This study analyzes the complexity and psychological intricacies of user interaction on FB. After interviewing 13 different FB users the researchers were able to categorize the platform as three different functional regions; performance, exhibition, and personal. They reached this conclusion after asking the FB users to review their profiles; reflecting on their current activity, privacy attitude, as well as other factors that can impact the user experience.
I found the section Tensions Between Public and Personal Regions very interesting because it is something I can relate to. To start off with, I mostly use FB for the messenger as its chat feature is more reliable than some carriage coverage. I don’t consider myself an avid FB user, I check it maybe a few times a day but I hardly post anything on it. Personally I don’t like to publicize personal details but lately I’ve been thinking that in the long term I’ll regret not being as active. For example FB has that feature that reminds one of old posts one made on that particular date. I was more active in HS than I am now so now that I’m in college I see old posts corresponding to that day. However, in my late 20’s if all I see still are posts I made in middle/high school it’ll be a little depressing.
I think I’ll begin to add photo albums of when I go on trips or short vacations because it gives my phone more memory but also because it’ll be nice to have an archive of photos to just look back on maybe 5,10, 20 years. Let’s say I run into an old friend at a pub, more often than not I won’t have my laptop with me but if we want revisit some moment I could log onto my FB and it’ll be there.
Another section in the study I found to be relatable was Exhibition: Managing Content. Right now, I’m struggling in terms of managing relevance. When I check on my FB feed I have friends getting married, buying homes, backpacking Europe, while my last post was about 2 years ago. Sometimes I feel that especially family back in Peru would like to know what I’m up to but part of me also finds it emotionally exhausting to reply to comments, which is why I like IG better. A picture and a caption is all I really need.
I never really thought about it but being a FB user has one subconsciously thinking of their long term image, as I have lately. At the same time, it’s a struggle because part of me doesn’t want to share those moments with the whole world because I want them to be intimate.
Why doesn’t FB provide functionality to stop altogether friend requests?
Why does FB allow people to explicitly view someone’s message?
