Research Methods/Scrolling and Surveillance

I remember when we were first together and after work drinks turned into late nights at the studio and I wondered what went on? No text back.
Was my trip to Kyoto to run design research events actually a holiday? Send only pictures of post-its, reserve sushi conveyor belt and karaoke videos for girls WhatsApp group.

After my PhD viva, my supervisors told me to get on with those corrections,
so I was careful about what I posted online for the next project I was getting excited about
so that they wouldn’t consider me to be preoccupied or procrastinating.

Then I started a new job
so you have to network or how will you learn who can help you? So you post, and you update LinkedIn and you find out your new colleague’s names and you search for them!
Then it was examining the examiners tweets to see if they’ve read your work and when you’d maybe possibly get feedback?

Then its lockdown- a new concept- stay home, desk at the window, looking on to the street.
What’s the neighbour doing? Dating during a pandemic? How dare she!
We can’t meet for the half marathon, let's do it virtually, post your run on the group chat! Where did you go, what shape has your route made? Let's see? Egg each other on!
How come you guys are meeting up? Should you really be posting it on Instagram? (Where was my invite?)

Get out of the city.

Here they come, thick and fast.
You’ve put on weight!
What are you doing with your life? When are you having children? and why you are staying away from London so long, is there something wrong?
Rapidly post cute pictures with boyfriend.
Oh, you’ve lost weight!

Boyfriend comes up. Post picture of bf and brother enjoying a drink. His friend tests positive. Have you got it? Have you brought it? Where were you, did you break the rules? Worry about brother or worry about the picture of boyfriend and brother?

Back to London, where your friends don’t question you, they know you!

Christmas is coming. What is my brother ordering on the shared Amazon prime? Should we get our own? Or is it sort of nice that he knows what films I’m watching? On his account. (Thanks J).

Plan to go to parents for Christmas.
Should we get a Covid test to be safe? Don’t have Covid.
Get a Test anyway? Don’t have Covid.
Run back from the test centre. Post run on Strava. Post picture on Twitter.
Kudos! Likes! Comments.
Test positive, have Covid. Ran 6 miles with Covid. Worry about the neighbourhood or worry about twitter contacts?

How’s your sister- looks like you were together recently. She’s fine, those Instagram pictures are a month old. She too tests positive (I haven’t seen her in over 3 weeks, no pics if it didn’t happen)
“Seen your sister much recently?” is dad’s loving response to her temperature.

No posts of my Lemsip, of my paracetamol, of my pyjamas.
Get through Christmas, 2 weeks of isolation.

Test negative! Go for a run around the park, struggle. Post on Strava anyway.
“Were you supposed to be out running when you had Covid?”

(back in London where your friends don’t question you?)
Was it to track performance? or to perform, to show off? I’ll leave my phone at home now.

Covid, lockdown, virtual living — making a good impression in the new job? Networking, online platforms, redesigning methodologies for research — making observations and learning about people’s experiences needs a different approach!

What tools? What methods? How do researchers learn about what people are up to?

Why stress? Its already there. Everyone can see you, everyone with their research methods.