(9 October 2018) On the occasion of the 18th Week of Italian Language in the World, whose theme this year is the Italian language and the web, networks for Italian - the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney will host a conference held on October 12th by Prof. Vera Gheno, collaborator of the Crusca Academy and the Zanichelli publishing house. Prof. Gheno will be in conversation with Prof. Antonia Rubino, Associate Professor in the Department of Italian Studies of the University of Sydney. The conference will examine the Italian language especially in relation to its evolution within the new media.  What are the main characteristics of Italian that you see on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp? Why do many consider it, perhaps wrongly, the ruin of our language?  And in general, where does the Italian language come from and where does it go?  Analysing social networks, a picture of contemporary Italian will be outlined, including changes, tics, idiosyncrasies, false myths, and more or less justified fears that surround it.