Rome’s expat foreigners have not lost their love of virtual chatting on coming abroad, with online international communities growing. So where are the opportunities in amongst the web-junk and what are the advantages of making connections the virtual way?
Italy on Facebook
Tech-trend monitors say that Italy is lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of time spent on the internet, with just 32 percent of the population logging on for just two hours a week on average, preferring to spend more time with friends and family in the old-fashioned way.
Social networking sites such as Facebook however have not been without some impact, particularly with regard to making a statement, with hundreds registered in groups for/against mayor Gianni Alemanno, 22,000+ petitioning that “no one touches” mafia-threatened writer Roberto Saviano and 100,000 registered in “support of institutions and research” in opposition to recent education spending cuts. But there is little evidence of translation into real-life action or events and such impassioned causes have even been overtaken by the fan group of Pan di Stelle biscuits, which stands at 121,000 members.
Disillusionment?
One event that did aim to put life into clicks was Mega Facebook party Roma, a city-organised event that has taken place all over the world, putting Facebook users in face-to-face contact at a giant party. Its very concept suggests that many friendships made on the site normally never progress beyond the screen, even though many users would seemingly like them to. Rome’s party, held at Zero Space Village in October, was attended by some 3,000 people and reported on by Italian daily La Repubblica (’Pianeta Facebook tra vero e virtuale‘, 12 October 2008). Some enjoyed the novelty of diversity, like a 50 year old mother who was able to socialise with her son’s classmates. “The site gives you the opportunity to choose who you interact with and then the party helps you to socialise. In Rome it’s difficult to make new friends”, said Tiziana, 39, a graphic designer. Others were disappointed, finding it difficult to track down faces, like one 31-old office worker, “I have 50 friends on Facebook but I haven’t met even one. In the photos everyone is fascinating but I haven’t even seen one good looking man here.”
Behind the scenes
Via Facebook, we contacted some of the creators of several online communities – designed to promote events in Rome or simply to share Rome-based interests – to find out what happens on international Facebook groups:
Charles Collins (Global Pub quiz Rome), Pub Quiz at the Scholar’s Lounge and Abbey Theatre pubs. Quizzes are held three times a month with prizes of €400 cash, bottles of whisky and mini beer kegs.
Patrizia di Gregorio (Expats living in Rome by Patrizia), Expat group, generally aged 25 or over that meets twice weekly for aperitivo on Tuesday and dancing at weekends. Over 600 members.
Natasha Valentina (Friends in Rome),“International group who meet weekly, with over 300 members. Recent events include a guided Caravaggio tour, Thanksgiving dinner and a Tiramisu party.
Chris Carriero (You know you have lived in Italy when.. .), To share experiences about the things about Italy that you love or hate.
Andrea Presutto (In love with Rome) For anyone who lives, works or studies in Rome or just misses the Roman way of life. Recent events include a guided visit to the Sancta Sanctorum, the private chapel of the Popes in San Giovanni.
Why did you start your Facebook group?
Charles: “Originally, the group was meant to create a sense of “community” for people who regularly played the Pub Quiz. But in reality, people don’t seem to use Facebook groups for ongoing interaction. It was actually quite dormant for a long while, until I decided to see if I could promote the quiz more…although most of the members of the group have never played (nor could the pubs hold them if they all showed up!)”
Natasha: “It’s sometimes hard for tourists and expats to know the best places to go on a Friday night, or what activities to pursue during the weekend. Our events tend to be at cool locales that show off the best of our city and the parties we put on bring together the diversity in our group and create something of a cultural-fusion.”
Chris: “…Because of the little details that people take with them from Italy after living there. I lived there for 10 years and had a lot of memories of yelling, pasta, no line etiquette and rouge motorini. I also use it as a marketing research tool for iKangaroo (a website targeting budget independent travellers) to identify any trends and attitudes that might
show up through the posts or pics. I post things every now and again, but the point was to start the thread and see where it goes.”
Andrea: “To promote Rome and its beauty and at the same time to keep in touch with all those people from all over the world that for different reasons like Rome and the Roman way of life”
What are the advantages of online social networking?
Patrizia: “We try to help one another in house searching, jobs, and networking. Newcomers send me messages and I try to set them up with a place to live because I have many resources. Of course it’s great that news gets around, but lately my inbox has been full of emails, and I like to answer each one of them- ignoring my friends and family. This is why I have stressed to the group to put information up on the wall because up till now I have been the information center!”
Chris: “As a research tool and for keeping in touch it is fantastic, they have done a great job of keeping out spam. Also, I use it the same as you have used it to contact me which is a great and efficient tool that did not exist 2 years ago.”
Andrea: “Facebook has reduced the distances between people and gives you the opportunity to keep in touch. It improves social skills because you need to make an effort to interact with your friends and with all those people that contact you for different reasons.”
Any problems?
Charles: “Facebook is problematic for event organizing in many respects. People will often hit “attending” on anything that catches their eye, so I do have to spend time trying to figure out who is really showing up, since both bars hosting the quizzes have limited capacity.”
Patrizia: “Once a group like ‘Expats living in Rome’ gets attention it’s also a target. I get many complaints from new users that they get friend requests from other promoters that start sending them invites and I lose many of my group before they attend an event. There are many events of course but there is a difference between this one and the others.”
Natasha: “Not all of our friends have or use Facebook, so our announcements do not reach everyone we would like. Also, its always hard to get a real sense of the personality of a group through only the paragraph or so on a group page.”
Is Facebook changing social trends among expats in Rome?
Charles: “My experience is that Facebook does not truly create a social environment. Most group discussions are small, and the walls are covered with ads from people under the mistaken assumption people actually read them. I never had one person respond to a notice I wrote on a Facebook group’s wall!” I only started using my group to promote the quiz this year but my average attendance has gone up by about 50 percent. Also, the way people register for the quiz has changed, with most people now registering by Facebook, as opposed to email. It has also lowered the average age of participants.”
Patrizia:“There are other things that happen outside my group; there are some in the group that are shy, or need more intimate meetings, I meet with people one-on-one, and if I can’t do it, I ask someone in the group that would like to help out to maybe meet them first before they attend a happy hour.”
Chris:“Here, people act just as they do in real life. I think of social skills as being responsive, honest and polite. These qualities are not enhanced but perhaps magnified either positively or negatively.”
TRF on Facebook and more
The Roman Forum Magazine group page has now been launched. Members have the opportunity to get a sneak preview of latest issues, give feedback about the magazine, chat with staff and writers and get party invites!
Other Facebook groups of interest to expats include: Addicted to Rome (Rome Appreciation, forum and Q&A about moving to Rome), Au Pairs Rome, La Società Italiana Au Pair, VCN Rome, Tour guides of Rome (Professional networking, events, housing and job information), Tandem Language Learning Roma/European Students’ Forum AEGEE (weekly language exchange and socialising),2° Megaparty Facebook Roma
By Caroline Prosser
Caroline Prosser is 27 and has been living in Rome, Italy, for the past four years as a journalist, teacher of English and tour guide. She is originally from Cumbria, England.
