The article I chose is, "Twitter Critics Take on LAPD After NY Police Hit on Social Media". This article is about how the New York police officers plan for social praise backfired on them. The New York Police Department asked around for people to post praiseful status' and photos about the police officers and the department using the hashtag #myNYPD. This took a wrong turn when people started posting negative things about the officers and bashing them on social media. Word spread about this and went all the way to Los Angeles where people began posting negative things about the LAPD using the hashtag #myLAPD. Photos of police officers were posted with negative comments and one officer was even accused of murder and attempt of murder. When questioned the LAPD just said it was a way for people post how they really feel.
I chose this article because I think it shows the true way people use social media. It seems that these days people only use social media to spread negative things and hide behind their computers to say things they wouldn't normally say. I also don't know if I agree with the police departments asking for praise over social media. Why would they need extra praise or have to ask for it if they are doing their jobs well in the first place?
http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/23/local/la-me-ln-twitter-critics-mylapd-mynypd-20140423
Briana,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's about extra praise but instead the police are using social media as a marketing tool. The past year has seen so many negative articles about the police department that NYPD was looking for a way to say that not everything is negative and that the police also do good works. Unfortunately, we have become a society who jumps on the band wagon and want to create sensationalism. We have no idea what happened at McArthur Park when the police are in their riot gear (picture shown in the article), however, the author posted a statement that it was a way for the police to control the population. It is easy for people to hide behind a screen and a username and fling mud at whatever is trending at the moment.
Do you think it is possible for controversial parties to use social media positively? I think no matter what Planned Parenthood would post it will get a negative reaction and that goes with police departments also.
Dina