Facebook’s Role in the Aftermath of 9/11
We are constantly being reassured that our country will recover through newfound strength, pride, and innovation… but how long will that take? With the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 and the many terrorist precautions being taken all over the country, I find myself thinking about the drastic social changes that have taken place over the last decade. In just ten years, America has transformed into a new nation. Although there have been so many revolutionary and life altering technological and social advancements over the last decade, one stands out as the most important social innovation affecting modern American life. Facebook and other modes of social networking have entirely altered the way we interact with each other. The ability to publicize your beliefs, communicate instantaneously, raise awareness, and interact globally are all made possible by social networking, and in the wake of 9/11, these new possibilities have played a huge role in the recovery of the American people. However, Facebook’s impact on this nation has not been all roses. Every new networking tool can and has been used to have the opposite affect. This is so much so the case, that we end up asking ourselves one overarching question: have Facebook and the advancements in social networking over the last decade helped reunite a devastated America, or have the newfound connections opened our eyes to groups of hatred, perpetuated stereotypes, and increased prejudice, only shattering this nation further?
There is no question that Facebook is a great way to publicize one’s beliefs. Even after a new ipod design comes out, Facebook and other social networking sites are buzzing with reviews, personal opinions, and other responses. Although Facebook itself did not exist at the time of the 9/11 attacks, it is not uncommon to see a flood of articles, charity groups, or status updates, especially around a September 11th anniversary. This phenomenon, in addition to the strong triadic closure property that we learned about in our networks class, got me thinking about the different groups on Facebook that have formed in response to an event like 9/11. So many lives have been brought together because of mutual experience and shared beliefs, and when you think about it, a lot of the strength of these groups comes through the strong triadic closure property. A person with multiple friends who have been directly affected and/or are involved in some way with 9/11 relief efforts, is more likely to get involved themselves. Living in New York City, I have many friends who were directly affected and I have met so many new people just from reaching out to those friends. These newly formed groups are an example of the strong triadic closure property at work because people connect over their experiences of 9/11 and open themselves up to others who they might have met through mutual friends and might not have met otherwise.
Facebook, being an open network of people with widely varied beliefs, has attracted just as much negative behavior regarding 9/11. Blatantly racist and prejudice groups aside, many have used Facebook’s mass communication potential for inappropriate and anti-American publicity. On the day of the 10th anniversary of September 11th, some users posted threats on the white house Facebook page:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44476276/ns/technology_and_science-security/
The posts were taken down right away, but millions of people were still exposed to the threats. These threats, among many others that were not posted directly on the white house facbeook page, not only terrified many worried Americans, but they also triggered a response typical of frightened people. Many users were quick to place false blame and racially profile against anyone who they feel “looks” like a terrorist. Just from scrolling down my news feed, a feed of posts and status updates from my personal Facebook “friends,” I saw many inappropriate status updates that were blatantly prejudice and ignorant, even when people are just trying to be funny. One user said: “every towel head u see should get beat up.”
Facebook has undoubtedly played a big role in the aftermath of 9/11, but what that role actually is has yet to be determined. Groups formed through shared experiences, beliefs, hardships, and often through the triadic closure property, have helped people with personal struggles and improved relief efforts, but they have in some cases also sparked unwarranted hatred and prejudice.