Facebook aims to help brands better connect with fans ... prepares to launch local ads ... looks to China and Russia ... beefs up privacy staff ... and calls for federal oversight of rogue apps.

Foursquare Avoidr app helps users avoid people they don't wish to see.

Microsoft and Yahoo join industry consortium to monitor online trackers.

Twitter is barred "for 20 years from misleading consumers" by FTC in privacy ruling concerning 2009 hacked accounts (including Barack Obama's).Continue reading...

More people are now watching Web video series – and at night, in lieu of primetime TV programming – marking a seachange for consumers and brand marketers alike.

Online viewing of longform content is on a steady increase, increasing 11.3% between 2008 and 2009. eMarketer projects annual growth in longform video viewing of 8% to 9% a year from 2010 through 2012, dropping to about 5.2% growth from 2013 to 2014, when 77% of US Internet users will be watching online video at least once a month.

A key factor in this trend is broadband proliferation and online audience demographics. Not surprisingly, the highest penetration of Web video consumption is with 18-24-year-olds, followed closely by teens and 25-34-year-olds. This audience grew up not tethered to the TV set, but plugged in to PCs, laptops, cellphones and mobile devices.

They also weathered the early days of negligible online content as the burgeoning platform found its legs. Consider the first Web series to catch worldwide attention, the lonelygirl15 viral video phenomenon on YouTube.Continue reading...

BP's top cap appears to be working (but could "take years") as oil slick spreads and Obama slams BP on NBC's Today Show, pledges compensation for all.

Analysts agree with Steve Jobs that Apple's new iPhone features mark "biggest leap" since the original.

Google's got FIFA fever: search for World Cup, find soccer matches by nation (& scroll down to the footer).

Yahoo! signs David Beckham as its first global ambassador to help promote its World Cup coverage.Continue reading...

Apple ending "I'm a Mac" ads?

KFC's "pink bucket" promotion isn't all that, says Consumerist.

Nescafe to revive "Gold Blend" couple after decade break.

Chevrolet moves on from "Like a Rock" and "Heartbeat of America."

Victoria's Secret suits up with the NFL.

Israel will allow iPads to enter the country, while bootleg iPads show up in China.Continue reading...

McDonald's unveils new I'm Lovin' It campaign (above).

Virgin Atlantic is under investigation for alleged price-fixing.

Thanks to Japan and its love of smartphones, Apple sales are up.

Gatorade's new campaign has athletes drinking throughout their games.

Lay's won't need the FDA to launch a new form of salt.

Netflix is wooing users with price cuts for Wii-based service.Continue reading...

Christies' first green auction tonight will offer adventures with celebs with brands' support.

Amazon's Kindle is its best-selling product (and it's coming to Target).

Coca-Cola dismisses criticism of BPA packaging.

Apple and Adobe clash over Flash.

US Airways ends talks with United.

Hulu is planning a monthly subscription service.Continue reading...

China now has close to 400 million Internet users, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group research study, making it the most wired nation in the world. The Chinese are more plugged-in than any population in the world, except the Japanese.

In a country where media censorship, state-run television, and a limit on imported films is the norm, young people are flocking to the Web for entertainment and social media.

Baidu, China’s largest web site, is joined by Tencent and Sina.com in capturing millions of young users fixated on IM, microblogging, games, and pirated music and movies. While they may devour entertainment from the rest of the world, increasingly China's digital natives are turning to home-grown sites to sate their thirst for content and activity online.Continue reading...

Starbucks pranks consumers with "more sizes." [Starbucks]

More brands are finding e-mail helpful for marketing. [Brandweek]

Sustainable seafood was a poor choice for Trader Joe's. [Daily Finance]

Hulu may launch a subscription service to increase revenue. [Consumerist]