How did the world learn about Bin Laden’s death? Twitter, of course
Related topics: Digital diplomacy
Author: Stephanie Borg Psaila
It was one tweet, yesterday at 10:25 pm (EDT) that seemed to confirm the news. In a short time, the news ‘erupted’ on Twitter and other social networks.
The tweet came from Keith Urbahn, chief of staff for former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who tweeted, “So I’m told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.” The Huffington Post captured the tweet. Meanwhile, the US President was still writing his speech.
This article in The New York Times describes how the news leaked out, and how it had already spread virally around the world by the time President Obama delivered his address at 11:35 pm.
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