In a truly social move, Facebook has added a timeline tool that lets its 161 million members in the U.S. and 30 million U.K. members share their organ donor status with friends in order to facilitate connecting potential donors and recipients.

In an exclusive interview with ABC News for Good Morning America that aired today on Mayday appropriately, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the life-saving commitment: "What we hope will happen is that by just having this simple tool, we think that people can really help spread awareness of organ donation and that they want to participate in this to their friends. That can be a big part of helping solve the crisis that's out there." 

The plan — outlined in a co-bylined piece by Zuckerberg and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg on the ABC News website — is to leverage social media to encourage more organ donors. With the new Facebook feature, users can register as organ, eye and tissue donors and link to the donor registry in their state as well as post videos or status updates about their decision to be a donor as well as indicate their wish to donate upon death.Continue reading...

AOL sells patents to Microsoft.

AT&T spends big to support launch of Numia smartphone by Nokia as it staves off a walkout by its workers.

Augusta National leaves unsettled the question of membership of IBM CEO Virginia Rometty; Bubba Watson wins its Masters tournament in dramatic fashion.

Avon names new CEO from Johnson & Johnson.

CDC says anti-smoking ads prompt lots more "quit attempts."

Cotton launches new look.

Google plots web-domain buying spree.

Great Wolf Resorts sees sweetened offer to buy company.

Kia keeps brand humming in non-launch year. Continue reading...

Google officially launched brand pages on Google+ today, ending months of waiting. The Web giant's pitch to convince businesses and brands to sign up (and unseat Facebook's dominance as the go-to social destination for businesses):

"Google+ pages help you connect with the customers and fans who love you. Not only can they recommend you with a +1, or add you to a circle to listen long-term. They can actually spend time with your team, face-to-face-to-face. All you need to do is start sharing, and you'll soon find the super fans and loyal customers that want to say hello."

Charter branded G+ pages at launch showed the array of business-hosted pages possible:Continue reading...

Steve Jobs is eulogized worldwide as Apple CEO Tim Cook figures out how to carry on.

BBC to cut 2,000 jobs.

Costco raises membership fees.

Friendly's finally files for bankruptcy protection.

Groupon may have to settle for smaller IPO.

HP to forego any more big software acquisitions.

NBC shows rare weakness in the mornings as Today battles Good Morning America on ABC.

Oracle's Ellison embraces the cloud.Continue reading...

Trending today on YouTube: this video of 6-year-old Anna Drexel being singled out for a "pat-down" search at a Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoint. Her father, who videotaped the search, and mother appeared on Good Morning America yesterday (below) to talk about the incident.

The Washington Post reports that the public outcry over this video has led the TSA, which defends this and similar searches as part of its mandate as a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, and Congress to review air passenger screening procedures for young children.Continue reading...

Twitter celebrated turning five today with a segment on ABC's Good Morning America and a video, above, that highlights the reasons why a cross-section of users (including Richard Branson, Snoop Dogg, Hillary Clinton, Martha Stewart, Serena Williams) are fans of the micromessaging social service.

Holiday festivities get the better of you? You may be ready for a spa; and if so, Spa Week (slogan: Living Every Day Like it's Spa Week) has a deal for you.

The US spa-promotional outfit is evolving beyond annual deals on massages and other spa treatments with a makeover to their Facebook page. Forget hot stones; the year-round incentive is now cold, hard cash.Continue reading...

Banks pay out millions in bonuses. [Times of London]

Comcast will take control of NBC Universal. [FT]

Google will grant publishers' wishes and limit search results. [NY Times]

Kraft informs shareholders Cadbury's valuation will reach $18.3 million. [Bloomberg]

George Stephanopolous tapped to anchor ABC's Good Morning America. [NY Times]

Peugeot eyes 50% stake in Mitsubishi. [Telegraph]

(More headlines: Comcast details, Tesco vouchers.)Continue reading...