Unlike Us 2: Understanding Social Media Monopolies and their  
Alternatives

March 8-10, 2012 Amsterdam (NL)

Conference & Showcases

Organized by the Institute of Network Cultures (HvA) in cooperation  
with the Cyprus University of Technology

Date: March 8-10, 2012 <x-apple-data-detectors://9>

Location: TrouwAmsterdam, Wibautstraat 127, Amsterdam
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Program / Registration / Practical info:http://networkcultures.org/unlikeus

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, belly social media. In addition  
to speakers addressing thishis 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 mMedia: 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  wildly latest  
alternatives, from Lorea - Spideralex (ES), Secusharee - Carlo v.  
Loesch/lynX (DE), Thimbl, Diaspora, Crabgrass, - Elijah Sparrow (USA)  
Social Swarm to and Freedombox and more? James Vasile (USA). 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, 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).