The Impact of Review-Bombing on the Gaza War. : Analysis

San Francisco, California – Every morning, Fayes, a coffee shop and art space in San Francisco’s Mission District, displays a message on its outside chalkboard. Typically, the message is light-hearted or a promotion for their coffee and art. However, during the recent conflict in Gaza, a different message appeared: “Solidarity with Gaza. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The message caught the attention of people around the world, leading to an influx of one-star reviews on popular websites like Yelp. Though the negative feedback accused the staff of giving “dirty looks” and providing subpar service, Fayes co-owner Michael McConnell noticed suspicious details. For example, some commenters claimed issues with table service, even though the coffee shop does not have tables. Additionally, many of the reviewers were from other parts of the United States, suggesting an organized review-bombing campaign.

Review-bombing refers to coordinated efforts to inundate individuals or businesses with negative reviews, which can severely impact small businesses with limited resources. While McConnell acknowledges that review-bombing is minor compared to the destruction caused by the war in Gaza, he reflects on the unintended consequences of the woman’s initial online protest.

McConnell remains optimistic because Google and Yelp have taken action to remove the review-bombing posts. Additionally, he had a positive conversation with someone on Instagram who reached out to discuss the chalkboard message.

Another nearby business, Reem’s, a Palestinian bakery and restaurant, also faced backlash and review-bombing when it first opened in the nearby city of Oakland. The negative reviews targeted their depiction of Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh and included threats against staff members. However, community support allowed Reem’s to survive the protests.

Despite the challenges, Reem’s co-founder Zaynah Hindi hopes the restaurant can provide a safe space, especially for Palestinians affected by the current violence.

Small businesses often struggle to withstand protests without strong community support, as experienced by Miriam Zouzounis, a commissioner with San Francisco’s Office of Small Business. Zouzounis observed how online backlash can harm sales, noting instances where accounts promoting Palestinian wine faced cancellation of planned events.

Zouzounis believes that these online attacks are part of a larger effort to divert attention from the situation in Gaza. She emphasizes the need for Arab Americans to use their political influence to call for a ceasefire and push local politicians to take a stand on behalf of their constituents.

In conclusion, the article reports on the review-bombing faced by two businesses in San Francisco due to their support for Palestine during the Gaza conflict. The sources used are primarily interviews with the business owners and employees affected by the review-bombing. While the article presents their experiences and perspectives, there is no further analysis or verification of the events mentioned. It is important to take into account the potential biases of the sources, as they are directly involved in the situation. While the article highlights the significant impact review-bombing can have on small businesses, it provides limited context or analysis on the wider political dynamics and the conflict in Gaza itself.

The article’s impact on the readers may depend on their prior knowledge and perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Someone already supportive of Palestine may be more inclined to sympathize with the businesses and view review-bombing as an unjust response. On the other hand, individuals more aligned with Israel may dismiss or downplay the consequences of review-bombing, seeing it as a way for people to express their displeasure with the coffee shops’ messages.

Considering the prevalence of fake news and the heightened political sensitivities surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, it is essential for readers to approach such stories critically and seek information from multiple sources. The article’s lack of additional sources and analysis limits the reader’s ability to fully understand the complexity of the situation, the motivations behind the review-bombing, and the broader context of the conflict in Gaza.

Source: Aljazeera news: One-star ratings and threats: How review-bombing is shaping the Gaza war