So… do social networks really have an impact on how we absorb news and engage in pubic discourse? On Monday, the world witnessed another exquisite example of how it does, indeed, direct the nature of chatter for millions of people.
This morning, NBC news confirmed, when Vice President Joe Biden surfaced in public sporting a pair of black sunglasses, it appeared that President Barack Obama’s second term was poised to commence on a note of subtle mockery.
When eagle-eyed Internet pundits spotted Joe Biden emerging from his car Monday morning in a pair of aviator sunglasses, they did exactly what you’d expect them to do: They pounced.
For a time today, the VP’s sunglasses were the hottest source of discussion on Twitter, once again showing that the media, elected officials, and an historic governmental tradition can no longer compel people to just quietly concentrate on the significant events unfolding in the nation’s capitol today.
“I don’t know if this is commentary on how bored people are with politics, disenchanted with government, or just plain intellectually lazy,” says social media expert and communications consultant Michael Oxmore, “but Twitter continues to reflect the pulse of America. At the point where Joe Biden’s sunglasses get a leg-up on a presidential inaugural in terms of trending topics, it’s clear that ‘we the people’ have all the power to determine what we focus on and for how long.”
Did you use social networks to publicly comment on any aspect of President Obama’s inaugural today?
