Terrorism and Social Media Cascades
I found it difficult to need to speak about a recent news event for the class blog and not in some way reference the recent tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. I found this very interest article on the social media cascades and misinformation that was distributed after the attack. Most of us know someone that changed their profile picture to a french flag. Most of us know more than 50. However, given the terribly enormous effects of the attacks, more so than the examples in class, we are more likely to believe the first piece of information we get, which can lead to an information cascade.
A viral photo spread of a Sikh man wearing a suicide bomb vest and holding up the Quaran, when really it was just a photoshop of a man taking a selfie with an iPad. Obviously something like this is extremeley innapropriate and wrong.
But these attacks and social media cascades was also an example of the good that cascades can cause. The hastag #PorteOuverte started highly trendning in Paris that night, which translates to “Open Door”) to “match those who were seeking shelter to those who were willing to offer it.” This is obviously a phenomenal idea and was a great way for stranded people to find a place to stay in the wake of brutal attacks.
I thought this was a really relevant and interesting application of information cascades in real life.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/19/paris-and-the-trail-of-social-media-misinformation/