Internet News

(Newser) - Facebook has been reviving more than long-lost friendships—it’s proving a useful tool for struggling real-estate agents, Daniel McGinn writes for Newsweek . Agents are increasingly using the site to promote themselves, pitch listings and keep track of potential clients. “I’m trying everything in a market like this, because something is going to work. And so far Facebook has been unbelievable,” says one. More »

(Newser) - A chiropractor's lawsuit has the potential to break the back of the online business-review industry, reports the San Francisco Chronicl e. The bone-cracker is suing a client who posted a complaint on review site Yelp that suggested he was dishonest with insurance companies. "I think he is trying to scare me into removing a negative post," says client Christopher Norberg. More »

(Newser) - Barack Obama, Britney Spears and CNN's Rick Sanchez were among dozens of people whose Twitter accounts were hijacked yesterday by a hacker, CNET reports. The hacker, who exploited the site's support tools to gain access, made fake updates to several accounts—including references to private parts and drug use—before Twitter twigged to the security breach. More »

(Newser) - Some high school seniors submitting college applications hours before the Dec. 31 deadline encountered timeout errors and slowdowns that gave them quite a scare, the New York Times reports. The Common Application site—used by a million students to apply for 350 colleges—buckled twice under the volume of last-minute applicants. The site's director played down the delays. More »

(Newser) - Bad times for American workers are boosting traffic on popular business networking site LinkedIn. The site has doubled its membership this year as worried professionals step up their networking efforts. "Every individual is a small business or brand," founder and newly reinstated CEO Reid Hoffman told USA Today . More »

(Newser) - The Israeli army has launched a YouTube channel of graphic war videos in an attempt to curry public favor for its Gaza siege, the Jerusalem Post reports. The footage shows aerial strikes, aid distribution, and—in one potentially unsettling piece—an alleged airstrike on two men loading Israel-bound rockets onto a truck. The web-savvy IDF has also privately briefed bloggers and plans to launch English and Arabic vlogs. More »

(Newser) - Calling the Internet a “quite dangerous place,” Britain’s culture secretary says he’ll work with the Obama administration on establishing international guidelines to protect children. One idea under consideration: giving websites film-style ratings, the Telegraph reports. “There is definitely a case for clearer standards online,” said Andy Burnham, adding that America’s “change of administration is a big moment. We have got a real opportunity to make common cause.” More »

(Newser) - For the first time ever, more people are getting their news from the Internet than from newspapers, the Los Angeles Times reports. A Pew Research poll found that 40% of people cited the Internet as a main news source, compared to 35% for print. At 70%, television remains the country's favorite news source, although it’s tied with the Web among people under 30. More »