Social media is a powerful tool. Just look at role it played in the rise of the Occupy movement, the spread of the English riots last summer, or the ever evolving Arab Spring - we're living amidst the creation of a global communications network and it's rapidly changing the we interact with each other and our institutions. This past weekend there was riot in London, Ontario by young people, mainly Fanshawe College students, that resulted in a CTV truck being torched, riot police being attacked for hours, and a massive disturbance to the bucolic nature of London's suburbs. Observing how students use social media today is helpful in predicting how these future employees will be using it once they hit the workplace. Prognosis: not good.
In the harsh light of Sunday morning people weren't exactly enthralled with Brenden's alleged performance and began disseminating information about him across the Internet (I say alleged because he now denies it). His employer, Ontario Power Generation, has started receiving tweets requesting Brenden's firing (which might make for an interesting off-duty conduct case). Beyond this, criminal charges are an almost certainty in the wake of the harsh backlash from the public.
For my previous articles on social media take a look: here, here, and here; furthermore, Lisa Stam wrote a great overview last week about some of the problems social media creates in the workplace. Beyond this, check out some of the incredible footage from Saturday night. See:
Excellent article. I've noticed that several of the social media "stars" in this case have deleted their Twitter and Facebook accounts, but the damage is already done. Apologies and some form of remorse isn't going to stem the tide of public outrage over this.
ReplyDeletePeople share far too much information on Twitter & FB and it's bound to come back to bite them in the future. Just look at any major politician that runs for public office. Opponents have been able to find obscure photos of politicians who maybe had ONE single photo of them taken in the wrong place at the wrong time. How much more likely would it be that the abundance of photos and videos shared across the internet will follow many of these young adults for many, many years as they're saved on hard drives and photo sharing website and are very easy to find.
I completely agree with your assessment. Whether of not Brenden Dowden actually participated in any criminal acts isn't the question anymore as he has been labelled, rightly or wrongly, the face of the riots. It amazes me that young people aren't aware of the scope and operation of social media these days. One off hand comment on Facebook can have implications that last for years and impact on career, relationship, and academic prospects. It's incredibly important to manage one's online reputation with a fine tooth comb.
ReplyDeleteHe now Recants all of it, in an interview with the G&M. I say bull. He tweeted it, he either was trying to be a big guy on campus by bragging or he actually did it. What a fool. He even says in his interview that it was nobody's business what happened in London. I say give your head a shake kiddo,, and hope your parents give you a shake too! It is everyone's business if you burn things, and ruin property that is not yours, and put people at risk. It is attitudes like yours that makes they youth of today look STUPID!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to respect? What happened to your own self respect. I think you are one stupid person. And I think you should be arrested, questioned, and if found in any of the photos, then charged. He should do community service and extra credits in order to complete college, and some public speaking events on how STUPID IT IS TO PARTICIPATE IN A RIOT!. What we do not need is these kids expelled, bc that just keeps them STUPID.