Research Journal Page 6

In Chapter 7 of Representing Youth (2007), Alyssa Richman explores the practice of “lurking” as a way of gathering research on youth.  The idea of going online and visiting sites to watch the online conversations without actually interacting with the members on that site raises some ethical issues.  One part of her article raised some questions for me, “However, the position of the lurker implies a particular element of power that comes from the observation of others without their knowledge, but unlike structural and institutional power imbalances that shape the relationships between adults and youth, anyone can choose to lurk in an online space” (p. 196).

Richman further explores the issue of informed consent and that it is violated in the case of lurking since people who are involved in contributing to the online message boards are unaware that what they write is being used in research (p. 196).  Richman further states, “However, this violation was mitigated by several factors: first, the public nature of the research spaces and, second, the publication aspects of bulletin-board postings” (p. 196).  This brings to mind my question:  When teens engage online in order to post on blogs, message boards or chat rooms, are they forfeiting their rights to informed consent because they are present in these public spaces?   And, if yes, are they aware that they are?

Richman’s references refer to a document authored by Charles Ess and the Association of Internet Researchers (2002) called “Ethical Decision-Making and Internet Research: Recommendations from the AoIR Ethics Working Committee.”  I decide to read and explore about this topic more since it struck me in Richman’s article.  I didn’t see any acknowledgement on the part of Richman that there were certain statements made on the sites that she visited that would make it ok for her to lurk, as specified by the Association of Internet Researchers.  In Part II of this document, which is titled “Questions to ask when undertaking Internet research,” one of the questions that would pertain to Richman’s research is listed:  “Is there a posted site policy that establishes specific expectations - e.g., a statement notifying users that the site is public, the possible technical limits to privacy in specific areas or domains, etc.” (p. 5).

Another statement made in this document is, “One broad consideration:  the greater the acknowledged publicity of the venue, the less obligation there may be to protect individual privacy, confidentiality, right to informed consent, etc.” (p. 5).

So to answer my own question, according to this document teens are forfeiting their rights to informed consent.  I guess my point is that I would have like to see Richman include and discuss whether or not these disclosures were present on the sites where she was a lurker.  I would like to know more about this part of her research since it directly impacts the teens she was using as research.  Were they aware that the information they post is fair game for researchers?  Do they truly know and understand that there is no obligation to protect their privacy?  As adults, we are quite aware of the possible lack of privacy while using the internet, but I am not so sure that teens are clear on this.

Best, Amy L.  (2007).  Representing Youth:  Methodological Issues in Critical Youth Studies, (Ed.).  New York, NY:  New York University Press.

Ess, Charles, and the Association of Internet Researchers.  (2007).  Ethical Decision-Making and Internet Research:  Recommendations from the AoIR Ethics Working Committee.  Retrieved February 25, 2004, from www.aoir.org/reports/ethics.pdf.