Most of the UK has been transfixed by the rioting and looting that has been taking over our capital for the past few days – with many of the media pointing the finger at Twitter and BBM (gotta blame something, right?). Today London’s citizens showed that social media is indeed capable of organising large groups of people – but for the right reasons.
Appalled by the scenes of burning buildings and smashed property, a London resident by the name of Dan Thompson vowed he would hit the streets the next morning and help city workers clean up the debris from the evening’s violence. Dan’s message clearly struck a chord with many other Londoners, who saw the rioters as nothing more than petty thugs looking for a free flatscreen TV.
Soon a Facebook group was born, an official Twitter account, and the hashtag began trending worldwide. After some organisation, early this morning crowds of Londoners with brooms and black bags descended on areas such as Clapham, Hackney and Croydon – which saw the worst of the rioting – and cleaned up the streets. They were even joined by some celebrities who had decided to lend their support.
Elsewhere, London’s Metropolitan Police hit social sites to create a rogues gallery of rioters they wish to identify, and a Facebook event called Operation Cup of Tea was started, encouraging people to stay in and have a cup of tea instead of attend more riots. In Brighton an anti-riot tea party was organised for tomorrow around the hashtag #SolidariTea.
While Twitter, BBM and other social services were certainly not the instigators of the violent behaviour London has seen over the last four days, it would seem they have played a large (and mostly unreported) role in restoring the morale and dignity of a city in crisis.
Photo via @Rickontour
