Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Al Qaeda Leader Dead According to "Tweets"


     It has become very obvious in the last few years that social media has been playing a huge role in everyone’s daily lives, anywhere from relationships, politics, activist movements, and has even become some people's only news source.  We saw what happened in Tunisia with the Arab Spring movement, which began in December of 2010.  Social media was the reason why the events that were ongoing in Tunisia were broadcasted across the globe.  What was happening there was real and because of the fast speed and far reach that the internet has, Tunisian governments had no way to cease those videos and photos from going viral.    
     As social media continues to play such a huge role in so many lives, we begin to see many of the negative effects.  Tuesday January 22, 2013 it was announced that Sanaa Yemen, the head leader of the Al Qaeda had died.  How was this announced?  Simply via a tweet.  The word that Yemen had died spread quickly around the Arab community, which lead to the world news as well.  However as the story spread it became clear that there was no proof of his death and according to "Three senior Yemeni Defense Ministry officials told CNN the country has no evidence proving his death."  (Almasmari)  
     Although social media has been a great source for spreading the word and awareness, it can also be used in a negative way.  Yemen could have simply sent out that tweet in order to try and trick the Saudi government in an effort for them to stop looking for him.  Social media can be used for both good and bad and doesn't always give you the full story.    

Blog Post #1 Tia Martin


Report: Top al Qaeda leader killed
By Hakim Almasmari, for CNN
updated 7:26 AM EST, Wed January 23, 2013

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