Social media's role in Jan. 6 violence

+ a thank you note from our Executive Editor US Edition - Today's top story: Jan. 6 was an example of networked incitement − a media and disinformation expert explains the danger of political violence orchestrated over social media [View in browser]( US Edition | 6 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all our readers who donated to our year-end fundraising campaign. It was very successful, and we met and exceeded our $150,000 goal. You make our work possible! We’re a nonprofit newsroom with a business model that mirrors, to a large degree, the public radio model. Only instead of interrupting your favorite show from time to time, we send you emails occasionally, inviting you to donate if you can. You definitely don’t have to − our work is available to everyone, whether or not you donate. But if you did, we are grateful. And even if you didn’t, thank you for reading our work (and all those emails). Among the articles our readers’ generosity made possible this week is an excellent story by Joan Donovan, a media and disinformation scholar at Boston University. She explains how social media allowed former President Donald Trump to direct the insurrectionists’ behavior three years ago today, [on Jan. 6, 2021](. Beth Daley Executive Editor and General Manager Social media and cellphones connected President Trump to the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images [Jan. 6 was an example of networked incitement − a media and disinformation expert explains the danger of political violence orchestrated over social media]( Joan Donovan, Boston University Social media allows a political leader to direct the behavior of political movements, including engaging in violence and insurrection. 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