Smart Mobs: Flash Mob Style

In the articles by Howard Rheingold, he discusses how smart mobs are the next social revolution.  As he states, “smart mobs consist of people who are able to act in concert even they don’t know each other” (xii).  The way they communicate is through social media and mobile phones.  Large groups collaborate, share information, and plan to meet up to achieve some type of goal.  Rheingold argues how successful smart mobs can be when it comes to protesting and rioting for a specific cause.  However a recent fad in out culture, called a flash mob, has also been possible because of this smart mob mentality.  The following video depicts how unexpected these meetings can be and potentially used in a positive, entertaining way. 

Footloose Flash Mob-Original Recording

         This video took place January 28, 2011 at the Gyle Centre Edinburgh.  As seen above, a group of people showed up out of the crowd in the mall and started dancing to Footloose.  This was clearly planned out at a specific time, for a specific day, by a particular group of people.  Judging by the shoppers starting to gather and the looks on their faces, they were entertained by the surprise show.

Flash mobs tend work off of the element of surprise that smart mobs can make possible.  One person decides the dance and where it will take place then starts to spread the word via email, Facebook, or texting.  People are able to act together in a unified matter because of the new age of social media.  The people not included in the mob are unaware of what is about to occur and what point is trying to be put across until the smart mob's plan is already into motion.  Smart mobs are making flash mobs possible. This collaborative dance effort is a positive example of what a smart mob can achieve because of online possibilities. 

Dealing with Cyber Bullying Offline

             With new social networks, came a new type of bullying.  Kids and teenagers are not only bullied at school, but now in social networks as well.  Drama started in the classroom carries over to the digital world after schools hours because that is the new hang out for kids.  According to Marwick and Boyd, “drama is used to describe a host of activities and practices ranging from gossip, flirting, arguing, and joking to more serious issues of jealousy, ostracization, and name-calling” (2).  Drama is the word teens use to differentiate from the adult defined term bullying and is thought of as less childish (18).  In addition, a teen admitting they’re involved with drama is a lot less personal and embarrassing than saying they are being bullied.  Due to the seriousness of cyber bullying and its potential catastrophic effects, like suicide, it is an issue our society that must deal with immediately.  Organizations have been trying to influence policies and legal changes in order to prevent cyber bulling and it's effects.  In similar attempts to get students thinking about these issues, the movie Cyberbully, was premiered on ABC Family.  The movie trailer is posted below. 

       ABC Family-Cyberbully

             In this film, Cyber bullying destroys Taylor Hillridge’s life.  Her profile is hacked and nasty rumors are spread all over school.  She feels all alone and helpless when her digital life corrupts her in-school social life.  As her character develops, we discover that when she handles the “drama” in a positive way by seeking help from her mother, she takes charge of her life again. 

            The movie exemplifies how realistically online conflict can carry over to school.  Taylor could not find a break in being bullied because it followed her in school and out.  Even though she was being bullied through rumors and other lies, the trailer narrator does not use the term bullied, but uses drama.  This term is a unique strategy to reach out to a high school audience.  This film’s attempt to teach teens and kids more about how much cyber bullying can affect a person’s life seems to have been a success.  As the narrator said it is about “finding your strength and taking a stand against digital drama” (time stamp :43).  The film also emphasizes the necessity to ask for help when it is needed because there are others who care.  Overall, I personally think this movie was an easy, entertaining way to spread the word, educate teens about the seriousness of online bullying activity, and how to deal with it.  This video puts me at slight ease because there are attempts being made to encourage the younger generation to use the Internet social media wisely.