When George Zimmerman shot the unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin nearly a year ago, it captured worldwide attention in a backlash sparked mostly by social media, the Associated Press reports. Now, sites such as Twitter and Facebook have become a major presence at George Zimmerman's trial, both inside and outside the courtroom.
A witness who testified via Skype was inundated with calls from other users on the Internet-based phone service, and a defense attorney was tripped up by a photo his daughter posted on Instagram. Jurors and witnesses have been grilled about their postings and whom they follow.
Social media has become inextricably tied to daily life, a fact reflected by its presence in Zimmerman's murder trial. The trial is a top trend almost daily, with thousands of people tweeting their thoughts with the hashtag #ZimmermanTrial. Witnesses have tweeted about their testimony, including Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel, who after tense questioning became the brunt of spoof accounts poking fun at her candid statements and dialect.
It's not the first time social media has become the backbone of a high-profile criminal case: Casey Anthony's trial on charges she murdered her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, was closely watched, too. Photos posted on social media accounts showing Anthony's partying in the days after her daughter's disappearance became a key point in the case.
Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch volunteer, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and says he shot the unarmed 17-year-old Martin in self-defense during a scuffle in the townhome complex where both lived.
Read more at the Associated Press.