The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is over and surely left very good impressions to everyone. The subjects discussed varied from the future of mobile technology to water shortage and even a new kind of collaborative leadership and a new form of capitalism. All very interesting and intriguing points for the improvement of the world. This year, as most of you remember, the davos question was also hosted in youtube.

Davos on YouTube

The davos youtube channel reached 1,593 subscribers and 349,617 viewers, getting the 3rd place of the most subscribed channel this month. The purpose of the davos youtube channel was to get the voice of the public out to the economic leaders. In fact the concept of the channel got so popular, that attracted celebrities and leaders (from Bono to Tony Blair) to submit their own proposals. So google’s idea of this channel worked out pretty well.

The illusion of interaction

I have an objection here, an objection supported when the davos channel was first launched. The whole concept was to promote the views and ideas of the public; to get the word out to the economic leaders, who probably do not have much connection with the greater public.
I followed the daily davos blog with the hope of finding a single mention of a youtube video from a ‘normal’ user. I didn’t find any.
Did you? Were all submissions in the davos channel so crappy, is the public so stupid?
I find it hard to believe.
The only attempt for interaction was made by Robert Scoble, who streamed live video to his readers and asked the questions that came directly to his mobile phone (I suppose via twitter; the single reason to stay on twitter).

I’m expressing my skepticism here not generally against the Davos question, but specifically against the effort of the davos youtube channel. I get the impression, that it was just a PR move.

What do you think? How did you find the development of the davos discussion and its interactive perspective?