Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the main mistake Merthe made when planning her birthday party?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
What unauthorized actions were taken to promote Merthe's party?
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What led to the outbreak of violence in Haren?
What led to the outbreak of violence in Haren?
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What was the purpose of 'Project Clean-X Haren' group?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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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Description
Test your knowledge about the Facebook party that turned into a riot in a small Dutch town. Learn about the consequences of using open-access settings on social media for event invitations.
