Guardian #Activate2010

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to attend The Guardian’sAcvtivate2010 Summit, which is dedicated to looking at how the Internet is changing the world. The focus seemed to be very much on global good. Props need to go to Robin Hough, Head of Media Events and his team for packing in some of the most fascinating and inspiring speakers into a single day. Although it was fairly exhausting, it was worth being exhausted for.

Here are a few themes that stood out for me.

Do what you’re passionate about and the money will come naturally – This sentiment was most convincingly posited by Julie Meyer, CEO of Ariadne Capital but the living embodiment of this was Jamal Edwards of SBTV who started a YouTube channel devoted to urban culture after receiving a video camera for Christmas when he was 17. Now at the grand old age of 19 he’s turning down TV spots from MTV and others because he wants to stick with the Internet and the ad revenue he receives for his content on YouTube. Jamal didn’t start by wondering how he was going to make money out of it, he simply loves creating content for people to enjoy. Julie’s main point was “Don’t try and be the next Google, just do what you’re good at”. This might seem common sense to most but to really put your effort where your passion is isn’t easy for everyone.

Money fuels the engine of social good – Many agreed on the fact that ideas are useless without actions and actions cost money, therefore ideas need to make money. Simple really, but there was a sense that philanthropy isn’t going to save the world alone. A far more sustainable approach is to create businesses that help society but pay for themselves while they’re doing it. Sustainability in every sense. We can’t rely on generosity alone.

Don’t assume anything about those in need – Ethan Zuckerman from Global Voices told us about 1million shirts, an utterly terrible idea for social good that was almost set to destabilise the second-hand clothes trading market. Through some harsh exchanges, the organiser was introduced by Teddy Ruge, a prominent blogger and social entrepreneur in Uganda. After a rocky start they are starting to collaborate on something that makes much more sense. This is really a larger point about collaboration, co-creation and empathy being vital aspects of creation of solutions for those in need. We need to stop trying to fix problems that don’t exist.

The web is increasing our ability to empathise – Ethan proposed that just as transport made the world feel smaller, the Internet is making us cosy up close. And when people begin talking they start to understand one another better.

We’re still leaving people behind – Britain’s Digital Champion Martha Lane-Fox was driving home the inclusion agenda on various panels. Right now, in the UK there are 10m people that have never used the Internet. The people that can benefit most from the Internet are still missing out. One of the most poignant quotes was supplied by Martha regarding her experience when introducing someone to the web for the first time – “I didn’t realise I had such an enquiring mind”. See Martha’s Race Online 2012 project for more on this.

Talkers v.s. Doers – Doers WIN. Well, 9/10 times they fail, but failing is winning right?

Mobile technology is leapfrogging in the developing world – Georgia Arnold from MTV and Jan Chipchase from Frog Design (formerly of Nokia) both touched on the way in which mobile phones have overtaken other technologies such as TVs and PCs and err… indoor toilets* in developing countries and therefore mobile, SMS and WAP all present an enormous amount of potential. But again, Jan was keen to stress the problem of exclusion.

Some priceless soundbites from the day:

• “If I could download a handbag, I would” Bridget Minamore, contributor to Livity
• “We learn by copying, so why is it illegal?” Peter Sunde, Flattr (formerly Pirate Bay)
• “The music industry isn’t in a bad place, it’s thriving, it’s the record industry that is suffering” Peter Sunde
• “We have free art galleries but people still pay millions for art at Christies” Harriet Thomas, iCaring

This is a top-line for now, I will hopefully break out some of the more interesting talks and do full posts on them, so you know, stay tuned.

This event and its predecessor has been such a success that they will be taking it to the US in December and are considering extending it to two days next year. I heartily recommend it.

*Georgia Arnold claimed that 70% of young Kenyans use social media, 80% have mobile phones – only 53% have an indoor toilet. Personally, if I lived in a small, very hot house I probably wouldn’t want an indoor toilet either.