Our Blog: where do you stand?

Facebook Nation

By: Marijean Jaggers | 09/20/2007

Have you heard of The Jena 6? Chances are, if you have a Facebook account, your answer is “yes.” In the era of the Facebook mini-feed, it would be hard to miss the dozens of clubs and events that have sprung up around this controversy surrounding the community of Jena, Louisiana. I've seen the story—a racially-charged situation surrounding imprisoned high school students—covered on mainstream news websites, but I didn't lean about it from CNN or MSNBC. Facebook first alerted me, and it's prompted a bit of thought into social media's role in spreading news.

An event entitled “Free the Jena 6: WEAR GREEN PROTEST” has signed on 87,388 participants as of 4:55 p.m., Sept. 19. Ten minutes later, the number of those who will wear green as a sign of solidarity increased by about 500. A quick search showed 500+ groups formed with “Jena” in the title; each city or university seems to have its own chapter of “Free the Jena 6.”

I use Facebook to waste time, to send a former college classmate a quick message, or to look at pictures of someone's weekend. But a news source? An agent for change?

5:15 p.m.: 88,083 are now attending.

Posted in Social Media, Digital Communications