On Social Media, a Conversation about Race
For the second week in a row, the shooting death of Trayvon Martin was widely discussed with many focusing on the role of race in the incident.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
For the second week in a row, the shooting death of Trayvon Martin was widely discussed with many focusing on the role of race in the incident.
A controversial column arguing that women are “hated” in the Arab world triggered an impassioned conversation in the blogosphere last week that included both warm praise and strident criticism. Another top subject on blogs included a tribute to a classic sports car.
The sale of the photo networking site Instagram to Facebook for $1 billion gained attention on both blogs and Twitter last week as users were startled by the large price tag. Also, three separate media controversies kept the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin case in the news six weeks after the incident occurred.
Last week, bloggers circulated a letter written more than a century ago from a former slave. Some in social media were able to use publicly available information on the web to investigate the veracity of the letter. On YouTube, three different videos featuring Russians became a news phenomenon.
Legislation aimed at combating online piracy drew the universal ire of social media users last week as a large January 18 protest put pressure on Congress to oppose the bills. And in what many observers called an unprecedented event, the online resistance actually forced the legislators into retreat last week.
Bloggers focused heavily on harassment allegations against a prominent presidential candidate and the abrupt conclusion of a celebrity marriage last week. On Twitter, pop stars led the agenda.
A set of moving photographs that helped define the year 2011 generated major attention in the blogosphere (and also helped BuzzFeed have its busiest day of online traffic ever). Teen singers dominated the conversation on Twitter and a Mexican presidential candidate’s gaffe was the most popular news video on YouTube.
A comparison between the Tea Party and characters in the Lord of the Rings trilogy generated a lively debate on the blogosphere last week. Twitter users complained about Formula 1auto racing. And the most viewed videos on YouTube depicted the carnage from the July 22 attacks in Norway.
In social media last week, it was new tech entrants versus familiar tech services—and both bloggers and Twitterers gave much better marks to the new entrants. The iPhone and Google+ received praise while changes to Facebook and Netflix were roundly criticized. And on YouTube, millions viewed a tragic crash at an air show.
Last week, Google’s purchase of Motorola was big news on both Twitter and in the blogosphere. But Warren Buffet’s financial philosophy also scored high. On blogs, rumors about an upcoming iPhone model and discussion of various 2012 GOP candidates were prominent.
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