The commons of the tragedy Lee Rainie - Director CSTB Meeting on the Internet under crisis 3/6/02

September 11 – Internet population fell Number of American adults online dropped more than 10% on September 11 and 7% on September 12Number of American adults online dropped more than 10% on September 11 and 7% on September 12 Number of users dropped 17% in the week after the attackNumber of users dropped 17% in the week after the attack Drops in the number of thoseDrops in the number of those –pursuing hobbies online (-50%) –purchasing goods (-50%) –seeking medical information (-40%) –browsing for fun (-35%) –doing work-related research (-24%)

What was up More intense and prolonged searching and content creation –News rose 32% –Instant messaging rose 18% –Government Web sites –Charity and volunteer sites –Online community activity rose nearly fourfold

Overall activity online 69% of Internet users got some kind of news and information about attacks online –50% sought some news about attacks –33% financial market reaction –23% searched for info. about Osama Bin Laden –21% sought info. about Afghanistan –15% sought info. about victims and survivors –13% sought info. about Islam –12% visited commemorative Web sites

content 72% used in some way related to events –grieving, consoling, expressing patriotism, finding long-lost friends, making/receiving prayer requests, hashing out military and political options

What didn’t work 32% of all Americans said they had trouble placing phone calls on Sept. 1132% of all Americans said they had trouble placing phone calls on Sept. 11 –7 million people say they turned to the Internet to make contact with loved ones after they had trouble using the phone 43% of Internet users had trouble accessing Web sites they wanted to reach on Sept. 1143% of Internet users had trouble accessing Web sites they wanted to reach on Sept. 11 –19 million eventually reached site –18 million went to other sites –10 million gave up on using Internet to get news

The Internet: A useful supplement 79% say TV was the source of most of their news79% say TV was the source of most of their news –Only 6% of Internet veterans say they got most of their news online Internet users were twice as likely to place calls to key family members as write them s and half again as likely to make calls to friends as write them sInternet users were twice as likely to place calls to key family members as write them s and half again as likely to make calls to friends as write them s

The virtual commons: Raw emotion “This is absolute chaos… a sheer tragedy…how could this happen here?” -- Tori Hill, Yahoo’s Sept11 reaction site “I wonder if I will ever sleep peacefully again after seeing those bodies falling. I wonder if I will ever stop crying.” “I wonder if I will ever sleep peacefully again after seeing those bodies falling. I wonder if I will ever stop crying.” --- Blogger named ponygirl at Blogger.com

The virtual commons: Hunt for details “People, please keep these reports coming. I have friends in New York but right now this is my only source of information. All the news sites are totally jammed.” -- Markmark33 in an AOL chat room

The virtual commons: Tests of faith “I don't know what I believe anymore. I am not even sure how I feel about God. I use to believe all things happen for a reason but have since decided that is an idiotic way to believe…I have decided to leave Beliefnet for a while and think things out. I have been a member nearly a year and met some pretty wonderful people. I will miss you all. Please pray for me.” -- corinthianxx on Beliefnet.com

The virtual commons: Grief and consoling “I cry at strange times in strange places and at the strangest triggers. Today I went grocery shopping and started crying when I noticed the biggest selling Halloween costume: A rack of Firefighter costumes. Kids want to be like their heroes and many kids have seen and decided that wrestlers and cartoon characters, comic book characters aren't heroic enough for them anymore. I cried while I watched a little boy try on the helmets. Right there in the store. Is it just me?” --LadyMarchHare on The Well

The virtual commons: Practical advice Are you okay? How can I help?Are you okay? How can I help? Here is the place you can go to donate blood, attend a meeting, volunteer, attend a serviceHere is the place you can go to donate blood, attend a meeting, volunteer, attend a service Here are things you can do to help in your communityHere are things you can do to help in your community Here is the latest news I’ve heardHere is the latest news I’ve heard

The virtual commons: Political discussion “I fear he [President Bush] will use excessive force which will lead to more terrorist attacks and possibly war. I would feel so much better if Clinton was in office.” -- donation111 in the Yahoo Sept. 11 attack site “I am not a Bush fan, I didn't like his dad and I don't like his brother, however he has my full support as leader of the country, his speech writers are remarkable and it [the President’s speech to Congress on September 20] was delivered to perfection.” -- janesommers in International Women’s Forum

The new online normalcy More news searchingMore news searching More interest in government and politicsMore interest in government and politics More community participationMore community participation More spiritual activityMore spiritual activity But return to the usual levels of interest in other activitiesBut return to the usual levels of interest in other activities