Tag Archives: Social Media

Cyclone Cleopatra Kills 17 In Sardinia

Cyclone Cleopatra roared into the Italian island of Sardinia killing at least 17 people and leaving dozens missing.

The storm’s heavy rains led to flash flooding and many rivers to overflow their banks. The flooding destroyed several bridges and swept away cars and homes.

A mother and daughter died when they car was swept away in the flash flooding. A family of three died when a bridge collapsed onto their car.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta has declared a state of emergency for the island, calling the situation a “national tragedy.” He said that $27 million would be immediately allocated to emergency relief efforts and that soldiers are being sent to the island for search and rescue operations.

Reports say the flash flooding reached 10 feet high at times. The mayor of the told of Olbia told the BBC the storm was “apocalyptic.”

Officials say that citizens of the island are coming together. Many residents with homes left undamaged by the storm are using social media to contact those who have lost homes and are inviting them in for meals and shelter.

Facebook Allows Videos Of People Being Killed

Major social media network Facebook is again allowing users to post videos of people being murdered.

Facebook reversed an earlier decision banning posting of videos that showed people being beheaded or killed but now allow the videos with a warning that the video contains graphic content. The initial ban had been made after outcry from worldwide government officials.

The majority of the videos are of the beheadings of members of Mexican drug cartels. The videos usually show the entire murder from start to finish. The site is also allowing the posting of executions taking place in the middle east and Asia along with terrorist killings.

Those taking the social media giant to task say that because the site allows users as young as 13 years old the videos could cause significant mental stress. The critics point out that Facebook has rules prohibiting videos that show a single woman’s exposed breast – thus blocking some videos of mothers breastfeeding their children – but have nothing to stop what are essentially snuff films.

Facebook says they are allowing the videos to be posted so that users can discuss them and share their outrage about the killings. The site says they will remove videos if the people who post it glorify the violence in the videos in any way.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called out Facebook saying their actions were irresponsible and that they “must explain their actions to worried parents.”

Facebook has not commented about the decision to add warnings to the videos.