Social Media Meetups Aren't Happening in Russia
Check out the map of these Social Media Meetups and you'll notice something quite peculiar - Russia and a huge part of Asia aren't having any of it. Sure it's more popular in huge technology sectors, but that caught my eye as an idealist who believes social media is supposed to connect everyone. I feel like these social media meetups shouldn't be excluding what looks like a giant piece of the entire world open to new communities.
If you haven't been to one of these social media meetups let me warn you that they are definitely filled with fluff. Depending on where you go and who you meet it might just end up being someone trying to sell a book or a lecture series. The truth is you're going to exchange ideas; not digest others. Find one in your local community and make sure people exchange why they are there. Then exchange your experiences.
I've been to plenty in the New York area and social media meetups either are all suits trying to figure out what it is or players in the space that want to be on the pulse of what is next. Granted the networking aspects are always a bonus, but sometimes it's just not all it is cracked up to be.