Social media technology could be a powerful tool to bring people together... or a powerful tool to isolate us and bring us into conflict. Using case studies, including the problem of hate speech in Myanmar, this talk examines the potentials and pitfalls of new media and peacebuilding.

1. Technology for Peace – Potential, not Inevitable
Ethan Zuckerman (@ethanz) | Center for Civic Media, MIT | April 6, 2014

6. Nay Phone Latt

11. Paul Butler, 2010

13. homophily
!
!
Flickr photo by Cobalt123

14. echo
chambers
!
!
“Handphone Table” by Laurie Anderson

15. technology is political

16. Left to our own devices,!
we tend towards homophily.!
!
Homophily leads to echo chambers,!
which lead to extreme positions.!
!
Technology, by itself, !
does not bring people together. !
It may do the opposite.

18. We can use technology to better understand!
our biases and blind spots, !
and to address them.

19. globe.mediameter.org

21. worldaccordingto.mediameter.org

23. terra-incognita.co

24. whatwewatch.mediameter.org

25. We can use technology to create opportunities!
for people to come together.

27. wearehappyfrom.com

28. Niamey, Niger

29. Beijing, China

30. Georemix is both a tour of the world and a way of
asserting yourself as part of a global phenomenon…!
!
…and it could be more.

31. Toliara, Madagascar

32. globalvoicesonline.org

35. meedan.org

37. We can use technology to confront!
those working against peace.

40. Susan Benesch
Umati (*iHub research)

42. Panzagar!
“Flower Speech”

45. There are no guarantees that technology!
will bring people together.!
!
People make technology.!
It’s our responsibility to use it for peace.

46. thanks!!
!
@ethanz!
ethanz@mit.edu