Social media has helped the masses to enforce regime change (Like in Middle East), fuel anti corruption movement (Like in India) and is now being used in Mexico to take on the warlords of drug mafia. Only, this time the battle is becoming bloodier. Due to the information shared on social networking sites, the drug lords are getting caught, their profits are getting affected and in retaliation they are on a gruesome killing spree.
As per NYT reports, many people were shocked on tuesday morning when they saw two dead bodies hanging from a pedestrian bridge in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo, along with a message. The message was - This will happen to those who share information about us on internet forums or elsewhere. Those who were dead were anti drug activists, spreading their messages via social media and bore the burnt of the drug mafia's ire. They were mercilessly killed and their bodies were hanged in full public glare.
If the drug mafia thought this would spread panic and desist Mexicans from speaking against them, they were highly mistaken. In the past, the Drug cartels, used to be successful in enforcing information blackouts by intimidating local level police and reporters, however with the advent of social media they are at their wits end, as, it is near impossible to control spread of information, unless they force an internet blackout.
These days, Mexican students, teachers and journalists are creating awareness campaign among the citizens (of course via twitter, FB etc.) about
- How to counter drug cartels
- How to say no to protection fees
- What to do when an extortion call is made? Etc.
Information like helpline numbers, which routes to avoid, how to report a suspect, what do to when in a crisis etc. is being shared like never before. This is creating uneasiness for Mexican drug mafia agents.
Quite understandably , the battle will be long, but every uprising needs a beginning. Social media is providing that deck for brainstorming of new ideas and is no doubt fuelling the desire of bringing a change.
Such activism strengthens my belief that Social media isn’t just for fun it is about bringing a change, it is about, what we as human race wants. Social media gives the power to every segment of the society to voice out their issues, opinions and help in initiating a change. A change which is required to create this world a better place to live in. Kudos to all those who use social media as a tools of revolution.
Also, for an effective Social Media campaign that actually works,
whoa! social media nowadays is helping a lot in solving crimes, just like human trafficking, smuggling, drugs etc. well i just hope this negative stuff is going to an end. we in SEO Consultant Southampton well help in this campaign against crime. keep up the good work!:)
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