BusinessWeek tells us that Davos participants will soon have their own private social network, to be called WELCOM.

According to Jennifer Schenker's report:

The 2,500 people invited to the conference each year will form the core of WELCOM when it launches, but the actual number may expand to as many as 10,000. Additional users may include previous attendees or experts in certain fields who could contribute to discussing a variety of global issues the WEF is trying to address, such as climate change.

Just like at the real Davos, there will be groups within groups on WELCOM and different levels of exclusivity. At the annual meeting in Switzerland, people get different colored badges that determine which rooms and sessions they can access. Virtual rooms will also be sealed off so that only those people who want to network and brainstorm with each other can gain entry. And, of course, the general site will also be password-protected.

I'm a bit surprised no-one at BusinessWeek questioned this private network approach. I thought the transparency that came with social media was generally considered a good thing for citizens and shareholders. Am I being naive, or is it something in the presentation of this new - closed - power broking network that seems wrong?

Generally - from my viewpoint, that of a distant, usually neutral observer - Davos didn't come across very well for me this year. There seemed too much blogging from participants at Davos to the outside world, when what was needed - in a torrid week - was information or dialogue more perceptibly flowing in the other direction. And now the novelty of celebrity participation has died down, there seems a risk that Davos' public persona, or rather the World Economic Forum, is becoming that of the World Photo Opportunity Forum.

The announcement of WELCOM rounds off that impression.

Tags: Davos, Facebook