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Adolescents Texting and Twittering: The Flash Mob Phenomena

2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 26; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.pedn.2010.12.013

1532-8449

Susan Solecki, Karen Goldschmidt,

Child Development and Digital Technology

IN RECENT MONTHS in the streets of Philadelphia, several incidents of spontaneous teen gatherings occurred causing mass chaos and, in some cases, violence. Similar incidents occurred in Boston, South Orange, Kansas City, and Brooklyn ( Urbina, 2010 Urbina I. Mobs are born as word grows by texting. New York Times, New York, New York2010, Marchhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html Google Scholar ). These spontaneous uprisings, better known as flash mobs, occur when adolescents broadcast impromptu events via online social networks or mobile devices. Densely populated cities are ideal locations for flash mobs because there is the potential for more participants and more witnesses to the events ( Chung, 2010 Chung J. Flash mobs may reflect need to ‘see and be seen’, The Daily Pennsylvanian. http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/flash-mobs-may-reflect-need-see-and-be-seenDate: 2010 Google Scholar ). Witnesses to such events report streets and intersections being “concert packed” with teenagers ( Nichols, 2010 Nichols R. On south street, the calm after flash mob. Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA2010http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/88796907.html Google Scholar ). Often, people are injured, and multiple law enforcement officials are needed for crowd control. Teenagers, thinking they are joining in on innocent fun, may find themselves caught up in a riot and may be arrested for disorderly conduct. There is a concern for public health when flash mobs get out of control. Teens engaging in flash mobs can exhibit gang-type behaviors. Masses of teens converging on downtown areas have been known to assault one another and innocent bystanders and vandalize property ( Urbina, 2010 Urbina I. Mobs are born as word grows by texting. New York Times, New York, New York2010, Marchhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html Google Scholar ). The purpose of this article is to examine adolescents' engagement in flash mobs and what pediatric nurses can do to influence teens' participation in healthy group behaviors.