A number of politicians, media commentators and members of the police force have suggested that Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger had a negative role to play in the London Riots.
Twitter users publicly announced their involvement in the riots, urging their followers to join them. @DanielNothing announced: "Heading to Tottenham to join the riot! who's with me? #ANARCHY", though this was quickly followed by "Hang on, that last tweet should've read 'Curling up on the sofa with an Avengers DVD and my missus, who's with me?' What a klutz I am!”
A number were less keen to cover their tracks, with one individual uploading a photograph of himself posing with a bag of stolen Tesco Value rice.
A senior lecturer in sociology and criminology at London's City University, Chris Greer, commented that though smartphones will have aided those involved, it is unlikely to have persuaded reluctant recruits to join the rioting.
"I don't think it is having any impact on the motivation to protest in the first place," he said, "But once people have mobilised themselves and decided to take to the streets it is certainly much easier to communicate with each other… Their methods of communicating with each other or pointing out where the police were at any given time and therefore where the protesters shouldn't be, and basically organising themselves was so much more sophisticated than the police."
It appears the majority of communication happened through private messaging, particularly BlackBerry Messenger. One message spread widely throughout London read:
“Everyone from all sides of London meet up at the heart of London (central) OXFORD CIRCUS!!, Bare SHOPS are gonna get smashed up so come get some (free stuff!!!)” The announcement ended with “If you see a brother… SALUT! If you see a fed… SHOOT!”
The maker of Blackberry, Research in Motion, stated they will fully co-operate with a police investigation looking into these claims.
It is worth noting that social networking was predominantly used to assist those in need, with many users providing up-to-the-minute information about local riots. Twitter user @Steeevenb wrote: “Got my first BBM broadcast warning of riots in east London tonight… So upsetting, people need some sanity.
User @Jamescridland went as far to set up a new map on Google Maps detailing the locations of ‘riot danger zones’ and is updated using eye witness accounts, police reports, and media coverage.
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