Name: The power and the danger of online crowds
Uploaded: 2008-11-04T01:00:00Z
Duration: 16 min 39 s
Description: James Surowiecki pinpoints the moment when social media became an equal player in the world of news-gathering: the 2005 tsunami, when YouTube video, blogs, IMs and txts carried the news -- and preserved moving personal stories from the tragedy.

James Surowiecki pinpoints the moment when social media became an equal player in the world of news-gathering: the 2005 tsunami, when YouTube video, blogs, IMs and txts carried the news -- and preserved moving personal stories from the tragedy.

James Surowiecki: The power and the danger of online crowds

The power and the danger of online crowds

In the wake of the 2005 tsunami, the blogosphere's role in news-gathering evolved, offering a real-time, personal perspective on disasters.

The tsunami revealed the power of collective intelligence via blogs, transforming how stories are shared and the nature of journalism.

Despite its strengths, the interconnectedness of networks can limit independent thought, challenging the integrity of collective wisdom.