2015 April Nairobi

Register here!

Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EAT)

iHub in Nairobi

Spectrogram

digital migration is bad for communities

disagree: the world is moving. we should just go with it.

we shouldn't stay in the dark.

people should only move on if they want to.

they'll be more connected. it's accessible even to grandma in rural areas. gives success to everyone.

economic prospect - we will be paying.

your online identity should be as anonymous as possible

agree: should be anonymous for safety purposes. you never know. there are bad people.

don't know why a social platform should have anonymity

your name, DOB, email means 3rd party sites already have a profile which they can create a marketing platform off of. targeted interferes with privacy

what has anonymity done to us? we want to be able to crack down on the people who are dangerous!

no reason for anyone to have my business.

should countries be allowed to create nuclear weapons?

recycling plant in Mumbassa. whole community just disappearing. nothing is happening. But if we make these weapons, how will we contain that?

there are enemies. Like al Shabab

but al Shabab isn't Somali. We don't know where to drop it!

Kenya needs to be a superpower

Safe Space

My real name, school, old friends - it's safe because people know who they're talking to.

Safe space as a WhatsApp channel which is closed. Don't know everyone, but know what's happening.

Creating tools, self expression. Talking about controversial issues. Speak to people you already know. Have so as many pseudonyms as possible - one for mfailiy, one for political, etc. That helps with safety so you don't rub shoulders in a bad ways.

but if you're anonymous, how do people find you?

if your content is good, people will follow.

How safe is a safe space?

woman posted something online, got sacked because her manager saw it.

Media comments - if you make a comment, 200 people descend on you.

Pseudonyms can help create that safe space. If you know me as someone kind, and I'm bashing the government, eyebrows raise. I'm this other person who is very calm, cool, and collected. Times I want to be more forthright, to say things... but I step back. Because this government, they'll come for me.

can limit the level of advocacy, the points you're trying to get across. If you hide behind a different name, you can't sign petitions.

you can come out as your avatar.

Ok to adopt more personalities?

yes. you know who you are. This account is for being a daughter, this one is for being a student...

Work on accommodating, instead of bashing. If someone says something you disagree with, to have a good conversation. Workshops around changing culture -- just because you disagree with my comment, we can still be civil. Self expression.

shifting culture takes time. how do you balance that in the meantime?

trying to accommodate other people's opinions. politicians blocking people they're supposed to be representing!

Disagree in a respectful way. We know how to react to things. Don't need to escalate - take some time off to release your tension. Self-regulation.

stepping away isn't always the solution, tho.

Should be guidelines for interactions.

open for criticism, you might get bashed, don't take it personally.

Channels/paths of expression as what creates safe space. Closed groups, mailing lists, etc.

then you're not expressing yourself freely, only expressing to those who already agree with you.

hard to find those groups if you're not already in those groups.

Cross-platform communication : how to do safety there?

Moderators for posts

if it's not relevant, it doesn't get posted.

sets expectations, rules of engagement

Saving face

having online debates means anyone can see it?

unlikely to admit defeat in an argument when there's an audience

either apologize or retract when insulting with an audience

people are much more careful online because of Kenyans On Twitter (#kot)

Should we quit using certain tools for certain ends?

openness of platform - we can see what people think and say! As opposed to parliament, where were don't know what people are saying.

tools are complimentary. take something actionabile offline.

Ownership of sides - like in sports - it's my team. Like I play with them. Take that into other spaces -- an argument, suddenly it's you. But there are no rules of engagement.

following what you see other people doing. see it as possible to yourself.

all these tools, we teach ourselves. no one is teaching us.

people are teaching you even before you join.

safe foyer

Admin taking people into a side bar conversation. Social, not just technical. Ensure people read, understand the information coming up.

most admins have viewpoints.

have community moderators.

but admins have responsibilities.

It's like a debate, how do ou know which side folk are on?

debate should only involve the relevant people

Threshold from foyer to public, if people aren't listening to issues.

Conversations about transparency in politics

need to translate between what happens online and offline.

conversations about Somali interactions on Twitter

Can we make a Storify on both the conversations that stuck to the issues, and a storify of where it was derailed?

Tools

Guides for tool makers

How to create a tool which helps support equity.