According to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Online Shopping Survey, online shopping has increased significantly and continues to show potential for growth, with price, convenience and security key factors to consider making a purchasing decision.The survey revealed that even in an emerging market like South Africa shopping online has steadily increased over the past two years, with 58% of respondents in a survey of active internet users saying that they use the internet for shopping. This is an increase from the ...

Time magazine has released its list of 100 most influential people for 2012. It's hardly surprising to see a few tech faces on the list given the all-pervasive role it plays in our lives. What's pretty interesting is that Anonymous made this list even though the list is technically for most influential people not groups. But yay for you Anonymous.Time published its annual list Wednesday, highlighting an interesting mix of personalities, ranging from the rich and powerful, such as ...

Would you like to make a pile of cash? I rate you go into mobile gaming. While you’re merrily launching flocks of birds at a bunch of thieving pigs, gaming companies like Rovio are cashing in.How much is the Finnish game giant making, exactly? Well, its revenue totaled a nice US$100 million last year -- a substantial increase over 2010, where it made US$10 million. Which, you know, wasn’t bad either. It’s a nice industry to be in -- gaming ...

Popular French tech conference LeWeb is making its way to London this June. The tech couple behind LeWeb revealed the theme for LeWeb London: Faster than real time. How much faster can something occurring immediately be? How is that even possible?It seems there is a way, as Loic and Geraldine Le Muer point out: "Whether it’s Highlight, constantly broadcasting your location, or Voxer, a walkie-talkie social experience born out of the fields of war torn Afghanistan, it is clear ...

The excitement evoked by the word 'entrepreneurship' too often drains away when the business leaders of tomorrow start trying to turn their 'big idea' into reality. Along with challenges around securing funding, building a client base and finding skilled staff, the challenges around setting up the essential IT organs required for running a healthy and secure small business is possibly one of most daunting prospects.Beyond a great idea, two things drive successful startups: speed to market and keeping the burn ...

I recently had my birthday, which for most people is the day of the year when they have the most activity on their Facebook page. When I checked my Facebook on the day I saw only four birthday posts on my Timeline. I felt taken aback.All of the people that I have close relationships with had already phoned me by then, I had a great birthday date planned, and was going to see all of my closest friends at ...

Lawmakers in the US incurred the wrath of the web when they tried to push the SOPA and PIPA bills. Now they could find themselves facing even stronger opposition as they try to push through the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (better known as CISPA).The lawmakers claim that CISPA is designed to help private businesses and government share information more easily. Its critics, however, believe that it would effectively mean an end to internet privacy.This is primarily ...

Social media in emerging markets is poised in a delicate position. A number of governments are trying to clampdown on various platforms, all while they’re experiencing phenomenal growth.Given this situation, it’s worthwhile seeing who the most influential political tweeters in some of the biggest emerging market countries are. It is they, after all, who drive debate and help form the national political opinion.Using research from PR and communications firm Burson-Masteller and social influence measuring tool Klout, we can get some ...

Video footage of a girl being violently gang raped is causing a social media storm.The video, which Memeburn will not link to for legal and ethical reasons, reportedly shows seven males aged between 14 and 20 raping a 17 year old girl.According to Eyewitness News, the video was captured on a cellphone camera and clearly features faces, genitalia, and several instances of penetration.The young males can also be heard offering the girl R2 for her silence. The girl meanwhile can ...

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has come out on the defensive, saying that his thoughts on internet freedom “got particularly distorted” following an interview with UK newspaper The Guardian.In the interview Brin said that Facebook and Apple could potentially threaten web freedom with the “walled gardens” they build up around their products.In a Google+ post, the renowned internet billionaire said that this did not mean he wasn’t a fan of the actual products: I have much admiration for two of the companies ...