What this article seems to portray is that retweeting is the same as marching in front of Parliament. The fact is in spite of the heavy retweeting, although it gained the attention of people for a short time, its actual impact is not much more than #MUSICmonday or #Followfriday. The idea that changing the world happens by copy and pasting is something ridiculous - look at Iran for example. I fear that social change over social networks will just be style over substance, further adding to the soundbite culture we live in.
It's good that such an issue is brought into the limelight but the fact is on twitter with just 140 characters there's such a detachment to the realities of a serious issue that it all becomes trivial.
> The fact is in spite of the heavy retweeting, although it gained the attention of people for a short time, its actual impact is not much more than #MUSICmonday or #Followfriday
Normally yes, but in this case it nudged other news outlets such as the BBC to report on the story and prompted a debate in Parliament on if these gag orders are too easy to abuse. I would say that's some positive outcome, even if it does little to help those who were affected by the toxic waste.
Normally yes, but in this case it nudged other news outlets such as the BBC to report on the story
The BBC reported about the Trafigura case in depth on Newsnight* many weeks ago. Inevitably journalists would have had to mention it as it's something affecting their profession.
*One of the few good news programmes around in my opinion along with World Service news.
It's good that such an issue is brought into the limelight but the fact is on twitter with just 140 characters there's such a detachment to the realities of a serious issue that it all becomes trivial.