Backchanneling Defined and a Double Edge Sword

definition   

A backchannel is a line of communication created by people in an
audience to connect with others inside or outside the room, with or without the
knowledge of the speaker at the front of the room. Usually facilitated by Internet
technologies, it is spontaneous, self-directed, and limited in time to the duration
of a live event. A backchannel can be constructive when it enhances and extends
helpful information and relationships, and it can be destructive when it articulates and amplifies counterproductive emotions and sentiments. 

A double-edged sword

The early adopters discovered things that still hold true about the backchannel; 

specifically, that it can be constructive when it

• Enhances the information coming from the speaker, as people take notes, add 

commentary, and provide additional resources to what is being said at the front 

of the room.

• Connects people within a room, building communities around ideas.

• Connects people with others outside the room, as those not attending use technology to follow the dispatches from the live events, engage in conversations, 

and even directly ask questions of the presenters.

• Gives a speaker a new way to reach a wider audience.

• Provides a valuable archive of information to review after the event.

But they also found that a backchannel can be a double-edged sword, because it can 

be destructive when it

• Creates distraction as audience members pay attention to the backchannel more 

than the front of the room, or when the conversation strays to topics unrelated to 

the presentation at the hand.

• Leaves out of the conversation presenters or other audience members who are 

unaware or unable to join, creating a sense of unfairness because they have no 

way to respond to comments and criticisms.

• Lacks the ability to convey the full context for what is happening in a room 

because of the brevity of posts.

• Allows a rude or snarky tone to take hold of the conversation when people say 

things online that they would not say directly to a presenter.

Atkinson, Cliff. The Backchannel: How Audiences Are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever.. Upper Saddle River, NY: New Riders Press, 2009. Print.