Can Social Media Change Global Consciousness?

Social media continues to affect change at an ever increasing rate. Schools are built, water wells are dug, children are fed, and medicine saves lives – all because someone used social media to get the word out, raise money, and ultimately make a difference.

2010 South by Southwest Panel Proposed

The Interactive side of the South by Southwest Conference, held each March in Austin, continues to grow in both size and influence.  If you’re into social media, the Interactive Track is the place to be.

The 2009 conference was a non-stop educational experience, and while every session provided value, the panels that influenced me most were those associated with nonprofit organizations.

Numerous discussions, both during the sessions and afterward in the bars, nightclubs and lounges, drilled deeper into the topic of how nonprofits were utilizing social media tools (Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) to build their community and raise funds.

Social Media for Social Good was a phrase I heard many times, even serving as the title of a lunch panel co-hosted by Jeff Pulver and Porter Novelli with panelists Beth Kanter, David Armano, Scott Goodstein, Stacey Monk, James Young & Randi Zuckerberg. I was impressed by that fact that social media was being used to help millions of people around the world.

But in the ensuing months I kept wondering if it was simply a matter of treating the symptom, instead of finding the cure. Was social media actually changing the way people think and act?

When the email arrived, soliciting panel ideas for SXSW 2010, I knew it was time to seek an answer to the question that had been haunting me: Can Social Media Change Global Consciousness?

The Moderator

It would be nice to say that I wanted to moderate this panel because I’m the leader, or most talented, or the smartest. But the fact is, everyone on this panel can run social media circles around me, so it only made sense that I would ask the questions, then get out of the way and let the experts answer.

• Mark Lovett – Global Patriot – @GlobalPatriot

The Panel

There is no requirement to choose panel members at the time of proposal, but in this case the following names came to me instantly. I’ve seen their work, know their reputation, and felt they would provide a magical mix of opinions, thoughts and insights.

To be honest, when I contacted this esteemed list I figured I’d be lucky to get half of them to sign on. (I’m still in shock that they all said yes and I’m now quite certain they think I’m someone else.)

• Amy Sample Ward - NetSquared – @AmyRSWard
• Danielle Brigida – National Wildlife Federation – @StarFocus
• Danny Brown – 12for12k Challenge – @DannyBrown
• John Haydon – John Haydon – @JohnHaydon
• Rob Reed – Max Gladwell – @MaxGladwell
• Stacey Monk – Epic Change – @StaceyMonk

Your Vote

This is where you come in. One of the factors in determining which panels are chosen involves how many votes each proposal gets from the public at large. So head over to the Panel Picker to find out more about this proposal, and if you agree that this is a worthy question to bring up at SXSW 2010, give us a Thumbs Up! (Please note, as in real life, you do have to register to vote).

Voting is open till September 4th – we’d love to see you in Austin, and your vote would mean a lot!

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