Questions and Answers
What was the main mistake Merthe made when planning her birthday party?
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How many people confirmed online that they planned to attend Merthe's party?
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What was the party called after it gained widespread attention?
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What film was associated with Merthe's party due to promotional videos?
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Why did teenagers turn up outside the Weusthuis family home even after the party was cancelled?
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What unauthorized actions were taken to promote Merthe's party?
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What led to the outbreak of violence in Haren?
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What was the purpose of 'Project Clean-X Haren' group?
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How did Bradley McAnulty's birthday party get out of control?
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What was the main role of 'Suspect-X Haren' group?
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Which social media platform was involved in both the clean-up effort and identifying rioters?
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What caused extensive damage to Bradley McAnulty's family home during his birthday party?
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Study Notes
The Facebook Party Riot
- Merthe Weusthuis, a 16-year-old from Haren, Netherlands, planned a quiet birthday party with a small group of friends but mistakenly used open-access settings on Facebook.
- The party invitation was seen by 240,000 people, and 30,000 confirmed online that they would attend.
- An unauthorized campaign was launched to promote the party, including a dedicated website and Twitter account, which received hundreds of thousands of hits.
- Video trailers for the party were produced and posted on YouTube, featuring scenes from the 2012 film Project X.
- T-shirts featuring Merthe's face were made without her knowledge or consent.
The Aftermath
- Despite Merthe's parents canceling the party, local media reported on the event, and teenagers showed up to take pictures outside the Weusthuis family home.
- On the evening of the party, about 5,000 teenagers gathered in Haren, leading to violence and the deployment of 500 riot police.
- Shops were vandalized and looted, journalists were attacked, cars were set on fire or overturned, and street signs and lamp posts were damaged.
Facebook's Involvement in the Cleanup
- Facebook groups 'Project Clean-X Haren' and 'Suspect-X Haren' were created to gather volunteers for cleanup and help police identify and arrest rioters.
- The groups shared photos and videos of the event to aid in the identification of rioters.
Other Similar Incidents
- In April 2012, a 16th birthday party of British teenager Bradley McAnulty spiraled out of control, with over 400 gatecrashers invading his family home in Poole, Dorset, causing extensive damage.
- Bradley had not posted details of the event online, but the news leaked out and appeared on Blackberry Messenger and Facebook.
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