Research on online press & viral - London Riots

LONDON RIOTS

How does the internet provide an enormous challenge for regulations?

During the London riots, we saw that the BBC had created a huge challenge for regulation for youths living in London as it began to construct a sense of moral panic and stereotype youths, the idea of young people becoming viral villains. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14439970) However though youths tend have used social mediums respond back through the use of social networks such as Facebook and twitter by posting images of themselves with stolen goods and happy doing so. Hence this will be an enormous regulation for regulators as they cannot control these social networks as they do not have the right to do so.

How does the internet provide a post-modern vision of identity?

Well in today’s society we the public are not able to escape from the way the media portray certain collective identity. The reason being is that the internet provides a postmodern vision as technology continues to grow and create our reality. An example is that of the London riots where the social networks had allowed youths to regulate their own ideas in a more modern form. One reporter for the daily mail states “The report said: 'Whilst social media did not necessarily trigger involvement, it undoubtedly speeded up the exchange of information and increased the number of young people aware of the events as they were happening.”  In terms of reflection

How does web 2.0 present a change for rioters since the Brixton riots?

Since the Brixton riots we see the use of web 2.0 has been able to amplify a change for rioters in the UK. The guardian a broadsheet was able to reflect this through their online site. The reporter states “In fact the only visible difference I could detect was that most of the rioters in Tottenham were wearing hooded jackets and scarves around their faces rather than the woolly hats and cloth berets of my generation.”  The press shows a reflection of a negative representation of youths in the society and categorize them into a collective identity. 

Has online press affected us in today’s society?

Depending on the type of press you allow yourself to read. The reason being is that there are two different forms of modern press, which are tabloids, broadsheets, social networks such as twitter and Facebook. The fact that online press are so instant and has constructed a collective identity on youths it has thus left youths to adhere to the media

How does it present an area of control for today’s society?

Through the use of twitter and Facebook especially during the London riots, youths have been able to post videos and images of their stolen goods; this demonstrates that youths adhere to the constructions that tabloids represent for them.