In this recorded Community of Practice session held on August 17, 2023, our expert guest speaker, Ben Shaw, shares his expertise on the challenges of using digital tools to engage with communities. Ben, a Masters student researching the intersection of mental health, technology, and social connection, brings a wealth of experience in building and managing digital products and services in the not-for-profit, government, and "for purpose" sectors.
During the session, Ben delves into the current digital landscape, highlighting the overwhelming dominance of a few massive social media platforms, overshadowing countless hyper-niche chat groups and communities. He acknowledges the difficulty in establishing effective and sustainable communication channels with clients and communities within this complex environment. While Ben doesn't possess a one-size-fits-all solution, he shares cautionary tales and valuable principles to consider and ignites a thought-provoking discussion on strategies for reaching the right audience and why simply "building an app" is rarely the answer.
