April 18, 2007
Social networks and the Virginia shootings
Of all the social networking sites, Facebook emerged as the place where Virginia Tech students and family members turned to reconnect and console each other over Monday’s campus shootings.
Our man inside Facebook says an eight-fold surge in traffic following Monday’s shooting spree "pretty much fried" the server dedicated to the site’s Virginia Tech network. Facebook engineers have been working long days all week to manage the influx.
In the days following the tragedy, the focus has turned to remembrance. More than 500 Virginia Tech-related groups have popped up to honor the victims. One group, "A tribute to those who passed at the Virginia Tech shooting," has attracted more than 200,000 members. A number of hate groups have also made an appearance, and Facebook has been working to take them down.
The gunman, Cho Seung-hui, has been described as a loner by those who knew him, and that would seem to apply to his online life as well. Facebook employees have spent hours scouring the site in search of any profiles Mr Cho might have created. So far, their search has turned up nothing.
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