Facebook made the surprising announcement they are easing the guidelines related to younger users. Previously the ability to share or interact with teenage Facebook users was closely guarded in the name of protecting the easily misled preteens. Now, the 13- to 17-year-old users can share photos and updates with the general public. They will likely enjoy it. However, many are concerned that Facebook is catering to pressure from marketers who consider the demographics gold. Building online relationships offers brands the opportunity to secure customers for life, and now they can start even earlier.  Read more at CNN.com.

Apparently this was a week for 360 degree changes in the social media world. Twitter will now allow any Twitter user to send direct messages to any other Twitter user. But it appears they perhaps rushed through their testing phase, because after the announcement it became apparent that DMs containing URLS were not working. Mashable has the 4-1-1 on this glitch.

Ben & Jerry's has always danced to a different beat. Now imagine if 10% of the population were boogieing to that same beat. Not 10% of the U.S. population - 10% of the world population. That is a feat they accomplished with their #FreeConeDay campaign.

Social Media Today takes a look at how the wildly successful ice cream makers concocted a campaign via social blending paid, owned and earned media. The results: nearly 1 billion people who engaged in the campaign with a hashtag that was trending in 48  cities!

Get the scoop on Social Media Today and find a nugget to set your holiday campaign season on fire. Enjoy the weekend.