Santa Clauses brought to Trafalgar Square, London, by social media
Not too many years ago, the ability to talk with another person—no matter where that person was—made the cell phone a phenomenon that changed communication forever. Then various social media hit the air waves, and again everything changed completely. Now we can communicate with hundreds of people at the same time, and often those communications are to gather a crowd, called a flash mob, to the same place at the same time. Societies have been deeply affected—for good and for ill.On the benefit side of the scoreboard, flash mobs fall into two general categories. One is the just-for-fun flash mob. Hundreds of people may show up to dance, to stage a pillow fight, to help a nervous young man propose to his girlfriend by singing their favorite song. These mobs astonish, amuse, and delight. Another type of flash mob is organized for serious but constructive purposes. During the Arab Spring, protesters used social media to arrange huge demonstrations against oppressive governments. In the aftermath of the August, 2011 London riots, flash mobs showed up to clean the streets as soon as they could.The London riots highlight the down side of flash mobs, however. There and in other British cities, looters and arsonists used social media to stay one step ahead of police as they rampaged through the streets. In recent months, “flash robs” have been on the rise. During these events, a crowd shows up, overwhelms employees, and takes thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise within just a few minutes. One clerk compared the mob of teenagers that robbed his store to a swarm of locusts.
What is to be done? Should governments be allowed to shut down social media networks if they feel public safety is threatened by flash mobs? The British prime minister proposed doing just that during the riots. Or should freedom of expression never be limited? Focusing on social media may be the wrong tactic. As one writer observed, technologies don’t have political viewpoints. Social media are not to blame for criminal flash mobs; it is the people who use flash mobs for criminal purposes.
Image credit: AP Photo/Sang Tan
Related Links
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The Evolution of Flash Mobs from Pranks to Crime and Revolution
Read how the flash mob has changed in recent years.
(Source: San Francisco Examiner, August 28, 2011) -
Teenage Flash Mob Robberies on the Rise
Find out how social media have been used in crime.
(Source: Fox News, June 18, 2011) -
U.K. Prime Minister Suggests ‘Pre-Crime’ Blocking of Social Media
Read the leader of the British government’s response to the issue of social media and crime.
(Source: Wired, August 11, 2011) -
English Riots: Social Media Were “Force for Good”
Read a defense of social media.
(Source: BBC News UK Politics, September 15, 2011)
all i gotta say is REALLY yall gone put a santa hat on a statue where da do tht at
Ahaha…. funny dude. :/
go flash mobs :O
first
(facepalm)
MOBBBBBB :O THEY FUNNYY
i <3 flash mobs!!!!!
i wanna be in a mob lookin like an elf lol hurray hurray
awesome
i like this article great for curent events!
cool ;>
AWESOME
aww i thought the mob was gonna flash haha jk its kool it reminds if that one commercial
whats up? XD
I think they should just let it go on whatever!
WHY WOULD DANCE IN PUBLIC
cause its fun to make a fool of your self like me!!!!!
Kiner,mitchell
I think flash robs should be stopped. It is horrible that people would show up and steal things. On the other hand:Flash mobs (dancing kind:) are awesome!!!!!!
totally awsome
It’s not christmas yet!
I’m watching you.
~A
HAHAHA jkjk thats from Pretty Little Liars 😉
FLASH MOBS ARE MUGLE TUTTING
I <3 flash mobs
They r fun cause u can make a fool of ur self
Flash mobs help you express freedom. 🙂
Remarkable! 😉
cool;0
Such Talant!! 🙂
so if all the tall people are mr?mrs santa does that mean the short people are their elfs(? hahaha
grapes are delicious
hahahahahaha:p
i performed in a flash mob before. 😀
falsh mobs…ehh? kewlieeeooo
i love flash mobs
good to know
very interesting
When you watch the Texans’ DE play, its easy to be impressed with his atehtlic ability, speed up the field and his power at the point of attack. That’s legit talent right there. But let’s not forget about the technique Watt displays with his hands. He can “press” an offensive lineman and create some separation to work his counter moves. Fast and violent with the hands. That’s what I took from the game. CSS10-26
i like this topic
cool
i wanna go to flash mobb
I like this topic and i think this is very interesting
but I have a question
who wrote this current event?
That’s a lot of santas
I think that flash mobs are cool I guess…