The mystery of a missing mom’s disappearance on December 6 could have been ripped from a screenplay out of a Law & Order TV episode. Strange disappearance of a 28-year Susan Powell while husband Josh Powell takes toddlers camping in a wintry Utah desert the night she disappeared. Questionable and tell-tale evidence as to why her phone, purse and keys were left behind. The twist, however in this scenario is not the police investigation. It’s how friends and family have decided to use the power of social media to solve the case.
Susan PowellThe 72-hour "Susan Powell Social Media Blitz" campaign is scheduled to Josh Powellbegin Monday, January 4 at 8AM MST and will end Thursday, January 7 at 9AM MST. It will coincide with the "Susan Powell Purple Ribbon Campaign." Kiirsi Hellewell, Susan’s best friend, says "We want every household in the country, every computer monitor, across the ocean as well." They are working against a 72 hour time-line.
A Facebook Fan Page has been posted where 11,512 members have already registered (as of this posting). The Facebook administrators are urging people to use any and all online avenues to spead the video via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs. They’re asking everybody to e-mail at least 5 friends. Hellewell says she thinks the blitz is the most effective way to find Susan. She says, "Since I don’t have a clue, and I don’t know where to look, that’s why I’m pushing the online means every way possible."
Susan Powell Facebook Fan Page
As of this posting, "what is hoped to be" a viral video is about to be posted on YouTube. It is still in development and the family and friends are working to get it ready for Monday with new photos and images. They are asking people to display purple ribbons as reminder of the ongoing search for Susan.
On December 14, a FoxNews channel released the following report.
UPDATE: January 3, KSL TV in Salt Lake City released an update regarding the YouTube campaign.
The Internet is a double-edge sword. While social media tools will definitely keep this case alive and in the mindset of many, there are others that will use the same tools perniciously. A few have chosen to take that route and have begun turning their frustrations against those closest to Susan – according to Isabelle Zehnder at the Seattle Headlines Examiner. Isabelle ZehnderFriends and Family of Susan Powell have taken criticism for using social networking sites, and noted that they have "been ridiculed for not being out there, looking in dumpsters, out hiking through the freezing desert. We believe this is more productive. We’re using the Internet as a tool to spread the message about Susan to as many people as we can.”
I would urge my readers as well to assist in this endeavor as much as possible. We all have followers and fans on social networking sites. While we communicate with our contacts often to build our brands and transmit our personal messages, this is an important opportunity to utilize those same resources to help in this missing person investigation.
If you have suggestions please leave them in the Comments section below. The information will be passed along to the Friends and Family of Susan Powell.
Check back to this blog as I will be uploading the ‘viral’ video as soon as its posted to YouTube.
