Mess with the Biz, Get the Stone

Malcolm Gladwell basically launched a full on assault on Biz Stone and Clay Shirky in his "Small Change" article.
Not smart, especially since these are the guys capable of motivating the apathetic masses to participate in a low-risk activity such as perhaps sending hate emails, most likely about his ginormous hair.
At least, that's what I would do.

Regardless, things have happened since 2010.  Big things.  Big changes.

One word: Wikileaks. (Don't worry. It takes you to Wikipedia. You won't lose your job.)

I mention this for two reasons.  

First, the site, a network of users who could contribute to information posted, had power.  Why else would the government be trying to kill an Australian?  No one cares about Australia.  

Secondly, Gladwell said, "networks don't have a centralized leadership structure and clear lines of authority..."  But I would argue that in most cases leadership emerges when the network requires it.  Julian Assange is obviously the man associated with Wikileaks and the guy taking the fall, despite the board of founders and the sources providing the information.

Wikileaks is an example how networks grow in authority and power, how they can create change in our world.

Then, of course, there's Anonymous.  Crawling forth from the subcultures of the interwebs, they fight for Internet freedom.  Mobilizing themselves via 4chan's image boards (I'm not going to link this because you kids shouldn't be going to /b/), twitter, and their blog, the Anons hack and protest basically for the lulz.  Lately though, they've moved away from strictly fighting Internet-based oppression and started attacking offensive companies and organizations.  

September 17th. Expect them.

According to Wikipedia (which we all know is just as good as the encyclopedia), Anonymous is "a decentralized online community acting anonymously in a coordinated manner, usually toward a loosely self-agreed goal."  [emphasize added] 

Which is almost exactly the point Gladwell was making! 

Oh wait, never mind.

The point I'm trying to make here is that I think "Small Changes" by Malcolm Gladwell makes an incorrect evaluation of social media's capacity to incite significant revolution among the general population.