Name: The power and the danger of online crowds
Uploaded: 2008-11-04T01:00:00Z
Duration: 16 min 39 s
Description: James Surowiecki pinpoints the moment when social media became an equal player in the world of news-gathering: the 2005 tsunami, when YouTube video, blogs, IMs and txts carried the news -- and preserved moving personal stories from the tragedy.

James Surowiecki pinpoints the moment when social media became an equal player in the world of news-gathering: the 2005 tsunami, when YouTube video, blogs, IMs and txts carried the news -- and preserved moving personal stories from the tragedy.

The power and the danger of online crowds

When the 2005 tsunami struck, personal blogs and online videos delivered firsthand accounts that painted a vivid, chaotic, and human portrait of disaster. People posted not for money, but to share stories and help others understand what happened, filling gaps left by mainstream news. This digital outpouring showed how unconnected individuals, working together, can capture the truth of unfolding events more powerfully than traditional reporting. Yet, as networks grow tighter, the risk of losing independent thought and falling into groupthink rises.