WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

When anthropologist Illana Gershon interviewed her Indiana University students as part of her research on social media and relationships, she posed this question to one of her classes: If you and your sweetie are “Facebook official,” what happens when the relationship ends?

1. Former first lady of Chicago, Maggie Daley, died on Thanksgiving. She was renowned for her tireless support of the arts and in honor of her legacy, theaters across Chicago honored her Sund

Right now, armies of marketers, pollsters and social scientists are trying to figure out what Americans are thinking about — issues like global warming or Lady Gaga's latest outfit. Surveys are only so good: It's hard to get a big enough sample to be sure of the results.

Twitter may seem like an annoying, hyperactive, self-important and cursory way to communicate, but you have to admit, it's addictive. And lately, it has become far more than a way to share your favorite VMA performance with 500 people at once (for the record: Beyonce baby bump!).

 Though Mayor Emanuel opened the microphone to constituents at Monday night's public budget hearing, it was not the first time the mayor surveyed the public--he has frequently used social media to conduct town halls and take comments.

Look out, Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn is joining the social media revolution.Acccording to the Associated Press, the governor’s office has launched an official Twitter feed and Flickr photo page, which they say the governor will use to get feedback from people around the state.