Welcome to the FutureConnect Forum on Social Networking and AIDS Communication!

In under five years, the growth of global platforms such as Facebook or Orkut and national or regional sites such as Renren and Ibibo has been explosive. This presents potential opportunities and risks for those working in HIV/AIDS who are exploring how to maximize these social networking services.

aids2031 and theCommunication for Social Change Consortium (CfSC) invite you to join this forum, which will last for 6 weeks (April 26-June 4). This discussion seeks to to uncover attitudes, values and beliefs about social networking and how it can influence communication about HIV/AIDS.

The forum aims to

1. Identify examples of good practice from different parts of the world
2. Explore issues of trust since people are turning more to social networks of friends and associates they trust for information, data and help
3. Identify good practice in personalised support services offered through online platforms

The Future Connect forum is part of the ongoing work of the Communication Working Group of the aids2031 initiative, a collaboration of various individuals and institutions who are looking a the long-term management of AIDS. CfSC leads this group, with the active involvement of 20 development and communication professionals from around the world.

The comments and results will be summarized every few days on the CfSC website and at the end of the conversation on the aids2031 website . We hope that you will participate during the coming weeks. Pete Cranston in the UK, Ann Kao in Thailand and Tim Davies in the UK will moderate this forum. If you have questions about this forum or about aids2031 or the CFSC Consortium, please email Lourdes Caballero of the CFSC Consortium on lcaballero@cfsc.org