As you might remember, I gave a presentation on Social Media 101 last week at the University for Applied Arts in Vienna. Social Media is still very unknown territory in Austria. First of all, it is usually called Web 2.0, which I think doesn’t really describe the underlying spirit of Social Media – social interaction in and through online media. But even when using the term web 2.0, people still have a very vague or no concept of what it means and encompasses. I decided that I was going to invite a group of friends, family and business associates to listen to my introductory rant and have a discussion afterwards. Most of them invited more people, which was great, because I had a very mixed audience.

My talk was well received, and inspired some good questions. People understood that Social Media was primarily a new means to communicate and connect with people all over the globe. They also started to grasp the fact that even though it might not yet be mainstream to use for example YouTube or networks like Facebook for everyone, more and more people are starting to use these platforms for their communication in one way or another.

Of course there were a lot of questions regarding transparency, and a debate on whether or not that was a good thing or a bad thing. The outcome was that this very much depends on the values and intentions of the person or organization initiating the dialogue, but most people agreed that facilitating transparency is not only necessary, but a desirable agenda.

The other issue that got people scared thinking were fake blogs or messages: how can we tell that the people creating content are really who they say they are? How can we figure out if for example comments on a blog or in a forum are written by real people or  are a case of astroturfing? The answer is, that we can never be sure, but that we cannot always expect the worst in people. And we ourselves have to strive to be truthful and authentic in both our online and offline communication. And that experience has shown, that astroturfing or flogs are very often revealed as what they are.

The tenor that evening was that there is a change happening in societies, which enables more and more people to participate in Social Media. A number of people who were there that night have contacted me afterwards for one on one meetings which I am very much looking forward to. I hope to find out which Social Media they have looked at and started using since my presentation, and if they can see a change in their communication and media reception already. I will keep you updated.

Next time on Social Media in Vienna Part 2 (Oh no, not another Mini-series!): my impressions of a panel discussion I attended in Vienna on Women and Web 2.0.