It has been well documented that online sharing has been exploding (Facebook making up 52.1% of sharing on the web in 2011, Tumblr and Twitter growing their volume of shares by 1299% and 576% respectively), but what has been harder to predict is what the future holds for sharing, and how that will impact consumers and brands alike. As social platforms evolve, and products are developed to be inherently social, questions abound about whether we will all embrace a world of ubiquitous sharing, or come to reject added noise and clutter.
Using an approach that mixes statistical analysis and industry insight, Beyond will be developing a study for Social Media Week that offers a unique and substantiated perspective on the changes that lie ahead for the nature of online sharing. This study will comprise a consumer survey about attitudes towards sharing currently and looking ahead, as well as the curation of perspectives from a variety of industry leaders on this topic.
The purpose of this event is to hold an engaged discussion about the findings of the study and expose different views about how the trends in sharing will shape the way brands reach their desired audiences. This event on the Future of Sharing is also being held at Social Media Week SF and London.
Areas of Focus for Study:
Where are consumers sharing and why?
What types of content are shared most?
How are consumer’s lifestyles and surrounding environments impacting sharing and their interactions with brands?
Why are consumers sharing certain content; ie. what are the current/future trends in what makes content share-worthy?
Speakers:
Jon Steinberg, President, BuzzFeed
Dave Altarescu, Head of US Consumer Marketing, Spotify
Ben Smith, Editor-in-Chief, BuzzFeed
Michael Lazerow, CEO, Buddy Media
Craig Hepburn, Global Director of Social Media, Nokia