Posted inNation / World

New data show how Iran tried to manipulate public opinion on Twitter

Twitter accounts originating in Iran masqueraded as foreign journalists and concerned U.S. citizens in their attempt to push political messages on the social media site until they were suspended earlier this year, according to new research published Wednesday. The analysis – performed by the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab – reflects an attempt by […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn

RSU 16 board approves revised graduation, social media policies

POLAND — While things are “a mess” statewide when it comes to proficiency-based learning, “we are not a mess” Poland Regional High School Principal Cari Medd told RSU 16 directors Monday night. “The Legislature sort of abolished proficiency, but there’s nothing really in place of it, so there are a lot of issues” for daily […]

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Posted inMaine, sj-web

Winthrop student says post that got him charged with terrorizing was a joke

WINTHROP — Was it a threatening statement by a high school student posted on social media or an ill-advised joke? That’s the question police and administrators of Winthrop High School asked themselves early Wednesday morning, the first day of the school year, when they learned that a senior had written a strange post on Instagram […]

Posted inMaine, sj-web

New Yorker tries to sway Collins as she prepares to meet Kavanaugh

Hoping to sway U.S. Sen. Susan Collins to cast her vote against President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, a New York tech executive decided to take an unusual approach. Eric Lazarus put an employment advertisement on Craigslist calling for Maine leftists, liberals and progressives to contact him about a part-time gig “sitting in front of […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web

Lewiston police: Beware of misinformation from unverified sources on social media

LEWISTON — In the wake of violence that has rocked Lewiston in recent weeks, police say the last things people need are rumor and wild exaggeration. Police issued an alert Wednesday advising people to be wary of believing everything they read on social media. Of particular concern, they say, are a number of Facebook pages […]

Posted inBusiness

Maine chefs serving their cuisine on social media

During his first week as executive chef at Evo Kitchen + Bar in Portland, Matt Ginn fed an old high school buddy, who scolded him for ignoring social media. “He said ‘Dude, you’re not on Instagram? What’s wrong with you?’ ” Ginn recalled. The friend explained how showing off his food would benefit his business, […]

Posted inMaine

Waterville mayor taking heat for tweet about Parkland student

WATERVILLE — A Twitter account that goes by Waterville Republicans is calling on Mayor Nick Isgro to apologize for comments he made about Florida school shooting survivor David Hogg telling him to “Eat it, Hogg.” In a tweet Tuesday, the newly formed account said it was “deeply disappointed” by Isgro’s comments, which according to the […]

Posted inBusiness

It’s easier to hate Facebook than it is to quit it

First, you have to know where the deactivation page lies in your account settings. To even see the page, you have to re-enter your password. Then, Facebook makes its final plea: “Are you sure you want to deactivate your account?” The deactivation page displays a mosaic of your friends’ photos, each one accompanied by a […]

Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web

Smartphones and kids … a good mix?

With more teens feeling hopeless and suicidal, Maine schools, kids and parents struggle to deal with a technology that’s changed a generation. As principal of Oxford Elementary School, Tiffany Karnes has seen smartphone users start young. Like 7 years old young. “It would not be unusual to see a first- or second-grader who has a […]