Social media - the hostage that eluded Sydney siege gunman

Iranian refugee Man Haron Monis speaks in this still image taken from undated file footage. Australian security forces on December 16, 2014 stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were being held at gunpoint, in what looked like the dramatic denouement to a standoff that had dragged on for more than 16 hours. REUTERS/ABC via Reuters TV

SYDNEY (Reuters) - One hostage the Sydney siege gunman failed to take this week was social media.

After traditional media refused to air or print details of phone calls his hostages made, Man Haron Monis turned to Facebook and YouTube, forcing his captives to use their personal accounts to issue his demands to speak to the prime minister and spread claims that he'd planted bombs around the city.