Monetized social media was a mistake.
Social media is the great equalizer, anyone willing to put themselves out there can make huge sums of money if they try. That means that some people, in the pursuit of money, will do anything to built a following.
We’ve covered YouTube pranksters who have nearly eaten bullets for likes.
Today, a streamer kicked off a riot in NYC.
Yes, a riot.
#BreakingNews Thousands of people have overrun Union Square Park and surrounded lanes of traffic Friday as a popular Twitch streamer held a video game giveaway. https://t.co/DXxj4yGLrC pic.twitter.com/AS0zyZdy9H
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) August 4, 2023
New York City Has Become One of The Most Violent Places on Earth Because Woke Leadership Refuses To Hold Criminals Accountable! pic.twitter.com/pvqbXffSPO
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) August 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/johnburk39/status/1687871205192376321?s=19
More footage from yesterday riot at Union Square Park NYC
A vendor was hit over the head with something and a both was looted pic.twitter.com/zwoMLeX9Tz— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) August 5, 2023
The UK Daily Mail gives us more information.
YouTube and Twitch personality Kai Cenat is in police custody after a riot broke out in New York City’s Union Square during an unlicensed scheduled giveaway of Playstation 5s.
Shocking photos and videos show thousands of people gathered, with some fighting and others throwing fire extinguishers at each other in downtown Manhattan.
At least 12 people have been injured, police told DailyMail.com. Multiple NYPD officers were on the scene trying to disperse the crowd as of 5pm.
The NYPD has warned of mass transit disruptions and traffic delays, they estimated about 2,000 people showed up for the giveaway and Mayor Eric Adams condemned the violence, warning his own son to stay clear.
Cenat, who is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch and has 5.5 million followers on Instagram, had announced a giveaway on the platform with fellow streamer Fanum scheduled for 4pm.
So a wealthy and popular influencer stages a giveaway which turns into a riot.
I hate everything about this story.
Influencers causing chaos.
Greedy people rioting for free shit.
Inept police unable to maintain law and order.
After society collapse and we plunge into the new dark ages, when the second Renaissance happens, we need to make sure monetized social media remains in the ash heap of history.
Social media, isnt. Another example of how stupid America has become. Property owners and businesses will as usual pay the price…
As Roseanne Rosanna Danna’s grandma used to say: if it isn’t one thing, it’s another.
Black Friday. Beanie Babies. Cabbage Patch kids. Tickle Me Elmo.
The lowering of intelligence and reason of a large group is frightening.
That’s why I do my best to avoid such situations.
I’ll bet that Beethoven was mobbed by groupies back in the day. ?
Oh, and everyone who calls themselves an influencer should be transported to an island and left there. As they apparently have no skills, they should die off quickly.
There was a time when “influencers” were called reviewers. And, if they had some kind of a giveaway, it was not done in public, it was a raffle, contest, whatever… “Lucky reader John Doe is the winner of this month’s prize…” sort of thing.
.
But, that does not generate buzz, which directly translates into more revenue.
.
Social media will be the end of police social discourse.
If this guy actually incited it he should be guilty. If he organized a give away and his fans got out of control he’s hardly guilty. I have never agreed with the person says x or y and other person reacts to it so person one is guilty of causing other person to react line of reasoning. Takes all agency away from the personnel actually doing the crime and puts all the power, often erroneously, on the “inciter”.