The Revolution Will Be Digitized

When was the last time you were asked to join a Facebook group entitled “One Million Strong For [Insert random cause].” Probably quite recently. At the Sxsw panel “How Social Networks Are Killing the Revolution,” panelists discussed how social networks are actually hindering real world action and change from occurring. Steve Swedler (Gangplank) attempted to answer the question why support for a cause in an online community fails to translate into large scale change.

One reason he presented is that people are under the false notion that noise=action. Swedler went on to say that in many social network communities, “Everyone assumes someone’s doing something. Someone can be the most avid supporter of a cause but be doing absolutely nothing about it.” Todd Huffman (BIL Conference) explained that for this to change people need to ask themselves, “How do I direct this support into a specific action that will make the world a better place?” Swedler summarized the lesson to be taken from this panel best saying, “Social networks are the means to an end, they are only a tool and they are only as powerful as the people using them.”

Interactive 412

For your viewing pleasure Buster Keaton drops “Interactive 412″, enjoy.

Social Media Marketing: The New Black

This is my first year attending SXSWi so I’m getting really excited (as my Twitter feed keeps reminding me how close it’s getting!) I want to not only learn new things during my two-day experience but also be able to take some away some valuable knowledge to use apply to my job and career.

I am fairly new to the world of social media marketing….professionally that is.  People in the media, advertising and marketing world are finding themselves a little lost these days. Companies want to get on the “social media marketing” train but few know how to start or navigate through the sea of the web. Perhaps not overly “monotize” it but to at least have some value and exposure for the company.  The first biggest roadbump is understanding that this new form of communication is interactive – not like traditional media. It’s hard for companies to sort of “let go” of the reins and allow the communications to be more organic in nature and stray ever so slightly from the “corporate” guidelines. I’ve tried to pull some enlightment on the best way to approach this from various sources such as websites like The Best and Worst Social Media Marketing Practices  and and books like Social Media Marketing an Hour a Day. but I am always looking for new ideas and inspiration. That’s why I’m super excited about the book reading, Social Media Marketing, on March 14 from 10:30-11:00am with Alan Moore, founder of Smlxl.

Alan Moore, Smlxl

 

I’m also really looking forward to seeing Old Media Finds New Voice Through Twitter on Sunday, March 15th from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm. The conversation will talk about how Statesman.com and Austin360.com are using Twitter as an interactive, personality-driven tool to communicate with their readers. The Statesman has close to 5,000 followers on Twitter which showcases their ability to take risks and try new ways of providing news to their readers. The conversation will feature  Robert Quigley, the Internet Editor at the Statesman (who is a journalist and the main person behind the Twitter account @statesman) and Daniel Honigman  from Tribune Interactive.

SO much happening.. so little time!

After initially printing the SxSw Interactive panel schedule, I grabbed a highlighter and set off to narrow down my choices. After a few minutes it became apparent that much more of the page was hilighted than wasn’t. Still.. a select few were hilighted, underlined and circled.

One of those select few panels is “What Do I Do With Myself, Now that the Economy Has Collapsed?” which is being held Sunday, March 15th at 3:30. This panel holds obvious appeal to a student planning on entering the job market in the near future. Sitting on the panel is Andy Baio, a writer for Waxy.org, Lane Backer, president of Get Satisfaction Inc, Ben Brown of XOXCO, Jane Mount of 20×200, and Michael Sippy, VP of production at Six Apart Ltd. I am specfically interested to hear Michael Sippy speak. Six Apart is the world’s leading blogging software and services company. The company was founded in 2001 by two bloggers. I would be interested to hear both the personal and professional advice the panelists, who sat in our same boat not long ago, have to offer.

I’m also making a point of attending the panel “How Social Networks Are Killing the Revolution.” The title of the panel alone intrigues me. The panel will discuss how social media sites give the illusion of a “false majority-view mentality” and actually hinders accomplishing any real large scale change in the world. After being asked to join countless “1,000,000 strong for [insert random cause]” facebook groups, I would be very intersted to hear what actual change, if any, social media sites help ignite.

South By Morning Bits

Can you believe there are only 23 more days until SXSW Interactive? Believe me, we can’t, because the team at South By Texas State is in a frenzy to get you the information you need to stay SXSWi savvy.

OK, maybe we aren’t running in circles screaming for content, but we will start bringing you daily morning updates on tech news related to SXSWi in what we like to call South By Morning Bits. As the day rolls along, we will also give you a snapshot of what we at sxtxstate.com are looking forward to seeing at the conference. The Interactive schedule is finally up, so you can start googling that panelist, follow them on Twitter or take a gander at their Facebook page.

Onward with the news…

• Facebook has been in the headlines recently since they update their Terms of Service February 4, which has caused quite a stir among privacy advocates. However, Zuckerberg tried to calm fears by those saying Facebook owns your information now and forever in a blog post that attempts to clarify the changes. The issue of privacy will be one of the hot topics at SXSWi with panels focused on the topic, namely one on Saturday, March 14 titled Is Privacy Dead or Very Confused?. PC World: Facebook’s Zuckerberg Calms Privacy Fears Over TOS Change.
• Skype and Nokia are the latest pair to announce a partnership for mobile devices. Nokia’s N97, which is scheduled to be released later this year, will have the popular Internet calling software installed. This is just one of the many new developments in mobile technology, much like the recent Flash for mobile announcement  at the Mobile World Congress, that will be highlighted at SXSW. Rob Gonda of Sapient will discuss mobile technology at his panel March 14. ZDNET: Skype Strikes Deal With Nokia.