Session: Digital Panel Discussion: Are We Addicted To The Algorithm?

Bezos, Zuck, Musk and the bloke from Google all sat in the front row of Trump’s inauguration.

As a sector we’re reliant on their platforms and products to drive public engagement with our work.

But let’s be honest, even pre-Trump these platforms were problematic, but as a sector we’ve become dependent on them and don’t seem to have a plan B.

Should we be worried, what actions should we take, how do we square the ethical circle?

In this session we’ll hear from a panel of digital experts with a wide range of views on how we should engage with these platforms.

Panel Chair, Jean O'Brien (Digital Charity Lab), Panelists, Mae Dobbs (Electica), Liz Carolan (ICCL), Clare O'Donoghue Velikić (ODV Digital) and Jonathan Nolan (Concern Worldwide)

Topic Guide

• How is the digital / social space likely to develop / change in the aftermath of the new digital order?
• Should we be there?
• What are our red lines, should we have any?
• What’s an ethical way to use Meta/Twitter etc
• Should charities advertise on platforms with poor records on misinformation, hate speech, or data privacy?
• Is it ethical for charities to use behavioural targeting, income profiling, or lookalike audiences?
• Are there alternative digital strategies beyond paid ads?

Clare O’Donoghue Velikić

Clare O’Donoghue Velikić is a digital consultant and strategist for the progressive campaigning sector. She is the Founder and Director of ODV Digital, which advises and supports political parties, semi-states and non-profits across Europe, including Ireland, the UK, Germany, Slovenia and Serbia, and the United States. With a strong focus on Paid Social for campaigning, ODV Digital has helped to win elections and referenda around the world, achieved ambitious performance targets across lead generation and donor acquisition, and helped to re-shape campaigns and organisations through digital auditing, strategy and transformation.

Clare previously spent nine years at Facebook, where she founded and led the Politics and Government marketing team for Europe, Middle East and Africa. She started her digital marketing career at Google, and also served two years with the OSCE, monitoring democratisation and human rights, as well as 2+ years volunteering with grassroots non-profit orgs in Kosovo, Peru and Thailand. She divides her time between Dublin and Belgrade, together with her husband, two children and Lulu the cat.