Abstract
This paper reports on qualitative insights generated from 46 semi-structured interviews with adults ranging in age from 18 to 70. It focuses on an online social behaviour, ‘fraping’, which involves the unauthorised alteration of content on a person’s social networking site (SNS) profile by a third party. Our exploratory research elucidates what constitutes a frape, who is involved in it, and what the social norms surrounding the activity are. We provide insights into how frape contributes to online sociality and the co-construction of online identity, and identify opportunities for further work in understanding the interplay between online social identities, social groups and social norms.
Highlights
In this paper, we consider fraping, an activity that involves the unauthorised alteration of information on an individual’s online social network site (SNS) profile by a third party
We present insights generated into what constitutes a frape, the actors involved, the implicit social norms attached to frapes, and the sanctions imposed when these norms are violated
Implicit social norms dictate who may be the victim of a frape, the content, and whether the victim leaves the frape up on their social network page or takes it down once discovered
Summary
We consider fraping, an activity that involves the unauthorised alteration of information on an individual’s (the victim’s) online social network site (SNS) profile by a third party (the “frapist”) This alteration of information happens in an offline context, when the victim leaves their phone or computer unlocked and the frapist uses the device to make changes to the victim’s profile without their knowledge. Data from interviews with participants ranging in age from eighteen to seventy gave us insights into what fraping is, who is involved in it, the implicit social norms that govern fraping, and the sanctions that are applied when these norms are violated We situate these findings in the context of existing research in social identity, online representations of self and social norms. Grounded in our qualitative data, plus insights into social norms and the role that fraping plays in online sociality and the coconstruction of online identity
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