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18

College Student Twitters Arrest in Egypt

April 16, 2008

“Arrested.” That’s what 29 year old James Karl Buck sent from his phone out to the world via Twitter the other day. It seems Buck was snapping photos of a demonstration, and police collected him up and put him in jail.

It turns out that his message on Twitter caused his network of friends to reach out, call around, and get people mobilized to help. There’s tons more to the story.

Greg Barnett sent me a message on Twitter reporting this news article about James Karl Buck. Steve Rhodes from Twitter sent me the link to Buck’s website. **UPDATE: Buck is @jamesbuck on Twitter, and his Flickr photos are here. (All those updates come from @tigerbeat / Steve Rhodes).

What’s important about this story? Everything. Twitter has a powerful ability to move people to action, to deliver help where it’s needed, and more. If a messaging platform can free a man from prison, what else can it do for YOU?

The Social Media 100 is a project by Chris Brogan dedicated to writing 100 useful blog posts in a row about the tools, techniques, and strategies behind using social media for your business, your organization, or your own personal interests. Swing by [chrisbrogan.com] for more posts in the series, and if you have topic ideas, feel free to share them, as this is a group project, and your opinion matters.

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Article
justice, socialmedia, socialmedia100, socialnetworks, twitter

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Comments
Comment by Http500 on April 16, 2008 @ 6:02 am

In prison? Is not possible for use Twitter.

Pingback by Harnessing The Power Of Twitter | SheGeeks on April 16, 2008 @ 7:09 am

[...] Chris Brogan has also shared his thoughts on the story, and ended it with the exact same question that I asked myself: If a messaging platform can free a man from prison, what else can it do for YOU? [...]

Comment by gregory on April 16, 2008 @ 8:10 am

i don’t believe this… if arrested, his cellphone would be immediately taken.

Comment by chrisbrogan on April 16, 2008 @ 8:27 am

Hi twittered “arrested,” but perhaps he was legally detained. Good point, though, Gregory and Http500. You’ve got his twitter name, his website, and his flickr site. Feel free to investigate further. : )

Pingback by texodev.com » Blog Archive » Twitter usage and having a voice on April 16, 2008 @ 10:10 am

[...] tool for networking locally and nationally.  But today I want to point you to Chris Brogan’s post on how Twitter kept a person out of jail. I am fascinated by this, and hope that collectively, and perhaps unintended at times, the software [...]

Pingback by ((( rebell.tv ))) blog - nachhilfe in "smartmob" by howard rheingold: "twittermob" on April 16, 2008 @ 12:56 pm

[...] für alle jene, welche seinen “smartmob” nicht begriffen haben. heute mit einem eintrag: “twittermob” und einem verweis auf einen eintrag in seinem blog. er erzählt, wie ein 29-jähriger student das wort “Arrested” in twitter abgesetzt hat. und [...]

Comment by TheFemGeek on April 16, 2008 @ 1:10 pm

I hear others concern if the story is true or not and I am not one who can verify it, but I think the content of this post is what’s relevant as to the use that comes from being apart of twitter. It made me think about the connection that Twitter has with its users to the point it may be able to get someone help when needed. Maybe this guy was able to Twitter a post right before he was taken in. Maybe someone else Twittered for him, I don’t know but Chris (thank you again for you attention to the relevant) has written this post, at least this is what I got from it, to show just how people can use these social networks in a way to debunk the many who try to criticize people’s so call “obsession” with networks such as Twitter. I personally do not care what people think of my social network use but going along with the idea of content, I do enjoy reading when something proves its useful for the better of the whole.

Thanks Chris

Pingback by Smart Mobs » Blog Archive » College Student Twitters Arrest in Egypt on April 16, 2008 @ 1:45 pm

[...] more in the Contra Costa Times and in Chris Brogan’s comment. “Arrested.” That’s what 29 year old James Karl Buck sent from his phone out to the world via [...]

Comment by Sach on April 16, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

Pure luck IMO

http://tinyurl.com/47xo3q

Comment by Wired Pig on April 16, 2008 @ 3:20 pm

Always good to see that Twitter can, and does, mobilize. Be it helping someone arrested or for other causes.

Thanks for posting this, Chris.

Pingback by links for 2008-04-16 « Kevin Bondelli’s YD Blog on April 16, 2008 @ 7:42 pm

[...] College Student Twitters Arrest in Egypt | chrisbrogan.com [...]

Pingback by Twitter’s get out of jail free card « What’s the Difference! on April 17, 2008 @ 5:29 pm

[...] Chris Brogan’s blog about it grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. [...]

Comment by jansegers on April 18, 2008 @ 3:05 pm

Microblogs are indeed extremely powerfull: they are the first instant global media in the history of humankind.

Feedback is the key to any success, because success means you’re getting people to react to what you’re saying.

Microblogs are making it possible a message goes global in less then five minutes.

Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce and Tumblr

but also

Fanfou, Snockles, Khaces, Fritsi, Meemi, Gozub, Nolyo, Me2day.net, Noumba.net, Dukudu.de, Feecle.jp, Komoo.cn, Blip.pl, Smspr.ru, Numpa.nl

and many, many others

Comment by Glenda Watson Hyatt on April 20, 2008 @ 9:40 pm

Wow, an amazing story of the power of Twitter, regardless of who actually sent the tweet. Definitely a tool to add to the advocate’s /activist’s toolbox.

Comment by J.J. Toothman on April 21, 2008 @ 5:31 pm

When oh when will Twitter be able to wash and fold my laundry?

Pingback by O Twitter e o mercado da comunicação « Noticiare on April 29, 2008 @ 11:12 am

[...] utilizado como ferramenta de suporte ao consumidor, ou mesmo o, já muito difundido, caso do estudante que foi preso no Egipto e pediu ajuda pelo Twitter. Entre muitos [...]

Pingback by WillKnott.ie » Blog Archive » Can you say Tweet? on May 6, 2008 @ 7:38 pm

[...] a useful service, especially if you are in a crisis situation and can’t talk for [...]

Pingback by notes, thoughts, ideas and responses » With a little exericise, Twitter will be in great health on May 7, 2008 @ 5:45 am

[...] tested and proving to be effective in delivering important messages to people that are locally and globally dispersed (more local examples, more global examples). Since the loss of Cook and Mighdoll the [...]

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