Yesterday, early afternoon, I was following threads on Twitter and linking to a variety of articles.
Nothing new in that; this is a way to get a few quick hits of “news” along with ideas for topics, people to connect to, and in this abbreviated fashion (and 140 characters or less), I know what I’m in for. In other words – what to expect – as in setting my expectations lower in some instances, or at the very least, taking anything I find with a grain of salt, and paying careful attention to the source of the item.
Early Afternoon: Social Media Fail
One thread I followed led me to a brief TMZ account concerning the accidental death of plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan, perhaps most well known for Heidi Montag’s makeover. The article included reports of his tweets shortly before his car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway, and an image of his dog he had just uploaded to Twitter.
Also noted was the fact that dog survived the car accident, while Dr. Ryan did not.
Anytime someone dies too young, it’s tragic. Add fame or notoriety, and public interest flares. But something about the combination of factual news – such as it was – and the inclusion of his last Twitter messages disturbed me. Immensely.
Boundaries in Social Media?
Was it poignant? Was it simply too much information?
Do I really want to experience that horrifying sense of life one instant, and death the next? Should we all kiss “propriety” away, and while we’re at it, common sense?
For me, those images are the epitome of bad taste. I flashed immediately to my father’s death in a car accident. Would I have wanted his last words, his last thoughts? Would I have wanted them buzzed all over the Internet?
No thank you.
Fast Forward 3 Hours: Social Media Win
I hightailed it off Twitter, skimmed a feed in Facebook, and from there went to Politics Daily, where I latched onto a fascinating story. Somehow, I had missed this – the MAC/Rodarte beauty controversy and its outcome, illustrating the power of bloggers expressing outrage at a cosmetic campaign that exploits women in the Mexican factory town of Juarez.
That ill-fated ad campaign? It’s another example of poor taste when it comes to concept. Certainly, plenty of women seem to think so, and the situation was turned around by a ground swell of social media response that culminated in action (and money) to assist an impoverished community.
“New” Journalism?
While you may think these two examples of “the new journalism” are apples and oranges, they strike me as two sides of a complex and evolving media coin.
In one example, perhaps “give the public what it wants” is the rule at play. And tabloid journalism is nothing new; it’s simply delivered with appalling speed via social media.
In the second example, we witness the power of one individual igniting a collective voice, and a corporation, listening. Forced to listen.
- Must social media really dumb down under the guise of journalism?
- Is there a difference between dumbing down – and us dumbing down – and the usual tabloid tackiness?
- How do you feel about the account of Dr. Ryan’s accident which I referenced? Bad taste? News?
- How do you feel about the power of blogging to encourage corporate, political, and social responsibility?
Such an interesting post. Social media continues to baffle me; and yet I embrace it.
Thanks for your comment, Aidan. It is a bit baffling. Especially when you consider that it can be used to influence change, or to distort news.
Do you think they mentioned his “last words” to imply that perhaps he was tweeting while driving, and maybe that had something to do with the accident? If he was, maybe it will be a bit of a wake-up call to at least some of the many people who tweet/text and drive!
And yes, it is definitely just the usual tabloid tackiness… what else would you expect from TMZ!? 🙂
Yes, it’s TMZ, Shannon, you’re right. But the way we disseminate information now – following threads on Twitter – we don’t know exactly where a link might take us. It’s also interesting to note that a compelling “tweet” can send an enormous number of people to see a story that might otherwise not get much attention. One more example of the power of social media, especially when practiced with a certain expertise. Great way to bring small but important stories to light, or to distort the import of others, no?
As for whether or not he was tweeting and that had any role in the accident, nothing was implied. But the content of his message – the fact that he’d just done something he’d always wanted to do, and minutes later, the accident. Let’s just say, it’s wrenching, whether you know the man or not. And in my opinion, appalling to have made it public.
See my note and link in a later comment. Some reports are now linking the tweeting while driving to the accident.
Ahh, humanity!! We are fabulous and we are simply awful. Social media probably gives us a more complete picture of our best and worst than we’ve ever had before.
Very powerful tool. The world is getting smaller. This can be both a good thing and well… not so good. Now everything can be made into a story.
I read the headlines on this story and was disturbed that because he was responsible for Montag’s makeover, his death became important to the media. For me, hearing his name and Montag’s name in the one-liner about his passing trivialized what happened to him and his family. It is a perplexing relationship, our obsession with media and the accomodations that we make for it.
Very interesting post BLW.
I actually disagree with one aspect of your post: the public nature of Twitter in the midst of a private moment. I’m with you that I wouldn’t want my final thoughts or words published for all of human kind. But (unfortunately) Twitter makes things a bit different. This guy chose to make his thoughts public-ish (no idea if his tweets were public or how many people followed him…) and so it’s not like his dying words were spoken to a single person and that person tastelessly posted them for all of cyberspace to see. Obviously he didn’t know those words would be his last. But for any of us who does live-blogging, or posts to Twitter or FB, these are the risks we run. At least for me, it makes me think twice about what I write for public consumption in any venue.
And this article, which claims Dr. Ryan was tweeting while driving – which I saw on yahoo an hour ago. Terribly sad, no matter how you look at it. http://news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20100818/tc_mashable/tweeting_while_driving_cited_in_celebrity_surgeon_death
I think the media (social or traditional) will always grab on to the sensational because that’s what the general public wants to see/hear/read. This is the next step in the evolution of how the world is getting smaller. It seems there are no boundaries. But, as you point out, maybe we have to take the good with the bad.
In this day and age of social media, transparency is king. From bloggers to businesses, we are all expected to share details and be totally open. This can present problems in our 140-characters-or-less world. Sometimes situations are reduced to sound bytes, and the media is…well, being the media. “If it bleeds, it leads.” Sometimes things are lost in translation. Social media can be a powerful voice and an effective, influential ally in the case of worthy causes and dwindling ad budgets. It can also be a double-edged sword if not handled properly.
“If it bleeds, it leads.” Yep. You’re right, Lisa. Some things never change.
Media – a double edged sword. I’m increasingly getting tired of having to sift through information to find the truth or the heart of a news story. As you mention, the immediacy of delivering information only complicates things more.
I think that this is another teaching moment for our children. Another reminder that we need to question what we read and not accept everything at face value.
And a reminder that texting/driving is really freaking dangerous.
I agree 100%, Jack.
I’m not going to spend much time pondering the meaning/effect of social media to our lives. It is here to stay, all I can do is control the effect it has on one life…mine.
As for Dr. Frank Ryan’s death, that is sad. It is dsconcerting to have first-hand knowledge of his last bit of time on earth. I wonder though how many lives that information will save. I can live with the discomfort the news of his death caused me if it gets a message out that many need to hear.
Like Jack said, it is a teaching moment and we can use all of those we can get.
Look at what’s happening with the “Ground Zero Mosque,” which set off like wildfire online with most of us buying into the two-minute soundbite which is full of misinformation. Ah, well — give ’em what they want.
TV started that long ago, social media and our obsession with gossip-as-news is making it worse.
As with anything, you can use social media for good or bad; it’s both.
All that said, tweeting while driving = stupid and, evidently, death.
This is a really great post – and I couldn’t agree more.