People present different versions of themselves across social platforms. Using a metaphor of a character card this probe encourages participants to share the different selves (or characters) they perform across their accounts.
Card front
The front of each card is designed to personify the account, encouraging participants to draw a character, comic or meme that caricatures their use of it. It also includes a prompt that asks participants what the character they have drawn would say about them, inviting reflections on their use and how it might be perceived. At the top there is a space to write in the platform the card is about and a label for the account. This label is to make sure that that if participants have multiple accounts on a single platform, they can be differentiated. The instructions note that participants can use labels such as "main", "alt" or "personal" so that they do not have to reveal the usernames of their accounts.
Card back
The back of the card provides a way for participants to briefly detail their perceptions of the account and how they use it. The metaphor continues here, borrowing from the design of character cards which often provide details about figures by listing their abilities or including visualisations of their attributes. It starts with a prompt to describe the "special powers" and "curses" of the account before providing scales where participants can indicate where it falls in terms of various attributes, including two blank scales they can self-define. Participants are then prompted to share their reasons for using the account, its audience, and a description of three recent posts.
Other design considerations
The cards were designed to be slightly larger than standard playing cards to make it easier to draw and write on them but not too big to break the metaphor. The back of the card was intentionally designed to be quick to complete, even if participants found the idea of drawing a caricature of the account on the front challenging. While the front gave participants a space to be playful or creative in the representation of the account, the prompts on the back were more straightforward. In addition, the limited spaces to respond based on the size of the card only afforded brief responses and the scales were quick to fill out.
Packaging and instructions
The cards were packaged in a cardboard box that resembles a box of cards. The front of the box shows the title of the probe and provides a brief introduction to the activity. It also provides instructions around "accounts to make cards for" that prompts participants to make cards for each of their accounts on the social platforms they use. Check-boxes are provided so that participants can check off each account, and there are multiple for each platform recognising that participants may have alt-accounts. The back of the box has step-by-step instructions for how to complete the probe cards.
Downloads
- Card template [PDF]
- Instructions [PDF]
- Card template and instructions [InDesign]
- Box template [PDF]