3 pages analysis of interviews

Interviewer #3

Introduction:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and discuss your opinions about sharing information on social networking sites. I’m asking if I can record this conversation, but your name or image will never be associated with any of the responses and you will remain completely anonymous.

How would you characterize your use of social media?

Omar: “I use social media mainly to get the news and see whats happening with the world in today’s news”

1. Which social media do you use and how often? Prefer to use?

Omar: “ I prefer to use twitter and I use it on a regular basis.”

1. Do you trust this site/these sites? If so, why do you trust the site/these sites?

Omar: “No”

Me: “can you tell me why?”

Omar: “because the internet in general is not safe… I can barely trust my friends haha. ”

1. Please describe the trust (i.e. look for assurances on the site, use privacy settings…). Do you trust all of the social media you use the same? If so, why or why not?

Omar: “Like I said, I don’t trust social media because anyone can get your information easily.”

Me: “can you elaborate?”

Omar: “aahh, for example if someone knows your full name and you use that name in your social media accounts they can easily track you and see what are you up to”

How would you characterize some of your good friends’ use of social media?

Looking for…but do not lead…

1. As a social networking site?

Omar: “my friends use social media to sometime’s express their political views and engage on intellectual conversation with other people who use social media.”

1. As a tool for communication?

Omar: “to talk to each other”

Think of one of your closest friends…someone who you are in touch with on social media AND who you perhaps text, call and/or see often. Now consider that this friend contacts you about something they would like to post on social media, but they want your opinion first.

1. What is an example of what you would NOT recommend they post?

Omar: “defiantly your full name”

1. Why?

Omar: “ because sometimes when you express your opinions on social media it can put you in trouble not just legally”

1. Any other examples of what you would NOT recommend they post?

Omar: “Immm, any personal information like your home address for example”

1. If yes, then why?

“because maybe some psycho may stalk you!”

Think of this same friend. Is there anything they would tell you in person, call you and tell you, or perhaps text you that they would NOT post on social media?

Omar: “ talk about their work or their boss”

1. Why?

Khalid: “ because if your boss saw what you talk about him on social media he may have a reason to fire you”.

Now for this same friend, is there anything you can imagine they would not share with you or anyone else? Something that they might choose to keep completely to themselves?

Omar: “ their insecurities”

Can you think of why that might be?

Omar: “people in general don’t share their insecurities because we feel embarrassed”

Do you have any thoughts in general on what people choose to post or not post on social media? What is your feeling about why people post on social media?

Omar: “ I think people post on social media because they like themselves way too much haha. And we love to talk about ourselves a lot so social media help us express that

Demographic Questions:

I just need to get some general information and then we’re done.

Gender: male

Year of birth:1987

Current city of residence: Northridge

Using social media since (year)? : 2012

Any college? CSUN

Approximate # of minutes/hours spent each day on social media : 3

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions for me, I’d be happy to answer them.