by samOver the last few days, London and the UK have been up in arms over the riots that started in London and have been spreading out across the UK. The news and media have started turning their attention to and blaming social media outlets as the cause of the riots and their coordination. While no doubt it has a role in the organisation of these riots, overall it has a highly positive effect against the riots.
You have to remember that back in the 1980s there were riots on a similar scale in the UK when social media didn’t exist. So no matter what, these riots would have still happened with the help of social networking sites or not. The online response to the riots is that of disgust. Using the likes of Twitter, people are openly voicing their opinions on the riots, condemning all those involved, but the greatest help that Twitter has massed is its use to share instantaneously with the world. People are using Twitter as a means to share news updates on the movements of the riots in real time, posting videos and pictures of the damage and destruction.
This morning the hashtag for the riot clean-up emerged: #RiotCleanUp. The hashtag is being used to rally people to help with the clean-up effort, information on where the clean-ups are happening, where to meet, what time to meet, and information on what to bring. At the time of posting this blog, the @RiotCleanup Twitter account, which has been made by a member of the public, has gained 60,000 followers in the 10 hours the account has been active. Twitter users are also using social media to try and get people caught and punished for looting and causing the riots.
Any pictures containing clear pictures of the faces of anyone involved or shown posing with loot are being retweeted with the sole intention of getting these people caught. Tumblr and Facebook pages are being created, and pictures are uploaded to them as an outlet and viewing platform for the pictures, with the hopes of identifying them. Catchalooter. Tumblr.com seems to be the most popular account for this, posting pictures from the Metropolitan Police as well as user-submitted photos.
The fact that the media are using Twitter posts as a supply as a source of information is just proof that social media is having a heavy influence on the world. Whether it’s being used to spark a revolution in Africa or catch criminals, social media is becoming an ever-increasing force in the world we live in today.