London awoke today to more smashed and burned streets after a third night of violence. As looters took to the streets of Hackney, Peckham and Croydon, services such as Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger and even the PlayStation Network were once again in the spotlight, with a rumour spreading across social networks that BlackBerry Messenger would be shut down.
Through a combination of Chinese whispers and the social media echo chamber, folks watching at home began to spread the rumour that BlackBerry Messenger would be turned off between 7pm and 6am.
That tactic sounds familiar. Oh that's right, the dictatorship in Egypt did it, turning off phone networks and Internet access to stop protestors co-ordinating during the Arab Spring revolutions. Many Twitter users also called for the use of rubber bullets and water cannon, and even martial law as the mindless violence continued.
Before yesterday's trouble flared, the UK BlackBerry account tweeted, "We feel for those impacted by this weekend's riots in London. We have engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can." However, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has confirmed this is only a rumour.
BlackBerry Messenging has been described as a "shadow social network", but RIM has pointed out that, "As in all markets around the world where BlackBerry is available, we co-operate with local telecommunications operators, law enforcement and regulatory officials.
"Similar to other technology providers in the UK we comply with The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and co-operate fully with the Home Office and UK police forces." That legislation allows police to access private messages if they are related to the commission of a crime.
Dog and bone
If BBM is a "shadow social network", then so are text messages and email. Some Tweeters revealed that young people were discussing the riots over the PlayStation Network.
Heck, Cockney rhyming slang began as a way of talking without police being able to understand what was being discussed -- if we turn off BBM should we also ban titfers and barnets and apples and pears?
As always, the tools of communication are just that, and we should be careful not to overstate their use. One of the great strengths of online and digital communication is also one of its biggest weaknesses: it's instant, which allows for bang up to date reporting of what's happening, and such positive uses as today's #riotcleanup hashtag. But it can also lead to people posting inflammatory or ill-informed messages without thinking them through or checking their source.
A spokesman for Mobile Youth, a think tank researching phone use among the young, told the BBC, "Once someone starts posting on a BBM group or Twitter, a lot of young people try to follow the trend... they might talk about it or use the same hashtag which makes it sound like there is a lot more volume."
So tweet responsibly, folks.
Have you received inflammatory messages on BBM, PSN or other social networks? Do you think authorities should have the right to turn off communications when trouble flares? Tell us your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 27
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Anonymous 9 August, 2011 11:23
That, "Aren't social networks to blame? Yes I saw a social network hurl a petrol bomb into a kittens face" comment is obviously a form of defense from one of the hoodlums. They figure if they make fun of the situation, that maybe they can change it. In reality, they want to use it to organize more crimes while trying to play the part of the reasonable, "logical" person. Kind of like when they want to curb gun control and gun lovers step in and make fun of that. Fact is, that some of the most horrific crimes where 20,30,40 and more people are all shot in under a minute because of loose controls on guns that were overly efficient or automatic. Same thing with social networks. The ideas spread too easily, too quickly. Not saying that the network causes it, but that it made the crime much more easy to happen and to organize quickly. Sometimes technology makes things worse, but what can you do.... So if they tried to temporarily shut part of it down, I can see why.
anonymous 9 August, 2011 11:41
What about the vast numbers of people using communications like BBM to check on loved ones, or find out if it's safe to go home, or telling the world what the situation is?
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 11:41
These recent London riots are tragic. It only goes to show that we are living in a system that is corrupted by our own inability to unite as one. We lack understanding and concern for each other and young people feel this more than any other generation. We need to work hard as individuals to stop all the hatred and anger in this world, including the hatred and anger we may feel towards those involved in the rioting, the police, the government or whomever. We are living in a global structure where we are all connected and only love for others and balance with the forces of Nature will set us back on the right path. Let's start talking about this as a solution because there really is no other way.. If we don't do this now that we will see more violence, more war, more collapse in the system. So we have to unite now!
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 11:43
I'm quite happy for BBM and even phone signals to be blocked for a few hours if it means none if this can happen again. I'm sure those of us who remember what life was like before mobiles could cope for a few hours.
I agree with the comment above that of course social networks don't cause this, however they undeniably make it easier. I use Facebook all the time so am not anti social networks. They can be a force for good as we've seen in the middle east. However, once it becomes obvious they are being used in the wrong way, what's the harm in closing them down for a while. Certainly cheaper and easier than rebuilding businesses, lives and town centres.
anonymous 9 August, 2011 12:19
I do not think they should turn off social networks because i do not think social networks are to blame. We are all products of our environments and these people did not decide to do this based on someone BBMing them about it, it speaks to a larger social issue on how we treat others. Please don't take this message to mean that I am defending the rioters, I do believe most of them want to cause damage for the hell of it, but it doesn't mean that we find a scapegoat in social networks.
I stares me when people like the person above me say things like "I'm quite happy for BBM... to be blocked" because it makes the idea of trampling on freedoms just a little bit more acceptable.
anonymous 9 August, 2011 12:51
I'm with you Tom. I admit I'm tempted by the argument put forward by the previous comment, but we can't let ourselves go down that route
anonymous 9 August, 2011 13:13
While blocking social networks would be like living in Egypt, right now we seem to be living in Baghdad. Social Networks are just that "Social" networks. what is currently happening is "anti" social and are being used as tools to attack the general public. Many people will wine and complain that they if they did block BBM or twitter ect that they are taking away a human right or something. Its a human right not to be attacked and your home or business burned to the ground or be mugged or beat up. 3G networks can be switched off without phone calls or txts being affected so normal people can get in contact with loved ones.
Officially RIM could take down there servers for "official" maintenance; RIM take down there servers then BBM and I think the Internet on Blackberry's can also be taken down as all of that stuff goes through RIM servers.
anonymous 9 August, 2011 14:59
Don't turn of BBM; I use it to talk to friends, and I don't think it should be singled out. If one way of communicating (i.e. BBM) is turned off, then really ALL social networks/texting/email would have to be turned off to prevent any communication, and this is just not possible. Turn off a social network, for instance Twitter or Facebook, and people all around the world will be affected, which will turn it into an international problem where people all over the world - not just in London or the UK - will be thoroughly annoyed, and rightly too; this in turn may well cause more rioting, which we REALLY do not want or need.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 15:13
its not down to the networks, if you turn them off you will need to cut all the mobile networks aswell due to the word by text and word by email, as a "young person" that uses multiple social networking site, i can say i am not going to go out a riot with everyone else, its not down to the networks, the fact of the matter is people are fed up with the polices attitude and the sheer show of bruitality, if they close the networks down people will still get the word arround anyway they can, its obviouse, people with a cause and mindless thugs alike are not happy and are going to do everything in there power to carry on
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:38
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:38
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:39
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:39
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:39
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:39
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:40
I think it would be perfectly reasonable and responsible of Blackberry to turn their service off. The young people I work with all use BBM because it's free and you can chat to multiple people. Many of them don't have credit to call, email or use twitter. Turning this service off along will have a positive impact but won't stop others calling loved ones.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 16:51
Richard D Trenholm - send a text maybe? or call?
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 17:41
if they shut it down then i want my money back, orange will not give money back. blackberry highly advertise bbm so it should not be shutdown. intead there should be a report broadcast button where risky broadcasts can gte reported quickly and anymously.
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 19:12
why doesnt RIM add their own contact on all blackberry messengers , that way they could update you on whether or not bbm is shuttig down their damn selves
Anonymous 9 August, 2011 20:35
If social networks are being used to chatter about riots, why not use social networks to dob these twats in. Take photos in the act and send them to the police. Crimestoppers online. Also leave the networks up so the general public can communicate and let law abiding people know what is happening.
Anonymous 10 August, 2011 00:09
They should allow the authority to get into the social networking services to find out who are these hoodlums are! These rioters show no mercy so they should not be treated with mercy! take them to Afghanistan to face real war let's see how brave they really are and let them experience what the real soldiers jobs are !
Anonymous 10 August, 2011 11:18
This si what happens when the world turns 'technological'. We bring out all this advanced stuff but when its used against us....... well look whats happened...
anonymous 10 August, 2011 13:44
i think they should send the police home and bring in the army and all that . i can honestly say i could laugh at a policeman in a ford transit riot van but if you change that van for a tank then id poo myself. the police arent trainned for this type of situation but the TA is, just get the TA to surround them and chase them down weve got more officers in the TA than the police so why isnt this viable
anonymous 10 August, 2011 20:48
End BBM, because its a free service for people to talk to each other about attacks well if you shutdown that you must shutdown all the other free services like Skype and Face-time, oh wait that won't work
It's not the Social Networks to Blame its the People using them,
anonymous 17 August, 2011 00:31
Blackberry is for children and it was mostly children smashing property anyway. So get rid of it. Make the little scumbags pay for a service if they want it to organise their so called riots. If you can call them riots. Just looked like a bunch of no hope tossers to me.
anonymous 22 August, 2011 21:25
I don't think shutting down a specific network, be it BBM, MSN, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, etc, will make a difference! If the criminals want to get a message across, believe me, they will! And the non-criminals have to pay the price -- with no access now to check in with their loved ones out there in this crazy world we now live in...or have a productive work day.
Anyone can send a message across the netowrk, networks we created, to our own detriment -- now we want to shut it down...
And if you shut it down for a specific period, whats to stop the criminal masses from sending their info while it is up and running! Come on people, Think!!
anonymous 12 October, 2011 22:08
That's bull coz Blackberry IMing applications are just great. Banning these great facilities ain't a solution coz with or wtout these applications people can still communicate so please DO NOT rob people of their freedom. technology was designed for us so let us enjoy it 2 the fullest. Wats wrong with you people, wat has gotten into your heads or are you dictators????????