Last week, more than a thousand Hong Kong residents protested outside the Dolce & Gabbana flagship store in Hong Kong. This incident started because Hong Kong citizens are not allowed to take pictures of the storefront, but mainland travelers and foreigners can do. It was reported that some powerful Chinese customers was asked for the photo ban to protect their privacy. Hong Kong people are viewing this as “discriminatory” practices and they are asking for an announcement and apology. Someone posted a video on youTube showing that a security guard intimidated a local journalist to break his camera when he was taking photos from the pavement outside.
This news has been spread on Facebook quickly, and more than 13,000 people supported to create a stir in the store on Sunday. Angry netizens took their complaints to Dolce & Gabbana’s official Facebook page, leaving unflattering comments under their new year’s greeting status update.
Internet and social network is a good way to spread information and ideas immediately, and generally will have a wide audience. People can promote their ideas and products through social media, by writing blogs or sharing articles. They can expand their network and convene more participants without costs. Every person who confirms the usefulness of the product or information helps undecided people to make decisions. As in this case, a Facebook page was set up on Jan 5th for the flash mob mustered a thousand people in a few days, and the incident has putted a great pressure on D&G.
The store was closed again on Jan 15 because of the third protest, and the Italian brand owe an official apology to the public.
I had no idea that such a scandal occurred, definitely agree with you about the role social media played in spreading the news, good post!