Many media experts and Internet users have fiercely criticised Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands following her 2009 Christmas message. The queen tackled subjects including virtual communication which she said actually divided people rather than bringing them closer together. Although no names were given, she was taken to be referring to social networks such as Hyves, Facebook, Twitter and to text messaging in general.
Internet expert Vincent Everts has told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that the queen doesn’t know what she’s talking about. He argues the opposite of what she said is true.
Media academic Professor Mark Deuze agrees, believing the queen is in denial about the way society has changed. He thinks people have been drawn closer together, but on a global level rather than just locally.
One of the founders of the Hyves social network, Raymond Spanjer, has offered to open an account for the queen so she can report her experiences of the results.
Many columnists and Twitter users have complained that they were treated with contempt in the Christmas message. An estimated nine million people in the Netherlands make use of the Hyves network and a further 500,000 use Twitter.
(Source: RNW News)
