Age of Accountability

We live in an era that demands just decision-making. We’re in an age where the weak can speak up on occasion. And the world is asking a lot of questions about…well, stuff that never used to get questioned.

Look at some of the biggest events on the web this year.

• Cairo, Egypt. In January 2011, an uprising begins to form which results in the ousting of a President (Hosni Mubarak), an unprecedented outcome in thousands of years of Egyptian civilization.

• Occupy Wall Street. People get inspired by what happens in Egypt and begin to protest the richest in the nation, arguing that the rest of the American population must have a voice in the direction of the country.

• John Pike. The reputation of a decorated lieutenant is forever roasted in his eight minute abuse of authority on the campus of UC Davis.

• Penn State. No one saw this coming…well, except for a few whose careers are now over, as well as the lives ruined.

In each of these recent implosions, a person, corporation, or company is being made accountable, after being fueled by a firestorm of social media.

For example…

• The revolution in Egypt was fueled Twitter and Facebook users to organize their protests.
• The Occupy movement was (and is) heavily organized by the famous Twitter hashtag #OccupyWallstreet
• John Pike’s fate was sealed by one short YouTube video.
• The news of Paterno’s firing at Penn State in the middle of the Sandusky scandal was quickly spread “via students’ cellphones” before the chaos ensued.

Without arguing whether the results or methods of these outbursts are right, I do want to call attention to the organizational power of social media to bring people to a new level of accountability.

I’ve already remarked on ways social media can aid a Christian being on mission.

Are there any ways we can redeem the powerful influence of social media? Should we even try?