There’s a lot of great stuff that pops up on the web constantly. For some reason, there were even more things today that caught my eye than usual. This list was also compiled without even checking my Google reader once. Information overload indeed.

Whether funny, brilliant, interesting or a mix of all three, here they are:

1) Innovation and Early Adopters, Beyond the Bell Curve

This chart has been spreading around the web in the past couple of weeks. It comes from Everett M. Rogers in Diffusion of Innovations, the landmark 1962 textbook that looks at how technology spreads throughout society:

The article does a fantastic job of going through misconceptions surrounding early adopters based on this chart.

The most egregious assumption based on this chart — That 13.5% of the population are early adopters. In fact, the 13.5% refers only to the population that uses the product.

Let’s use internet use in the US as an example.

79% of US residents, or 276,500,000 people use the internet.

The number of early adopters would be based on that 79% of Americans who actually use the innovation, rather than the total popoulation.

Beyond a few misconceptions, the article really forces you to think about the costs and benefits of brands going after “early adopters.”

Is “Let’s target early adopters” the new “Let’s make a viral video?” …..

2) Regulating the Use of Social Media Data

The prolific Dana Boyd wrote a short piece on her blog where she says we should focus less on what data companies can collect from internet users and focus more on how they are allowed to use that data.

The German government is proposing legislation that would put restrictions on what Internet content employers could use when recruiting.

This line of thinking reflects an environment where privacy becomes regulated by the state rather than something that is up to individual control. Instead of fighting the erosion of privacy tooth and nail, why not just restrict what the data can be utilized for? 

Unfortunately, this line of thinking, moving the responsibility of privacy control away from individuals and into the hands of the state, would not mesh well with a US culture that emphasizes choices and personal responsibility.

We are great  at telling overweight people to get in shape, and telling the stories of people who have overcome obesity through hard work and will-power, but terrible at implementing change to a culture that creates and fuels that obesity in the first place.

In the same way, the Governement will (eventually) require personal choices on what we share online to be front and center, focusing on providing choices and personal responsibility over regulation on how the data is used. Sigh?

3) Confessions of an Online Moderator

If I was a community manager, especially in a social space where the discussion was heated. This would be my manifesto. Fantastic example of turning job frustrations into constructive thoughts.

4) Peter Travers Gives “The Social Network” Four Stars and Calls it the Movie That Defines The Decade

Travers, you’re my boy, and I’m so excited to see this movie. That’s all on this point.

5) Technology Aside, Most People Still Decline to be Located

“Just 4 percent of Americans have tried location-based services, and 1 percent use them weekly, according to Forrester Research. Eighty percent of those who have tried them are men, and 70 percent are between 19 and 35.”

Further proof that the success of location based apps is about shifting cultural attitudes towards privacy first, and providing better incentives and rewards second.

6) Love a Good Fake Infomercial