You must have a blackberry to riot!?
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You must have a blackberry to riot!?So its been a year since the 2011 UK "BLACKBERRY RIOTS"...
- It was hard to ignore the media buzz surrounding the role of social media during last summers riots... especially in London.
- How important do you think social media (Blackberry Messenger, Facebook, Twitter) was to the rioting and looting taking place on our streets?
- David Cameron said "Criminality, pure & simple" - Do you agree it's that simple?
- Should they be called "The Blackberry Riots"?
PLEASE COMMENT AND DEBATE - this is part of a research study taking place at the University of Manchester. Please message me for details.
THANK YOU! -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Calling them the blackberry riots is rubbish, people only use the blackberry messenger because it's cheaper than texting, not because it's harder to tap.
As for facebook and twitter, well they probably were used to talk and the like, but you might as well blame vodafone for when someone uses a mobile as a bomb trigger.
The technology had little to do with it, it's just cheaper and more convenient to talk communicate using it. They would have been phoning/texting eachother if there was no facebook or twitter.
As for emergence of technology and rioting, it was only the one riot. It stopped as soon as it started raining. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Good point ^. But...(Original post by A.J10)
Calling them the blackberry riots is rubbish, people only use the blackberry messenger because it's cheaper than texting, not because it's harder to tap.
As for facebook and twitter, well they probably were used to talk and the like, but you might as well blame vodafone for when someone uses a mobile as a bomb trigger.
The technology had little to do with it, it's just cheaper and more convenient to talk communicate using it. They would have been phoning/texting eachother if there was no facebook or twitter.
As for emergence of technology and rioting, it was only the one riot. It stopped as soon as it started raining.
What about the legacy of the riots left by Youtube video posts, this is social media too. Everyone in the world can see what happened at any time - technology means the riots don't end when they end in real life.
What will these Youtube videos (social media) lead the world to think about the state of 21st century Britain? -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?If it weren't for social media a lot of the uprisings that took place in the arab world last year (and still today, e.g. syria) would never have taken off or caught the attention of the west. Sites like youtube where people can share information very quickly have done a LOT less harm than good.(Original post by EddyEv)
Good point ^. But...
What about the legacy of the riots left by Youtube video posts, this is social media too. Everyone in the world can see what happened at any time - technology means the riots don't end when they end in real life.
What will these Youtube videos (social media) lead the world to think about the state of 21st century Britain?
I'm sure history will forgive britain for one summer of riots. And be goddamn thankful you can "protest" in this country without militias getting called in to shoot you dead. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?There have been some really interesting posts - Thanks to everyone involved! BUT WE NEED MORE OPINIONS:
- How much do people rely on their Blackberrys (BBM), on YouTube for videos, on Facebook for communication??!!
- If you rely a lot on these social media, do you then think they could be potentially harmful during times of disorder? (eg: riots)
- Do you think the police still have the same level of communication and organisation, as youths on the street taking parting in rioting? - has social media (eg. BBM) given the rioters an upper hand.... an advantage? -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Is this some kind of homework task you have to do?(Original post by EddyEv)
There have been some really interesting posts - Thanks to everyone involved! BUT WE NEED MORE OPINIONS:
- How much do people rely on their Blackberrys (BBM), on YouTube for videos, on Facebook for communication??!!
- If you rely a lot on these social media, do you then think they could be potentially harmful during times of disorder? (eg: riots)
- Do you think the police still have the same level of communication and organisation, as youths on the street taking parting in rioting? - has social media (eg. BBM) given the rioters an upper hand.... an advantage? -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Blackberry riots ? Has the potential to sound racial.(Original post by EddyEv)
So its been a year since the 2011 UK "BLACKBERRY RIOTS"...
- It was hard to ignore the media buzz surrounding the role of social media during last summers riots... especially in London.
- How important do you think social media (Blackberry Messenger, Facebook, Twitter) was to the rioting and looting taking place on our streets?
- David Cameron said "Criminality, pure & simple" - Do you agree it's that simple?
- Should they be called "The Blackberry Riots"?
PLEASE COMMENT AND DEBATE - this is part of a research study taking place at the University of Manchester. Please message me for details.
THANK YOU! -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?In response to your question. No it is an undergraduate geography dissertation at The University of Manchester, as mentioned above looking into the role of social media and civil unrest.(Original post by . . .)
Is this some kind of homework task you have to do?
I've been interviewing victims, respected community figures, social commentators, teachers and alike. The intention is it shall be published.
This thread is to encourage debate amongst young people (especially those affected by the UK riots e.g. if you live in London/ Manchester / Birmingham) about new technology which has led to a major policing rethink.
Thank you for your interest. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?This in an interesting statement - thank you.(Original post by democracyforum)
Blackberry riots ? Has the potential to sound racial.
Could you elaborate on this further, and why does it have potential to sound racial? Also does anyone agree/disagree with this?
NOTE: - "The Blackberry riots" was a name given to the riots in London last august by the Economist.
http://www.economist.com/node/21525976 -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?I think it's obvious(Original post by EddyEv)
This in an interesting statement - thank you.
Could you elaborate on this further, and why does it have potential to sound racial? Also does anyone agree/disagree with this?
NOTE: - "The Blackberry riots" was a name given to the riots in London last august by the Economist.
http://www.economist.com/node/21525976 -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Okay, I understood initially what you meant - however this may just be your individual interpretation of the headline "The Blackberry riots".(Original post by democracyforum)
I think it's obvious
The real focus here is on social media (BBM, Twitter etc.) and civil unrest rather than race.
Thanks for your input nevertheless. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?I don't know if this is of any interest to you but here in Birmingham while the riots were taking place somebody set up a Tumblr page to warn people of where to avoid. It took off and people were sending in updates and pictures constantly and it attracted something like a million hits over the space of a few days.(Original post by EddyEv)
This in an interesting statement - thank you.
Could you elaborate on this further, and why does it have potential to sound racial? Also does anyone agree/disagree with this?
NOTE: - "The Blackberry riots" was a name given to the riots in London last august by the Economist.
http://www.economist.com/node/21525976 -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?That's a very interesting point, thank you. This shows that social media was not simply a negative influence during the riots but also a positive and preventative factor!(Original post by Benniboi1)
I don't know if this is of any interest to you but here in Birmingham while the riots were taking place somebody set up a Tumblr page to warn people of where to avoid. It took off and people were sending in updates and pictures constantly and it attracted something like a million hits over the space of a few days.
Any more views? - Thanks to everyone for input so far. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?IMO, riots were indicted mainly by whose with BB phones. At that time I don't have BB, I keep hearing in medias that people are indicting the riots but I don't see anything, not even on FB. I think it was mainly on BB.
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?If anyone is interested in the regulation of digital devices, social networks or the Internet in general, I can recommend The Future of the Internet - And How to Stop It by J Zittrain. Lessig and Grimmelmann are also good authors
Free PDF of the book is available at http://futureoftheinternet.org/
Lessig's Code, v2.0 free PDF http://codev2.cc/ -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Thanks, I've downloaded this and look forward to reading it - some of the censorship issues raised are interesting and tie in with the riots.(Original post by Sports Racer)
If anyone is interested in the regulation of digital devices, social networks or the Internet in general, I can recommend The Future of the Internet - And How to Stop It by J Zittrain. Lessig and Grimmelmann are also good authors
Free PDF of the book is available at http://futureoftheinternet.org/
Lessig's Code, v2.0 free PDF http://codev2.cc/
For instance there were calls to suspend to BBM service - this is essentially censorship of the internet.
Do people think the BBM service should have been suspended or is freedom of speech and human rights an issue here? -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?rioting happened way before mobile phones were invented(Original post by EddyEv)
So its been a year since the 2011 UK "BLACKBERRY RIOTS"...
- It was hard to ignore the media buzz surrounding the role of social media during last summers riots... especially in London.
- How important do you think social media (Blackberry Messenger, Facebook, Twitter) was to the rioting and looting taking place on our streets?
- David Cameron said "Criminality, pure & simple" - Do you agree it's that simple?
- Should they be called "The Blackberry Riots"?
PLEASE COMMENT AND DEBATE - this is part of a research study taking place at the University of Manchester. Please message me for details.
THANK YOU! -
- Reputation:
- Peer Of The TSR Realm
Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?The relevant chapters to BBM are 3, 4 and 5. Basically he explains the notion of generativity (a system's capacity to generate outcomes that were not part of the original design agenda) and how the 'hourglass' architecture of digital technology enables this. The Internet did not have to be the way it is. Then in chapter 5 he talks about 'tethered' devices (such as BBs) and what it means for freedom, control and policy.(Original post by EddyEv)
Thanks, I've downloaded this and look forward to reading it - some of the censorship issues raised are interesting and tie in with the riots.
For instance there were calls to suspend to BBM service - this is essentially censorship of the internet.
Do people think the BBM service should have been suspended or is freedom of speech and human rights an issue here? -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?Very interesting indeed - I look forward to framing some of these ideas in the thesis.(Original post by Sports Racer)
The relevant chapters to BBM are 3, 4 and 5. Basically he explains the notion of generativity (a system's capacity to generate outcomes that were not part of the original design agenda) and how the 'hourglass' architecture of digital technology enables this. The Internet did not have to be the way it is. Then in chapter 5 he talks about 'tethered' devices (such as BBs) and what it means for freedom, control and policy.
Are there any more views on social media and civil unrest?
I am particularly interested on whether it would have been a good idea to shut down the BBM service during the riots - what do people think?
Would this have meant the disorder would have dissolved or would it have fuelled even more intense rioting? This is still a very topical debate for future security and policing.
Thanks for everyone's help with the research so far! Much appreciated. -
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Re: You must have a blackberry to riot!?You should watch Traffic Cops on BBC. Most officers now have blackberrys hooked up to their database(Original post by EddyEv)
- Do you think the police still have the same level of communication and organisation, as youths on the street taking parting in rioting? - has social media (eg. BBM) given the rioters an upper hand.... an advantage?
