OtherThanThat

Hi. My name is Cathy, and I’m addicted to social media.

I mean, I’m empowered by it.

Oh wait, it’s both.

Truth is that the sword of these technology platforms and applications very much cuts both ways and the very things that are changing our world for the better, engaging and empowering people of all kinds, also can be the very knife to rend the social fabric of our society.

Okay, maybe that’s a touch extreme, but social media addition is a very real phenomenon. On this episode of Social Media Hour I’ll be joined by a trio of guests, each of whom addresses an angle on these topics. Alec Howe of BreakingTrends.com will talk about their just launched research project into how social media is impacting our world. Andrew Eisner of Retrevo will share his company’s latest report that examines social media addiction. Finally Nadia Tareen of Girls Learn International joins the program to share the learnings from her ongoing video series (part 2 of 4 recently released) that highlights the rise of social media and the role that young women are playing in that growth.

THE SHOW:
Miss the original airing of the show? Never fear. You can check out the entire episode by clicking on this link.

THE GUESTS:
Alec Howe is Founder and Managing Director of Breaking Trends in the Global Village, the new global trends intelligence unit that offers a unique and independent perspective on emerging socio-cultural, consumer and technological developments around the world. Prior to setting up Breaking Trends in 2002, Alec worked as an independent media and communications strategist for clients including BBC News & Current Affairs, BBC Policy and Planning, Channel 4, ITV News, Age Concern, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Home Office. He is also Chairman of Falling Wide, a London-based dance umbrella that pioneers innovation in contemporary dance, and lives in London with Vicki McIvor, a media and literary agent, and his three-year old daughter Lara.

Andrew Eisner is Retrevo’s Director of Community and Content and resident hard core gadget enthusiast. Andrew comes to Retrevo from the world of computer journalism. As Executive Producer at PC World Magazine, he helped create and grow an award winning website. His first project at IDG was an ecommerce web site called WebShopper where he was Director of Content and General Manager. Andrew is well versed in technology products having helped establish and run Ziff Davis’ premiere test lab which was actually his way of getting to play with the latest high tech gear. He has worked in and out of publishing and has held marketing and technical positions at many high tech companies in Silicon Valley. When he’s not pouring over gadget specs, he can be spotted riding his motorcycle around Bay Area back roads or hiking in the hills while listening to NPR podcasts on his iPod.

Nadia Tareen is in eleventh grade and attends the Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She is the President of her all-girls school’s chapter of Girls Learn International, which she began three years ago. Her favorite part about Girls Learn International is advocating for human rights and communicating with the girls in her chapter’s partner school in rural Pakistan. Nadia created a documentary video about her visit to her partner school in December 2008, and this experience has encouraged her to participate in a video project about girls and social media for the Women’s Media Center. Nadia has spoken on behalf of Girls Learn International on local television shows, at schools in her community, at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools conference and at the Women’s Studies Conference at Southern Connecticut State University. She is a member of her school’s cross-country, track, debate and Harvard Model Congress teams, and her favorite class is history. Nadia is interested in a career in civil rights law. She enjoys painting, running, swimming, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.