Visualizing typical Facebook users: Estonian teen sketches

Siibak, A. (2011). Visualizing typical Facebook users: Estonian teen sketches . Zagreb conference: "New challenges and methodological innovations in European media audience research". 7-9 April 2011.

Abstract: In June 2010, two focus-group interviews (N= 15) were carried out with 16-20 year old high school students in order to study the teen perceptions about the (perceived) audience in Facebook. In addition to general discussion about the users of Facebook, the young were asked to draw sketches of typical Facebook users based on their own perceptions regarding user behaviour in Facebook. The exercise was done in pairs and every pair came up with five different drawings all of which needed to be described and explained to the others. The aim of the exercise was to study who is considered to be a typical Facebook user by the teens and what kind of different user types are recognised amongst the perceived Facebook audience. Furthermore, our aim was to study how do the young position themselves in contrast to all the other user types. Based on the sketches and explanations a typology of Facebook users was made and the six main user types, and sub-types emerged: Very Active User (sub-type Geek), Bragger (sub- type via Iphone Dood), Hateful user (sub-types Hater, Oldster), Businessman, Pervert, and Ordinary User.