Gaddafi Killed: Social Media Kills Gaddafi for 40 mins or so

Gaddafi War of the Walls

Early in the week I wrote about the 'War of the Walls' protests that are happening in Syria. A well underway revolution that has taken graffiti to a whole new level,  in Libya showing the dismay of the rebel people and disgust of the pro-Gaddafi supporters. Twitter is currently blowing up with Gaddafi tweets and retweets about the revolution ending and/or the whereabouts of Gaddafi. Only an hour ago a rumor was spread that he was killed, but then retracted. 

The tweet was reblogged, then posted on Tumblr, then found itself on Facebook, then found its way onto CNN and MSNBC, then only to be retracted. That was the span of the first tweet below. Then came the backlash of anger from twitterers, reblogging like crazy reminiscent of Osama bin Laden's first news of death on twitter. In other words, social media is crazy and will spread like wildfire. About to set my current status as, "watching the Libyan regime crumble," because that's all we can do.

Lesson: Social Media can kill you, only figuratively.

Syria is next.

First to tweet this from on-ground sources and I can confirm: #GADDAFI IS DEAD. He was shot dead by #FF in #Tripoli. #Libyaless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyMalik Al-Abdeh
MalikAlAbdeh

CORRECTION: Source in #Tripoli who has been v. reliable got his wires crossed. A lot of confusion out there. #Gaddafi is ALIVE. Just about.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyMalik Al-Abdeh
MalikAlAbdeh

Gadaffi has just been killed, then escaped, then held prisoner. I wish these news channels would make up Their minds.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Replybaztodd
baztodd