Preamble

This code of ethics is designed to guide fieldwork practices when studying and participating in Facebook groups. Such a code allows us to align our work and behavior with responsible intentions, and to make sure we are respecting our informants and their privacy, perspectives, and histories. These guidelines are important to outline before beginning this fieldwork and to review throughout the experience.

  1. [ Informed Consent ] Before fieldwork begins, it is our responsibility to thoroughly inform members about our research. We should explain in an open and accessible fashion, allowing for questions, concerns, and honesty.
    • If we are the ones creating the Facebook group, we should also set community agreements for incoming members to read and consent to before joining.
    • If, on the other hand, we are the ones joining the Facebook group and the group has a community agreement before one can be approved into the group, we must read, accept and follow those guidelines.
  2. [ Anonymity ] When using any content posted by members, we should uphold their anonymity by redacting their Facebook name and profile picture, and any other highly personal details that would otherwise risk their identity.
    • If we seek to indicate that multiple comments/posts belong to the same person, we should express that by means that won’t reveal their real identity.
      • Ex: Color coding or giving them an identification such as ‘Person A’. These choices will vary depending on the purpose.
  3. [ Technology ] Considering the multifaceted methods of communications that Facebook features, we must take into account the boundaries of a Facebook group and any supplementary forms of interactions (i.e. private messaging, group private messaging, friending members, sharing content on our personal timeline, observing other member’s personal timelines, etc.). What supplementary interactions do we deem necessary or forbidden for ourselves to partake in?
    • However we choose to proceed, we should communicate these expectations to the larger group so it is clear from the get-go.
  4. [ Ego Check ] As a pledge to ourselves and the research we seek to conduct, we must check our egos outside fo this space. That’s not to say we must cease to be our full human selves, but rather to be aware if/when our intentions and behaviors begin to diverge from our values. As a general rule, no matter how compelling some data might be, we should be prepared to sacrifice our fascination if it means jeopardizing a relationship with an informant.
  5. [ Flexibility ] Above all, we must approach the field and our informants with care and consideration. We should remember these members’ lives exist outside this virtual space and perhaps, within other virtual spaces as well. Since all these outside factors are not always within our control or knowledge, we should stay open minded and flexible to accommodate any appropriate changes.