2011 United Kingdom Riots

2011eventclassic

The 2011 United Kingdom Riots were four nights of looting, arson and clashes with police that hit London and spread across English cities in early August 2011, set off by the fatal police shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan. UK press labelled it Britain's first social media-driven riot after BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook and Twitter were used to coordinate crowds and share footage in real time.

british memesprotest memessocial media culture memesearly 2010s memesmoral panic memes

Overview

The 2011 United Kingdom Riots refer to civil disturbances that started in Tottenham on August 6th, 2011 and spread across London and other English cities over the following four nights3. UK press labelled it the country's first social media-driven riot as crowds used mobile web platforms to organise and broadcast the disorder as it happened2.

BlackBerry Messenger, popular with British teenagers for its free encrypted broadcasts, was reported as the key tool rioters used to plan targets and warn of police movements1. Twitter feeds and Facebook pages pulled bystanders into the action while also spreading exaggerated rumours of attacks that never actually happened5.

How It Spread

Over the following days the disorder jumped from Tottenham to Wood Green, Enfield Town, Ponders End and Brixton, then to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, with hundreds of arrests as groups of youths hit new shopping streets each night6. A Facebook memorial page for Mark Duggan gathered thousands of followers within an hour of the first riot and was used to prod bystanders to film and take part3.

The online backlash to the 2011 United Kingdom Riots was almost as fast as the rioting itself. A Google Group called 'London Riots Facial Recognition' invited members to match CCTV stills and Flickr photos to individual looters4, a crowdsourced identification effort also covered by TechCrunch alongside official police appeals7. Several teenagers were later charged with incitement for setting up rival BlackBerry Messenger and Facebook groups calling for further looting8.

Frequently Asked Questions

2011 United Kingdom Riots

2011eventclassic

The 2011 United Kingdom Riots were four nights of looting, arson and clashes with police that hit London and spread across English cities in early August 2011, set off by the fatal police shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan. UK press labelled it Britain's first social media-driven riot after BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook and Twitter were used to coordinate crowds and share footage in real time.

british memes protest memes social media culture memes early 2010s memes moral panic memes

Overview

The 2011 United Kingdom Riots refer to civil disturbances that started in Tottenham on August 6th, 2011 and spread across London and other English cities over the following four nights3. UK press labelled it the country's first social media-driven riot as crowds used mobile web platforms to organise and broadcast the disorder as it happened2.

BlackBerry Messenger, popular with British teenagers for its free encrypted broadcasts, was reported as the key tool rioters used to plan targets and warn of police movements1. Twitter feeds and Facebook pages pulled bystanders into the action while also spreading exaggerated rumours of attacks that never actually happened5.

How It Spread

Over the following days the disorder jumped from Tottenham to Wood Green, Enfield Town, Ponders End and Brixton, then to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, with hundreds of arrests as groups of youths hit new shopping streets each night6. A Facebook memorial page for Mark Duggan gathered thousands of followers within an hour of the first riot and was used to prod bystanders to film and take part3.

The online backlash to the 2011 United Kingdom Riots was almost as fast as the rioting itself. A Google Group called 'London Riots Facial Recognition' invited members to match CCTV stills and Flickr photos to individual looters4, a crowdsourced identification effort also covered by TechCrunch alongside official police appeals7. Several teenagers were later charged with incitement for setting up rival BlackBerry Messenger and Facebook groups calling for further looting8.

Frequently Asked Questions