These
questions seen on the picture were asked anonymously and answered by active
members of Ask.FM- the social network.
Click here to go to the Ask webpage
Ask.fm
are
all of the above however, in a nutshell for those who are foreign to this
networking space; Ask.fm is a network
in which the individual (me for example) has the option of creating my own
page, adding friends to follow, and be followed, much like the familiar twitter
layout. Ironically Ask.fm is geared for people to ask friends or strangers questions
with the option of being anonymous however the user has the choice of deleting
or answering the question before it is publicly posted for all to see. The individual user may also ask themselves questions
and remain anonymous before answering and having it published on their own
page.
Yes!
An experiment was done with
one of my friends (let’s call him Tim).
Tim is, for some reason very popular on Ask.fm
and very vocal about his answers. He has answered over 750 questions in the
last month that’s over 8 questions a day for the last 3 months. He is cautious about how he answers however
nine times out of ten he will actually answer the question instead of delete
it.
I went on Ask.fm and started asking Tim
leading questions and a string of questions became a conversation that he was
essentially having with a stranger (me).
I had noticed that in the past Tim tries to get the anon to take the
cyber mask off and ask questions as though one would face to face. I had managed to arrange with Tim to meet him
before he went to the gym (all while staying anonymous) when a different anon
prson asked him this:
There is a random person offering to pick you up and go to the gym, what
are your thoughts?
I usually walk, lets me clear my head
and I live like two blocks away
I’m a little keen and a little worried of being abducted.
nah, they’re welcome to come though, but they should meet at mine instead.
What risks are involved for others who see this kind of behavior online and assume
that it is normal and appropriate?
In my next blog I’ll reveal my results
and talk a little more about the identity of social networking and the dangers
of the space.
Unknown. (20011). Ask.fm: A Guide for parents and Teachers.
Retrieved from http://www.webwise.ie/AskfmGuide.shtm
Ask.fm
are
all of the above however, in a nutshell for those who are foreign to this
networking space; Ask.fm is a network
in which the individual (me for example) has the option of creating my own
page, adding friends to follow, and be followed, much like the familiar twitter
layout. Ironically Ask.fm is geared for people to ask friends or strangers questions
with the option of being anonymous however the user has the choice of deleting
or answering the question before it is publicly posted for all to see. The individual user may also ask themselves questions
and remain anonymous before answering and having it published on their own
page.
Confused?
Yes!
Yes!
In terms of space and place
the individual can select friends to add and grant themselves the power to
create their own identity purely by asking themselves questions as well as
answering real questions from real people: anonymously or not. This may seem
silly but when your profile is being read by a large quantity of people, some of
which could be close friends the potential to create a ‘character’ for yourself
is desirable. For example the online
user could ask themselves a question saying “Why are you so beautiful and
amazing?” and then answer it themselves anonymously. It then appears on their profile and on the
news feed of those following you; immediately the reader assumes that oh that must be correct if people are
calling her beautiful. The user has just given themselves a compliment and
possibly-to some degree increased the willingness and the likelihood of someone
believing that they are beautiful.
An experiment was done with
one of my friends (let’s call him Tim).
Tim is, for some reason very popular on Ask.fm and very vocal about his answers. He has answered over 750 questions in the last month that’s over 8 questions a day for the last 3 months. He is cautious about how he answers however nine times out of ten he will actually answer the question instead of delete it.
I went on Ask.fm and started asking Tim leading questions and a string of questions became a conversation that he was essentially having with a stranger (me). I had noticed that in the past Tim tries to get the anon to take the cyber mask off and ask questions as though one would face to face. I had managed to arrange with Tim to meet him before he went to the gym (all while staying anonymous) when a different anon prson asked him this:
There is a random person offering to pick you up and go to the gym, what are your thoughts?
I usually walk, lets me clear my head and I live like two blocks away
I’m a little keen and a little worried of being abducted.
nah, they’re welcome to come though, but they should meet at mine instead.
Tim is, for some reason very popular on Ask.fm and very vocal about his answers. He has answered over 750 questions in the last month that’s over 8 questions a day for the last 3 months. He is cautious about how he answers however nine times out of ten he will actually answer the question instead of delete it.
I went on Ask.fm and started asking Tim leading questions and a string of questions became a conversation that he was essentially having with a stranger (me). I had noticed that in the past Tim tries to get the anon to take the cyber mask off and ask questions as though one would face to face. I had managed to arrange with Tim to meet him before he went to the gym (all while staying anonymous) when a different anon prson asked him this:
There is a random person offering to pick you up and go to the gym, what are your thoughts?
I usually walk, lets me clear my head and I live like two blocks away
I’m a little keen and a little worried of being abducted.
nah, they’re welcome to come though, but they should meet at mine instead.
How does Tim react when I show up at
his house?
Even though I never asked Tim where his
house was – which assumed that I have either been there before or already know
his address, Should Tim have taken the risk?
What risks are involved for others who see this kind of behavior online and assume that it is normal and appropriate?
What risks are involved for others who see this kind of behavior online and assume that it is normal and appropriate?
In my next blog I’ll reveal my results
and talk a little more about the identity of social networking and the dangers
of the space.
Unknown. (20011). Ask.fm: A Guide for parents and Teachers.
Retrieved from http://www.webwise.ie/AskfmGuide.shtm
I think it's great how you've turned it into an experiment. I completely agree with the whole "Should he have taken the risk" idea. It really brings into focus the fact that while the internet is a very open and public place, you cannot predict exactly who someone is or how they will act.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that others who see this sort of behaviour will come to think of it as appropriate is also correct and relevant to the topic of networks. The idea travels from one person to another, thus connecting everyone to the origin of one little risk.
I look forward to seeing the results in the next blog.