The internet has historically been seen as suited to the development of online communities, but a leading social media expert is questioning the degree of \u2018real\u2019 online community interaction today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Professor Matthew Allen, Head of Department of Internet Studies at Curtin University, will address online community managers from across the country at the swarm <\/em>Conference in Melbourne on Thursday 13 September about the changing nature of online community interaction.<\/p>\n Professor Allen said online communities have changed substantially in the past 20 years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last two decades have seen the emergence of a different kind of engagement between individual and collective users and building a sense of \u2018community\u2019 is now a more uncertain outcome,\u201d Professor Allen said.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunities online used to have very close bonds between members and were similar to the close-knit communities found in physical space. Now, interactions between people through online social networks tend to be more individual and less collective.<\/p>\n \u201cCommunities with strong bonds are hard to find. If we want to create social movements to change and improve our world we actually need to work harder than ever to create these movements online.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Allen will speak about the differences and connections between communities and networks, media and movements, and individual and group uses of the internet.<\/p>\n swarm <\/em>is Australia\u2019s only online community management conference, and it is aimed at connecting professional community managers and facilitating the sharing of resources, best practice, information and ideas.<\/p>\n Professor Allen has been active in research and education for more than a decade. He has been President of the International Association of Internet Researchers, and is an advocate for the importance of social and cultural applications of new network technologies.<\/p>\n Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n Professor Matthew Allen, Curtin Head of Department of Internet Studies Venessa Paech, Co-Founder and Chair swarm <\/em>– Australia’s Online Community Management Conference <\/strong> Kate Selth, Public Relations, Curtin University<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Tel: (08) 9266 3511, Email: M.Allen@exchange.curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTel: 0435 217 315, web: www.swarmconference.com.au<\/a>, Twitter: @swarmconf or @venessapaech<\/p>\n
\nTel: 08 9266 3353, Email: kate.selth@curtin.edu.au<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n