Unlike Us #2

Understanding social media monopolies and their alternatives

Unlike Us 2 is the second event of artists, designers, scholars, activists and programmers who work on ‘alternatives in social media’. This international research network analyzes the economic and cultural aspects of dominant social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Through workshops, conferences, online dialogues and publications the Unlike Us network promotes the development of alternative, decentralized social media software.

Unlike Us 2 will focus on the concept of free exchange and the commercial exploitation of online social relationships which lie at the heart of contemporary capitalism. In addition to speakers addressing this theme a range of alternative social media projects will be showcased. Facebook makes everyone believe There Is No Alternative, but Unlike Us dares to differ.

[8 March] Showcasing alternatives in social media: There is currently a multitude of decentralized social network software in the making which allows users greater autonomy to define with whom to share their data. Visit Unlike Us 2 and discover the latest alternatives, from Lorea, Secushare, Thimbl, Diaspora, Crabgrass, Social Swarm to Freedombox and more. The best way to undermine platform monopolies is to support alternative open source/free software. Get out of the Cloud, take control of your realm and install your own social network locally. Come along to find out more!

[9-10 March] Conference themes: Social what? Defining the Social, Artistic Responses to Social Media, The Private in the Public, Software Matters, Pitfalls of Building Social Media Alternatives, Social Media Activism and the Critique of Liberation Technology.

Confirmed speakers and presenters: David M. Berry (UK), Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius (NL), Philipp Budka (AT), Thomas Chenesau (FR), Jodi Dean (USA), Carolin Gerlitz (UK), Seda Guerses (TR/BE), Spideralex (ES), Anne Helmond (NL), Eva Illouz (IL), Walter Langelaar (NL), Ganaele Langlois (CA), Carlo v. Loesch/lynx (DE), Caroline Nevejan (NL), Arnold Roosendaal (NL), Eleanor Saitta (USA), Max Schrems (AT), Elijah Sparrow (USA) and James Vasile (USA).

More information and tickets (students get a 50% discount): http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/unlikeus/2-amsterdam/