When I was in Portugal, I was asked to interview with Publico with Karla Pequenino. I wasn’t sure what we were going to talk about. But at the time, it turned out to be a precursor to something that wouldn’t just be near and dear to me, but to everyone around the world. The topic was digital activism vs. social slactivism aka “look at me! I care about this cause…but, I also care about views and likes!” The story was…
There Isn’t an App for That: The Formula for Productivity, Happiness and Creativity Starts Within
We didn’t lose our ability to focus or be creative, we were programmed away from it, toward a direction where our attention is heavily monetized. It’s by design. The challenge is two fold. For those who remember life before smartphones and social media, memories serve as a benchmark for comparison. We tend to remember our analog lives and activities with a sense of nostalgia and also disbelief. After all, we’ve since learned to become digital-first in most things we do…
Social Media is a Human Network: We Have the Power of Choice in What We Consume, What We Share and Who We Engage
The good thing about social media, is that it gave us a voice. The bad thing about it, is that it gave us a voice. The path to saving it, making it valuable to not only ourselves, but for society at large, is in our control. The question is, what are you going to do differently moving forward? They say hindsight is 20/20. At some point, we will look at everything, recognize our missteps and ask, “why didn’t we see…
Digital Detox is not the Long-Term Answer to the Effects of Digital Distractions and Addiction
I’ve known Monty Hamilton for the better part of 10 years. He was the architect of one of my favorite conferences, The Australian Digital Summit in Sydney and Melbourne. He also currently advises and hosts the incredible Pivot conference in Geelong. I’ve had the privilege of keynoting both. After not seeing Monty for quite some time, I was lucky enough to catch up with him on a couple of back-to-back occasions in 2019…SXSW in Austin and twice in Silicon Valley…
Bullying, Hate, Conspiracies, Fake News, Negatively Impacts User Experiences and Advertising Value
“Social media has made too many of us comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the mouth for it.” – Ice T In real life… Free speech is not free from consequence. Spreading misinformation whether you aim to sow discord or because you actually believe it, is not free from consequence. Exchanging conflict for views, popularity and financial gain is not free from consequence. Inflicting emotional, psychological or emotional pain and aguish on another human being for any…
![Ask Me Anything: A Very Personal Reddit AMA to Celebrate the Release of Lifescale [Full Transcript]](https://briansolis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/58383328_10156469766012887_7220431170989719552_n.jpg)
Ask Me Anything: A Very Personal Reddit AMA to Celebrate the Release of Lifescale [Full Transcript]
It’s been years since I last hosted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit. With the release of Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive and Happy Life, it was time to change that. On May 2nd 2019, I took to Reddit once again for the first in a two-part series. The first part is here if you’d like to ask your question on the official AMA page. I also included the conversation as of May 5th to share…
The Content Moderation Imperative: How AI and Humans Will Make Social Media and Gaming Better for the World
I had the privilege of participating in an important conversation about the state and future of social media and gaming and the need to protect users from harmful content and engagement. Joining me in that conversation was Chris Priebe, CEO & founder of Two Hat Security and Stewart Rogers of VentureBeat. You can listen to it (and I encourage you to do so) here. Leading up to the discussion, I spoke with VentureBeat on the subject and the critical need for intelligent…
Is Social Media and Gaming Safe? Why Intelligent Content Moderation is the Next Competitive Advantage
I have two small children who, from time-to-time, get to watch YouTube Kids. Even with all of the filters and safety triggers engaged, there are still ways in which those with sinister intent can introduce dangerous content packaged in seemingly harmless videos. Recently, children all over the world were subjected to their favorite Disney characters behaving poorly and in some cases, dangerously, in what’s now referred to as “Elsagate” on YouTube. In February 2019, kids were also trolled by evildoers…
The Past, Present and Future of Social Media – How We Fell to the Dark Side and Why the Force is with Us
It was 2017 when I failed to deliver what would have been my eighth book. At the time, I was approaching the two year anniversary of the release of my previous work, X: The Experience When Business Meets Design. I was feeling the pressure to deliver. At the same time, my goal was to amplify my reach as an author, speaker and also as an authentic voice in a sea rife with other brilliant minds and more so, exceptional marketers. But,…
My SXSW 2019 Schedule + The Official Debut of Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive and Happy Life
Are you going to SXSW 2019? Fancy that! I am too. It’s been almost three-and-a-half years since my last book, X: The Experience When Business Meets Design. I’m so happy (and relieved) to share that I’m launching my next book at SXSW! Cue the trumpets! Introducing, Lifescale: How to Live a More Creative, Productive and Happy Life. While it’s my eighth book, it’s my first personal venture. I would love to share it with you in Austin if your schedule…
