With the Qantas lockdown in full swing social media platforms are abuzz with commentary. On Facebook this evening the following wordcloud was developed using fan feedback from the 10pm Qantas posting. Also the picture at right was uploaded to the photo file 
on their Facebook page. It will be interesting to see if consumers start uploading pics of themselves stranded at airports.
Conversations from the wordcloud above centred on the CEO, Joyce, the unions and words such as ‘shame’ and ‘shares‘ appear giving an understanding of some of the key concerns.
A Facebook protest page called Lock out Alan Joyce not Qantas Workers has gained 5438 ‘likes’ over the past 24 hours. The page is said to be not affiliated with the unions.
An AFR article on Qantas and social media noted that the wrong Alan Joyce Twitter account has been targetted online with an American university student copping flack for the grounding.
The buzz online has also seen the development of a fake Alan Joyce Twitter account with his bio saying “leading Qantas Airway to its biggest disaster yet and then on to the next”. 
The account was accompanied by a particularly bad profile pic. You can follow some of the discussion by viewing the #qantasfail twitter stream
Discussions regarding the airline dispute are also occuring in a range of online forums as far ranging as Golf, The Athiest Foundation of Australia and Vogue Fashion.
It should be noted that this is not the first time Qantas has come under fire in the social media arena with the airline under attack recently when they gave two Wallaby fans platinum tickets to the Tri-Nations decider . They didn’t bargain that the rugby fans would come dressed asRadike Samo complete with afro wigs and painted black faces.
Digital Democracy is a leading Sydney social media agency. Director Jenni Beattie has over 20 years marketing experience and has focused on social media for the past five years. Jenni teaches social media at UTS and also develops social media strategies for a range of clients. Digital Democracy can be contacted on 0423073099