it turns out women are our new lead adopters. when you look at internet usage, it turns out women in western countries use the internet 17 percent more every month than their male counterparts. women are more likely to be using the mobile phones they own, they spend more time talking on them, they spend more time using location-based services. but they also spend more time sending text messages. women are the fastest growing and largest users on skype, and that’s mostly younger women. women are the fastest category and biggest users on every social networking site with the exception of linkedin. women are the vast majority owners of all internet enabled devices—readers, healthcare devices, gps—that whole bundle of technology is mostly owned by women.

- genevieve bell (intel) | via the atlantic: cacioppo [emphasis mine]

how to build an owl

1. decide you must.
2. develop deep respect
   for feather, bone, claw.
3. place your trembling thumb
   where the heart will be:
   for one hundred hours watch
   so you will know
   where to put the first feather.
4. stay awake forever.
   When the bird takes shape
   gently pry open its beak
   and whisper into it: mouse.
5. let it go

by  kathleen lynch | via jackcheng: jarrettfuller

why do i “heart” some photos and not others? why am i sparing? i know it will make the photographer feel good. it subtly strengthens my relationship with them. it doesn’t cost me anything…but why when i scroll through 10 photos on instagram will i only “give out” one heart? am i worried about being perceived as “loose” or “easy” with my hearts? do i think they’ll have less positive impact or perceived value by my graph if i “heart” too much? does what i heart say something about me to my graph? do i want the publisher/content creator to appreciate my taste, think of me as discerning, or maybe i just want to have power and be judgmental…and dole out accolades only as i please…only when i feel like a piece of content or a photo is worthy…maybe it’s just about me and holding even the slightest modicum of authority over my friends and acquaintances…i spend my “likes” and my “hearts” like a spend money…only where i see fit, only when i see value…and what i spend it on says something about me and also says something to the recipient of that value…but if i spent money on everything i would be wasteful…and i don’t want to be wasteful with my social accolades…because they will lose their value from every dimension…so no…that awesome puppy you just published to instagram??? i’m not gonna heart it…because i hearted your sunset yesterday…and i’m not that easy.

- jordan cooper, the bizarre social currency gehind the “hearts” and “likes”

we’re so young. we’re so young. we have so much time. there’s this sentiment i sometimes sense, creeping in our collective conscious as we lay alone after a party, or pack up our books when we give in and go out – that it is somehow too late. that others are somehow ahead. more accomplished, more specialized. more on the path to somehow saving the world, somehow creating or inventing or improving. that it’s too late now to BEGIN a beginning and we must settle for continuance, for commencement.

- keegan | it’s never too late to start. - brycedotvc [emphasis mine]