Why I think social networking will change the World.

There is a move afoot, and I really like it. As many of you know, I have been an active member or Edmonton's Social Media scene and a large advocate of the benefits of being connected online. One of the primary criticisms of my disconnected friends is that it can be a waste of time. I would like to respectfully disagree, and offer an example of how it can connect our city in new ways.

IDEAfest is a perfect example of how one person can start a movement, and bring people together to discuss ideas in person. IDEAfest was the brainchild of U of A graduate Michael Janz. (his Twitter profile can be found here).

IDEAfest was a rapidly formed event (two weeks of grassroots planning, marketed strictly through Edmonton's Social networking community). It took the format of a larger, popular idea sharing event called TED. What I found exciting is that people were asked to self-register to give presentations on ideas and topics that they were passionate about. If you are one of those that think our younger generations are simply screwing around on Social Networks, I challenge that thinking.

Here is the link to the event that was mostly planned and administered in facebook. you can see that the topics of discussion was very broad, and for the most part the quality of the presentations was exceptional. For a first event it was well organized, and I can easilly see it growing into a new "festival" for Edmonton. Something that we as a City do very well. What could be done better as it grows, is better coordination of AV/Tech needs and attracting even higher quality speakers, but again I have to say the first run was very successful.

My personal favourite was the discussion by local Poli-Sci graudate Alex Aboud (@alexabboud on Twitter) on "The 15 Steps to Making Edmonton a Better City." His presentation was very well thought out and included many great ideas on making Edmonton more attractive and sustainable to our citizens and visitors. I have asked Alex for his presentation and will hopefully be able to share it with you here, or link to it elsewhere. I really liked his ideas, and can't help but think that his passion and ideas have set him out as a future civic thought-leader.

Other interesting discussions include Dave Cournoyer's (@DaveCournoyer on Twitter and of daveberta.ca fame) talk on how Social Media is challenging the Mainstream Media, as well as Cam Linke's (@camlinke on Twitter and organizer of Democamp) brainstorming session on how to "Make Edmonton an IDEA City". Again both of these guys are really passionate thinkers, who are doing something to improve the local landscape with thought-provoking ideas and discussion.

Others have written about IDEAfest in greater detail and I suggest that you read them here:

Ken Chapman - IDEAfest and the power of one

Elizabeth Withey (Edmonton Journal)  -  Event puts passions on public display

Twitter played a big role at the event, with people "live-tweeting" and using the "hashtag" #UAIF. You can see the discussion that ensued online using Twitter Search here. 

I would like to wrap this by using a quote that Ken Chapman made on his blog, which descibes perfectly the disruptive force that Social Media can be:

There is a strange shift happening in the world these days. The power to influence, change and adapt is shifting. The move is from creaky institutions stuck in hierarchies working in a "pecking ordered" world, to wired individuals who are in a heteroarchy, conversing in a linked and networked world.

Stay tuned folks, there is change afoot. I can't wait to tell you more about Changecamp, which will hoepfully bring these tools to citizen participation in government. Mack alludes to our planning session here.

Comments

[Derek]

Chris,

I think you're correct in your understanding that the presenters did self-register (and that one person was turned away), but I also understand that some people were approached first. Given the number of POC presenters, it would seem to me that none or very few were formally asked to present. I could be wrong in my hypothesis, of course, but it seems highly unlikely to me that POC would disproportionately turn down invitations to present.

I would agree that the event was successful, but it's important to acknowledge its shortcomings, too, and in terms of having POC voices represented, it was a huge failure. We have more than just white, middle-class men and women in Edmonton.

As for your certainty that "we will get all walks of life presenting," this is the lip service most POC are sick of getting. There is no excuse to not have our voices represented from the beginning.

[Chris LaBossiere]

Derek:

I understand that presenter's self-registered, and there was no one turned down with the exception of one gentleman who's presentation may have been too commercially self-promotional.

Considering the success of the event, I am sure we will get all walks of life presenting. Also, I see that you met my friend Alexis on Twitter. She is a great lady, doing some cool stuff.

[Derek]

Good post Chris. Just an addition to things to work on for next time: We absolutely need more women and People of Colour presenting. There were also very few POC audience members, which is more difficult to change, but still possible.