It’s the sad news that nearly killed the Internet. Google News, Yahoo!, MSNBC, CNET, Twitter, LA Times, and more all went down from the insane amounts of MJ-related traffic. So we ask: How did you learn of Michael Jackson’s death?
This is more than a simple survey. In the past, we’ve learned of major breaking news from sources that now seem incredibly reliable, like television, radio, and newsprint. None of those media can be brought down by increased traffic. But while it’s clear the Internet is taking over the flow of information, it’s not clear that right now, it can handle such large news.
I myself heard about it from a friend, who had read it on the National Post’s website, a major Canadian news network. But what did I do then? I hopped on my computer and Googled the shit out of it. Soon, when we ask “where were you when you learned of this event?”, we may not be talking about geographical location, but URL.
So, readers, tell me: Was it Google? Twitter? Word of mouth? Suspicion based on the all-MJ set the DJ played at your favourite bar last night?
SnoA
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 1:31 PMI’d just got to the front of the queue at the apple store in sydney to buy the new iPhone 3GS. was walking past one of the many macs on display when a steff memeber pointed out to the ninemsn page with; “hey, did you hear michael jackson had died?”. As a fitting tribute the first iTunes purchase was a Michael Jackson album.
Andrew Mills
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 4:30 PMSad to say I learnt it from Facebook…
Lucas F
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 6:24 PMAs the ball is not yet rolling, I’ll nudge it. I received an SMS from news.com.au about it. Which i subsequently confirmed…by googling the shit out of it. Hah!
Sam Ross
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 6:37 PMi was there when it happened
Gary Tong
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 10:41 PMI heard it on 2Day FM on Friday morning.
Samuel Butler
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 12:12 AMFacebook.
Ehren Thompson
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 12:42 AM1) I heard it on the radio while I was lying in bed.
2) I stumbled out of bed to the computer, checking my mobile on the way and finding a text from my brother asking to confirm the news that he had heard at school.
3) Wikipedia and google news’d it up.
4) Struggled to comprehend the shocking and tragic revelation.
Dr_Stef
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 8:22 AMSomeone came in to my workplace screaming in the morning someone had a heart attack. Didn’t know they were on about Michael until like 10 min later.
I thought they were on about someone in the office!
krnageskillz
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 9:29 AMOn the Radio Friday morning on the way to work. They announced he had a OD on sleeping pills and had a heart attack.
Eng
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 10:59 AMHeard it on the radio
badlanguage
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:07 AMYouTube. It normally gives me good news
Natalie
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:35 AMTwitter Friday morning. Then checked cnn site.
Dousatsu
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 11:43 AMGot into work and checked iGoogle. BAM! Dead.
matt
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 1:39 PMare you saying your searching was directly responsible for his death??
Samuel Strevens
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 1:35 PMI saw kids under the age of 15 walking without there parents on the streets again.
Connor Hughes
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 1:56 PMTwitter Friday morning..
Kath
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 10:31 PMI heard it on Vega 95.3, then switched TV on to Sky News
alex
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 7:02 AMI first saw it on the news then i went online to verify it.
Here is an interesting National study on how people found out about his death done by a company called mediacurves.
It says most people heard about it through traditional media, but alot of people did hear about it through facebook and twitter.
http://mediacurves.com/NationalMediaFocus/J7434-MJDeath/Index.cfm
Wade_oh
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 8:15 AMI heard it from this amazing technology called the radio. Some what like a telephone but one way. i can hear them but they cant hear me.
matt
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 1:38 PMmines a little strange i know: my work colleague “told” me by making words come out his mouth!
Purple
Friday, July 24, 2009 at 10:44 AMI heard about it on Facebook before it hit the news headlines. (This person had just seen it on the TMZ website.)