Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2012 about Sharing

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Saturday 10th March 2012

• Digital Vertigo

  by Andrew Keen

  On the Internet, sharing is a trap. Today's digital cult of the social - which encourages us all to share our ideas, our habits, our friends, even our possessions on the Internet - is an assault on the individual liberty of 21st century men and women. This talk - which draws off Keen's upcoming May 2012 book, "Digital Vertigo" (St Martin's Press) - exposes the illusions and delusions of social media ideologues and reveals the dangers of collective identity and behavior in our social media age. Just as Andrew Keen exposed the idiocy of the Web 2.0 revolution with his 2007 hit "Cult of the Amateur", this talk will reveal the idiocy of our Web 3.0 social revolution.

  • Identity
  • Sharing
  • Social Media

  At 9:30am to 9:50am, Saturday 10th March

  In Ballroom G, Austin Convention Center

  Coverage audio clip

Sunday 11th March 2012

• What Makes Asset Sharing Platforms Thrive?

  by Christopher Lukezic, Jamie Shea, Neal Gorenflo, Reiko Ann Miura-ko and Shelby Clark

  Zipcar and Netflix signaled its coming, and smart money bets on peer-to-peer platforms like Airbnb, RelayRides, Taskrabbit, ThredUp, and Zimride announced its arrival: the Sharing Economy is here.

  And while many Internet startups have emerged to help citizens share a wide variety of physical assets, only a small handful have gotten serious traction. For sharing entrepreneurs and investors the question remains: what qualities make sharing platforms thrive?

  This panel will explore this question with expert panelists, discussion with the audience, and research by Shareable Magazine and partners designed specifically to address this question. We'll focus on challenges unique to tech startups that help people share physical assets rather than startups in general. And look at the influence of a few key factors like reputation systems, community building, and asset categories on success.

  With an increasing crowded planet and dwindling natural resources, there may be no more important challenge than making sharing sexy, fun, and scalable. The panelists will share their insights to help the SXSW community succeed in the sharing economy.

  • Marketplaces
  • Sharing

  At 9:30am to 10:30am, Sunday 11th March

  In Salon D, Hilton Austin Downtown

  Coverage audio clip slide deck

Monday 12th March 2012

• Sharing: A Window into the Human Psyche

  by Kate Sirkin and Kurt Abrahamson

  Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, content might as well not exist if there's no one to acknowledge it. Every time you "Like" that cute cat video, tweet the latest controversial current event, or share an awesome deal with a friend, you validate the existence of that content. If it's shared, it matters, has value and is impactful. Luckily for content publishers – be it a media conglomerate or just that kid who wants you to share a YouTube video of him reenacting Britney's "Oops!…I Did It Again" – you're also engaging in a behavior that's hard-wired as a basic human impulse. We love to share, but we're a selective bunch.

  So how do web publishers compel us to share and what makes certain content irresistible? And how do brands tap into the immense power of sharing? We'll dive into examples of hyper-shareable content and examine how sharing provides insight into broader human behavioral patterns. Finally, we'll discuss how sharing is radically democratizing the way we think about spheres of influence. With sharing, everyone is important in the sharing economy. So instead of one person sharing with 1,000 friends, it’s more important that 1,000 people share just once. Virality doesn’t matter because everyone is an influencer.

  • Brands
  • Psychology
  • Publishing
  • Sharing
  • Social Media

  At 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Monday 12th March

  In Lone Star, Omni Downtown