Twitter users hijack news poll – force its removal

The UK's Mail Online news website was pressured to remove an online poll when internet users banded together to swamp the site's servers with unexpected 'yes' votes.

The poll asked a leading question: "Should the NHS [The UK's National Health Service] allow gipsies to jump the queue?"

The question attracted ridicule amongst Twitter users, journalism.co.uk reported.

The site said the interest among Twitter users resulted in a vote of 96 per cent supporting the idea, in a bid to draw attention to the question's lack of neutrality.

Such overwhelming support in the poll goes against the Mail Online's editorial line which opposes what it considers as liberal, says journalism.co.uk.

The poll was removed from the Mail Online's site on June 19.

- NZ HERALD STAFF