Why Cambridge Analytica are showing us up
Summary:
Self-proclaimed behaviour change experts like Cambridge Analytica are showing us up the SBCC sector so what can we learn from them? The 2016 US election was a wake-up call as to the unprecedented national social influence of organisations doing exactly the work were discussing at this summit identifying audience, generating evidence, developing communications, monitoring impact. Theyre unlikely to be here in Morocco, but theyre beating us at our own game.
Background/Objectives:
This talk aims to sound out the walls of the echo chamber which a global SBCC summit risks becoming. Presented by a young (just! Age 28) SBCC practitioner, the talk aims to be productively challenging to propose some uncomfortable truths, which can inform how practitioners work. The ideas Ill present are based on a literature review of recent papers and articles on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, as well as conversations with sector specialists on the topic of strategic communications, election influence, and behaviour change at the nexus of public and private interests.
Description of the Big Idea/Experience/Innovation and Its Importance to the SBCC Field:
Five key lessons from Cambridge Analytica a how-to in changing behaviour. They will be framed in a provocative way to pique interest (in good communications practice!) but will carry practical, thoughtful learning, These are to be defined during research over the coming months, but are likely to include:
I firmly believe this is an important wake-up call for the sector, and a valuable opportunity to demystify and learn from Cambridge Analyticas historically perhaps devastatingly successful SBCC methods.
Abstract submitted by:
Katie Bartholomew - Kantar
Self-proclaimed behaviour change experts like Cambridge Analytica are showing us up the SBCC sector so what can we learn from them? The 2016 US election was a wake-up call as to the unprecedented national social influence of organisations doing exactly the work were discussing at this summit identifying audience, generating evidence, developing communications, monitoring impact. Theyre unlikely to be here in Morocco, but theyre beating us at our own game.
Background/Objectives:
This talk aims to sound out the walls of the echo chamber which a global SBCC summit risks becoming. Presented by a young (just! Age 28) SBCC practitioner, the talk aims to be productively challenging to propose some uncomfortable truths, which can inform how practitioners work. The ideas Ill present are based on a literature review of recent papers and articles on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, as well as conversations with sector specialists on the topic of strategic communications, election influence, and behaviour change at the nexus of public and private interests.
Description of the Big Idea/Experience/Innovation and Its Importance to the SBCC Field:
Five key lessons from Cambridge Analytica a how-to in changing behaviour. They will be framed in a provocative way to pique interest (in good communications practice!) but will carry practical, thoughtful learning, These are to be defined during research over the coming months, but are likely to include:
- Identifying change makers with uncompromising precision
- Looking at big data through the microscope
- Being unhindered by scruples
I firmly believe this is an important wake-up call for the sector, and a valuable opportunity to demystify and learn from Cambridge Analyticas historically perhaps devastatingly successful SBCC methods.
Abstract submitted by:
Katie Bartholomew - Kantar
Source
Approved abstract for the postponed 2020 SBCC Summit in Marrakech, Morocco. Provided by the International Steering Committee for the Summit. Image credit: Jwslubbock via Wikimedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license