Flash mobs began in 2003 as a social experiment organized through word-of-mouth but grew exponentially with the rise of social media. They involve large groups of people suddenly assembling in a public place to perform an unusual act and then dispersing quickly. While some flash mobs are meant as lighthearted surprises, others have turned violent, leading some governments to regulate or restrict large public gatherings. There is debate around whether flash mobs will remain a popular trend or fade as a passing cultural fad.

1. FLASH MOBS
Joe Mazzola, Will Magrann, Emily Sloan

2. Brief Background
Created by Bill Wasik in Manhattan in May 2003
“….a social experiment designed to poke fun at hipsters
and highlight the cultural atmosphere of conformity….”
Unsuccessful first attempt after the intended retail store
heard about the plan
First successful attempt on June 3, 2003 in a Macy’s
department store with over 130 people

3. Flash Mobs in Social Media
Easy access to social media outlets through cell
phones has made the flash mob phenomenon grow
exponentially since its creation almost a decade ago

4. Worldwide Pillow Fight Day
5,000 people in 35 different cities around the world
in 2008
Event on Facebook, typically occurs near the end of
March
Social Media outlets are the event’s primary tool to
let public know what will be happening and when

5. Villanova Flash Mob
On the first day of classes for the Fall 2011 Semester,
Father Peter, Jay Wright, and others surprised students
in the quad by doing a flash mob dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXahHC9Gsfo

6. Businesses Utilizing Flash Mobs
Cell phone companies such as AT&T and T-Mobile have
used flash mobs in recent commercials to promote their
products
http://youtu.be/bd8ppk0UCx8
Companies, like Proctor & Gamble, have used Flash
Mobs to promote their products
- 2007 “Catch Kisses” campaign to promote their
new mouthwash

7. Flash Mob America
Organization whose “sole purpose is to create
Joy through Surprise”
Nationwide production company
Started in 2009 to honor Michael Jackson

8. International Debate Over Flash Mobs
Not all flash mobs are harmless and lighthearted
Some countries have made laws against them
Russia, for example, has specific legal restrictions
against large groups of people gathering in public

9. Flash Mob Debate on a Local Scale
Flash Mobs in Philadelphia have turned into
riots
Original intent of flash mobs, to “shake up the
norm”, has turned into violent outbreaks
City threatened to extend curfew in Philly

10. Discussion Questions
Do you think it was a coincidence that Flash
Mobs & Social Media emerged and became
popular at the same time?
Does the government need to do more to regulate
Flash Mobs in areas where recent events have
become especially violent?
Will Flash Mobs be a lasting pastime? Or will
they turn into one of our culture’s many passing
fads?

11. Bibliography
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_mobs
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjNwjtHVxKs
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd8ppk0UCx8
• http://www.flashmobamerica.com/who-we-are/
• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/us/25mobs.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXahHC9Gsfo
• http://s.wsj.net/article/SB120814163599712081.html
• http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1066&bih=562&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=cgz2v3mlezSHIM:&imgrefurl=http://www
.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/mobs_smart_and_flash/&docid=Fw2DDTXX4wVD0M&imgurl=http://www.lisarein.com/ktvu/8-
07-03-ktvu-flashmob-1.jpg&w=621&h=479&ei=IrIwT-
S7F4nV0QHnnpnmBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=781&vpy=12&dur=395&hovh=167&hovw=210&tx=204&ty=32&sig=1078397255
00093864536&page=3&tbnh=161&tbnw=200&start=20&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:20
• http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1066&bih=562&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=rTfe7QI3yGG4jM:&imgrefurl=http://anis
hbkumar.blogspot.com/2011/12/flash-mob.html&docid=WZ5t8eD65oozHM&imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkIM9Lp6-
jQ/TvAeEy5IYfI/AAAAAAAADI4/Ze-e1Wpn0dU/s1600/01%252BT5%252BFlash%252BMob.jpg&w=1059&h=1600&ei=IrIwT-
S7F4nV0QHnnpnmBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=322&sig=107839725500093864536&page=3&tbnh=172&tbnw=119&start=20&n
dsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:20&tx=72&ty=92
• http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1066&bih=562&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=p8goUsiDzY6LlM:&imgrefurl=http://www
.meetbethallen.com/the-torch-flash-mob/&docid=-BLC4ws2TPx8OM&imgurl=http://www.meetbethallen.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/04/FlashMob.jpg&w=576&h=384&ei=IrIwT-
S7F4nV0QHnnpnmBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=374&sig=107839725500093864536&page=3&tbnh=161&tbnw=215&start=20&n
dsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:20&tx=150&ty=50
• http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&biw=1066&bih=562&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=b9HvkZt8sS6rEM:&imgrefurl=http://ww
w.simpledog.net/meet-the-flash-mob-sydney-opera-house-with-dannii-
kylie/&docid=UZ7v7XyAu4l4eM&imgurl=http://simpledog.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Meet-The-Flash-Mob-%2540-
Sydney-Opera-House-with-Dannii-Kylie-600x400.jpg&w=600&h=400&ei=IrIwT-
S7F4nV0QHnnpnmBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=290&sig=107839725500093864536&page=5&tbnh=161&tbnw=212&start=44&n
dsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:44&tx=183&ty=103