Jackson Story Shows Speed Of Digital Age

News Sites Swamped; Social Media Becomes Source For Information, Rumors, Mourning

(CBS)  Word of Michael Jackson's death sent shockwaves through the Internet. And as people reached out to friends and strangers alike, the ripple effect reflected the pace of the digital age, reports CBS News correspondent Daniel Sieberg.

On the Internet, you can post it instantly and everyone can see it. Entertainment Web site TMZ.com was the first to report that Jackson had died, before the Los Angeles Times.

"I think we had 1,000 comment on our story within minutes," said Mike Walters, TMZ.com's news manager. "That's how fast people could write in."

As fast as news about Michael Jackson's death traveled over TV and radio, it traveled even faster over the Internet.

"I think it was in some case an hour lapse people wanting to broadcast that he had passed away," Walters aid. "This is something that is going to change reporting as we go forward."

New sites were swamped, operating at 10 percent of their normal capacity on Thursday evening.

Google shut down at one point, mistaking the traffic surge for a virus attack.

Social media sites were a source of information, rumor, and collective mourning. On Facebook, condolences began appearing within minutes, with some 2 million fans in total on Jackson tribute sties. An average of 100 new friends joined Jackson's MySpace page every minute.

AT&T reported that nearly 65,000 cell phone texts per second were sent at the peak time - more than 60 percent above normal volume.

On YouTube, video tributes also appeared almost instantly - like one from a young break-dancing group in Chicago, or one from a heart broken fan.

At Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, Jackson's entry changed within minutes of the news, from alive, to possibly dead, to dead, to locked from further alterations.

Twitter, a site where users post quick updates, was busy with more than 5,000 tweets per second, as everyone from casual users to celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Ashton Kutcher shared their thoughts, in 140 characters or less.

With his death, there's also been a spike in online consumption of his most popular songs, at one point Jackson had 7 or the top 10 songs downloaded on Apple's iTunes store.

As the Internet draws a generation of fans for the King of Pop, new media is redefining what it means to share an experience - both alone, and together.

More Michael Jackson coverage:

Focus Shifting To Drugs In Jackson's Death
Jackson Family Issues Statement To Fans
Jackson Family Wants Second Autopsy
Drug Use Worried Spiritual Teacher Chopra
Jackson Story Shows Speed Of Digital Age
Lisa Marie: Jackson Foresaw His End
Jackson Doctor Under Increased Scrutiny
Filipino Inmates Perform Jackson Tribute
Jackson Family Questions Promoter's Role
A Collection Of CBS Videos Of Michael Jackson
The Death Of Michael Jackson: Full Coverage

[edwinwbrownmd]

What a sad commentary on a society (or a significant segment thereof) who hero-worship so-called "stars" in the entertainment world whose contribution to making the world a better place to live is negligible if not negative. For every Michael Jackson, there are countless men and women giving wholly of themselves, often at great personal sacrifice, to improve the lives of the poor and down-trodden, as well of those of us who are privileged to live well. Yet our news media rarely focus on such persons, preferring to cater to the doings of "celebrities" whose private lives often reflect the worst that is in us. God forgive us!

[webmonkeydc]

Elizabeth Taylor said about the passing of Michael Jackson, "My life feels so empty." How many other people, fans, and gawkers who didn't share anything close to their relationship are claiming they feel the same way? Read more: http://richardtgarner.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-life-feels-so-empty-really.html

[Newster1]

"I think we had 1,000 comment on our story within minutes," said Mike Walters, TMZ.com's news manager. "That's how fast people could write in."

Oh like WOW, where have these reporters been all this time? the inner-net which was invented by Al Gore has been around for a decade and a half plus years!
Gee, tell us something NEW about how FAST news gets plastered around, including how fast a doctor is tried and convicted by the media and has his personal finances and other things plastered all over as well just because he happened to be in the room when jackson croaked.

[tifroz]

RIP Michael, if the twitterverse reaction is any indication you were loved by many. http://mj.twazzup.com

[ltk01]

It is interesting how Jesse Jackson, politicos, and other wantabes always show up whenever there is a "spotlight news event" and/or there seems to be a "smell of money"...interesting???

[brianbwb-2009]

not really, but it shows how far the likes of your ilk would use the topic to post irrelevant insults directed at others.

More like "the smell of a neo".