The complete report

Here is the link to the finished work of my report.

Thank you everyone for contributing to my research.

view research paper

Quick Poll: 86% don't lock status updates!!

Yesterday, while writing my research paper I came across a research that studied a correlation between activity and privacy. The research had found that the users who frequently engage in content-contributing activites on Facebook, are more likely to modify their settings, than those who share on the site less frequently. Furthermore the research indicated:

"This makes sense given that those who regularly post content may be more conscious of their audience, i.e., who might see the content they are publishing and also how this content might be perceived."

I disagree. Even though that there are statistics to prove otherwise. And I want to incorporate this in my research paper. So I did a quick poll where I asked Facebookers:

Do you lock your status updates?

This is what they answered:

44) No. I didn't know you could lock them. And why would you - what is the purpose?

answering 44): To group the updates, so the messages you send our is targeted a specific audience, and only them can read.

45) No

46) No

47) No, I didn't know you could do that.

48) No, I didn't know you could do that either.

49) No, I had no idea you could do that

50) Yes

51) Nope

52) No

53) No... locking? or reading? I read... I had no idea you could lock the status update!

54) No I don't

55) No, I didn't know that it was an option

56) Nope

57) Nay

58) Yes

59) No

60) I don't. I have only "censored" by status updates once. I guess it's because of laziness (amount of time it takes to think about who I want/don't want to see, plus actually clicking the button) LAZY! :) And then, I'm not offended to see others' status updates that I know don't include me. Once again, people can always hide you or unfriend you if they tire of your updates.

question for 60):  so you arent concerned with people seeing the content of what you are posting?

60) No--I am who I am. I'm certainly not perfect and it's a lot less work just saying it then trying to keep up a facade!!! See, Lazy! :)


61) I didn't know you could lock your status updates!

62)  I've blocked a couple of status updates, either for specific groups, or specific people. I do this when it is something either very personal, that I don't want the entire FB world to know, or honestly, I've done it when the status involved a specific group and/or person.

63)  lol didnt know you could do that! =)

64)  Wow...didn't know you could even do that. Might be fun to try, now that I know. Hmmm, so that means my kids can lock me from seeing their status updates??? That shouldnt be right. Well least not the 2 still at home



In total 21 answered the poll. 

said no: 18
said yes: 3
said they didn't know that it was an option: 9


In percentage that means that:

86% said that they don't lock the status update 
14% said that they do,  
and 43% indicated that they didnt know it was an option.

Writing it up

My research paper is due on Wednesday. This is where and how  I am spending my days until then....

Choose your audience: Locking your status update

In my research I discovered that one reason why users create an imagined audience is because they are not aware of the privacy settings on Facebook. For instance how to lock your status update so only certain people can view it. So instead of locking the status update and direct the status update to the intended group, the user sends it to the entire invisible audience and creates an imagined audience. Another reason for not locking your status update, besides not being aware of the possibilty, is laziness... 1) because it is a big project to group your friends, especially if you have +300. 2) Some people like to update on the go, and it has to be immediate quick updates, and then it is quicker just sending the update out into the void with the imagined audience.


Anyway, for those, who would like to know how to lock the status, here is how:

Next time you would like to lock your status update so only certain people can view it, click on the little lock on the bottom of the status field. When you do, the following window will appear:

Now this is the part where you will decide exactly who does, and who DOESN'T see your post. Click on "edit" next to "Custom." Another window will appear like this:

Now, you will notice a convenient text box for "Hide this from." In that box, type the names or the group of people you want to hide the status update from, then click "Save Setting." You can also choose make this visible to.. and then type in the names of people or the name of the group you have created. That's it, now type your status, and post it. If by now you are thinking... Great, but how do I group my friends? Dont worry. I have found a great directory right here.

Presentation on my research

Tomorrow I am giving a presentation on my research. Here is my power point presentation:

Concept of imagined audience

View more presentations from Martine Gjede.

24. What shouldn't we say on Facebook?

This week I asked the following question: What shouldn't we say on Facebook?

This is some answers I received:

39) Don't write about stuff you only want to say to your close friends, like very personal things, you normally would share with them.

40) Plus it can be irritating when people write something in their status updates that are totally irrelevant or trivial, and several times a day, like babier (or master thesis projects :-) )
41) I am thinking probably trivial things and TMI. (Too much information).

42) I wouldnt write about vacations and travelling. Not until I am home again.

43) I think it is up to the individual to decide. But only if it is about oneself. Of course it is not ok to write nasty things about other people, so everybody can read it. But I can sometime wonder about all the private things people share, or what trivial things people write about. But then I can just decide not to read it.

23. Change in statusupdates over time

This week I asked the following question:

Have you noticed a change in the content or phrasing of your status updates since you joined facebook? If so, how has it changed?

These are answes I received:

33) Yes, I have noticed a change. As I added new friends I have more "groups" of friends. I do not always think of the exact same group when I update; so, I guess I have a broader range of topics, issues, etc that I post. ...I might think, "my family would enjoy this video"; or, "my high school friends would really get this story"; or, "my church friends would appreciate this funny thing that happened to me", etc.

34) Yes, I also have a broader range of topics. Plus, wen I first joined fb, I was not in a good place in my life, so my updates tended to be very angry and pretty witchy, lol. And since I have friends' children as friends and former students, I make sure updates and stuff are G rated.

35) Yes, from a more narrow circle of friends my list of friends on Facebook has changed, so that it now includes distant aquaintances and colleagues, and it is not all private information I believe is their business.

Question for 35) do you lock your status updates? 

35) No, instead I have several lists of friends, that have various access to my profile. It is mostly party pictures taken of me that I dont think colleagues need to see. I am more aware of the content in my status updates now, than I was earlier, when Facebook was a more private medium. 

36) Yes, before I updated almost every day, and then I had to find something clever or funny to say. Now I just try to find something lasting longer, because I dont have time to spend on creating status updates any longer. And then, generally I dont believe, that I think as much about the content now then what I did previously. In a sense I care less.. if it makes sense. 

Question for 36) You say that You care less now, is it because you think, that since you have been on FB for so many years now, it has just become a comme ils faut, and it is just something "that you do"? Have you locked your status updates from certain people?

36) i think it is a combination of several things: I have less time now physically, so I cant spend time in front of the computer making up quirky status updates. I also feel much more "at home" and "at ease" with FB, kind of like when you know someone or work somewhere, and you get increasingly relaxed. And then as a person, I tend to not care, generally. I have made a conscious decision on turning down the self presentation and turning up the authentic reality, and that applies on FB as well. And then I have cleaned up in my friendlist. I had a shock when I saw somebody I remotely know, that said to me: "Oh, you were in IKEA the other day". Then it occured to me that people actually sit outthere and witness my life, and after that I deleted a lot of "friends". But I haven't locked my status updates from specifik people - no, I more think in the sense that people have to take it or leave it, if they think they are good enough friends with me to not hide me from their news feed. I have however excluded a few from all my status updates.

37) Yes, my status updates are longer. In the beginning I had to sum up the courage to write something, but once I started, I dared to venture more increasingly. Especially when the "like" button arrived, then I really got hooked because your Facebook friends could like your updates.

Question for 37) Do you think it has something to do with getting adjusted to the medium, whereas in the beginning one was having doubts about who "was out there, listening, watching"?

37) No more like a boundary of saying something out loud and how it is received and perceived. You present an image of "what is on your mind", and are telling something about yourself. Thats why it means so much, and you are thinking: "Uh oh, what if they think this.. when I write this..."  

38) Yes, they have! They have become less personal, and more directed to everybody who read along.

Question for 38) Do you then believe that you are considering your entire audience when you write your status updates?

38) Yes, more so now than before.