What are some examples of how (online) social networks have influenced international and/or political events?
August 17, 2008 8:40 PM Subscribe
What are some examples of how (online) social networks have influenced international and/or political events?
For example, on Barack Obama's web site, a social networking group formed to pressure the Obama campaign to increase opposition to the FISA bill.
Do you know of any other examples of groups that formed online and had some significant effect on an international or political event?
I know this is a really broad question, and maybe lots of groups could fit this question, but would love to hear of a few.
For example, on Barack Obama's web site, a social networking group formed to pressure the Obama campaign to increase opposition to the FISA bill.
Do you know of any other examples of groups that formed online and had some significant effect on an international or political event?
I know this is a really broad question, and maybe lots of groups could fit this question, but would love to hear of a few.
Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I read this article today:
What Obama Can Teach You About Millennial Marketing
It's about the campaign's skill in tapping into social networks and branding.
But that aspect might not really answer your question until November 5.
posted by girlmightlive at 9:16 PM on August 17, 2008
What Obama Can Teach You About Millennial Marketing
It's about the campaign's skill in tapping into social networks and branding.
But that aspect might not really answer your question until November 5.
posted by girlmightlive at 9:16 PM on August 17, 2008
Not "social networking online" in today's sense, but a lot of the organization behind the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 was handled via faxes from student group to student group.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:54 PM on August 17, 2008
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:54 PM on August 17, 2008
Egypt has had this in the anti-Mubarak protests, like the recent protests that had their epicentre in Mahalla.
posted by Gnatcho at 10:10 PM on August 17, 2008
posted by Gnatcho at 10:10 PM on August 17, 2008
For example, on Barack Obama's web site, a social networking group formed to pressure the Obama campaign to increase opposition to the FISA bill.
Which nonetheless passed and was signed into law.
Do you know of any other examples of groups that formed online and had some significant effect on an international or political event?
I think you'll have no difficulty coming up with lots of examples of such groups that have had insignificant effect. I'm afraid you're overestimating the practical power of social networking as it currently manifests. (Or perhaps you have a much lower definition of "significance" than I do.)
posted by Class Goat at 11:12 PM on August 17, 2008
Which nonetheless passed and was signed into law.
Do you know of any other examples of groups that formed online and had some significant effect on an international or political event?
I think you'll have no difficulty coming up with lots of examples of such groups that have had insignificant effect. I'm afraid you're overestimating the practical power of social networking as it currently manifests. (Or perhaps you have a much lower definition of "significance" than I do.)
posted by Class Goat at 11:12 PM on August 17, 2008
Best answer: They weren't necessarily all in the same social networking site (though a good number of them know each other), but Malaysian bloggers made a massive impact in the last elections largely due to blogs and the Internet.
posted by divabat at 3:10 AM on August 18, 2008
posted by divabat at 3:10 AM on August 18, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers everyone.
Gnatcho: Did you intend to link another site to your answer? Interested to see it.
Class Goat: Sometimes effect is hard to gauge and "significance" is obviously a judgment. Having said that, I'm just looking for some examples, insignificant or not, with an obvious bias toward perceived significance.
posted by kingtaj at 12:02 PM on August 18, 2008
Gnatcho: Did you intend to link another site to your answer? Interested to see it.
Class Goat: Sometimes effect is hard to gauge and "significance" is obviously a judgment. Having said that, I'm just looking for some examples, insignificant or not, with an obvious bias toward perceived significance.
posted by kingtaj at 12:02 PM on August 18, 2008
Best answer: Earlier this year there was a massive protest against violence in Colombia that was organized through a Facebook group. The article is a bit naive, but it will give you enough details to research more if the event is relevant enough for you.
posted by micayetoca at 6:59 PM on August 18, 2008
posted by micayetoca at 6:59 PM on August 18, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by netbros at 9:10 PM on August 17, 2008