One thing that TrustCon illustrated this year is that during challenging times, the answer is to come together – for yourself and for each other. Despite a year besieged with economic, political, and travel uncertainty, this was our strongest TrustCon yet – perhaps because of these reasons. We came together stronger than ever, sharing ideas, celebrating each other’s wins, and finding hope in the work we do side by side. TrustCon showed once again that while the challenges are real, so is the power of connection.
In July, we welcomed 1,384 attendees from more than 400 companies, traveling from 37 countries to connect, share, and shape the future of trust and safety. Over the course of this jam-packed three-day event, 298 speakers conducted 69 presentations, 42 panels, and 21 workshops and roundtables. Members of our community hosted 15 community events, and sponsors hosted 14 Birds of a Feather and 5 sponsored activities.
Whether it was meeting someone for the first time at a lunch meetup, being inspired by a presenter’s talk, or joining the Community 5K for some morning exercise, TrustCon’s purpose – connecting, sharing ideas, and moving the trust and safety community forward together – was never more apparent than at TrustCon this year. As one attendee noted, “People here are genuinely thrilled to see each other, celebrate one another’s wins, and be there for one another during hard times; maybe it’s due to the nature of the work, or maybe it’s the work that draws such thoughtful people to the field.”
TrustCon’s Visionary Sponsor Roblox shared similar goals: their engagement at TrustCon was focused on building connections, sharing learnings, and inviting dialogue among peers. Matt Kauffman, Roblox Chief of Safety, said in his keynote, “Roblox is committed to working with partners, sharing their technology, and setting the bar on ensuring safety for users,” and noting that working alongside each other is critical, “…as safety isn’t something that any one company can do alone.”
TrustCon isn’t just a conference; in the words of another attendee, it is “a hub for strategy, connection, and shaping the future of Trust & Safety.” As Charlotte Willner, TSPA’s Executive Director, said in her opening talk: “The work of trust and safety connects people to ideas, to ways of thinking, to people’s lives and perspectives.” Our community coming together at TrustCon, “is a practice of hope…a demonstration of our belief that we are best if we are working together, that the work we do matters, and will continue to matter no matter the winds of business and politics. It is a practice of resilience. It is a practice of defiance.”
The conversations and collaborations sparked at TrustCon don’t stop when the conference ends. We’re already looking ahead to what’s next, and we want you to be part of it.
