Announcing: The Web Makes Me Feel
Tapping into the emotional
Just want to let you guys in on a little project kicking around the MediaSnackers HQ.
DK pitched me this idea about social media metrics and the number of people covering the statistical side of users online activity, and how no-one seemed to be considering the emotional side. Where can we go to find out how people ‘feel’ about being online? I don’t think there is anywhere (if there is, please let us know).
Its seems to be all about numbers out there. Is it because the emotive isn’t tangible and easily measurable?
We’ve decided to capture this untapped emotion that’s fuelling peoples actions and activities online, calling it ‘The Web Makes Me Feel’ (TWWMF for short).
This isn’t going to be research though. Why not? Because without covering all bases, pitching the right questions and operating in an unbiased, non-influential manner, covering all demographics, you can be certain that the end result will so full of holes you could park a caravan in it. No fun we thinks.
So the end result data will be useless? Yes, if all you want to do is shove it in to excel and create a pie chart, but no, if you want to discover how people ‘feel’ about being online.
The final project should be enjoyable to wander through the results, interesting to talk about and as far as we’re aware, something no-one else is documenting.
Soo, what have we done so far? Well, I’ve just finished mucking about with some PSDs and hooked up a domain for http://thewebmakesmefeel.com, but that’s all for now, whilst we’re busy, getting busy with it.
What do you think about the us targeting the emotional side? Is it worth it? Because its not too late to stop now. Leave a comment and let us know.
I’ll keep you posted on how the project develops.
DK’s NOTE: the project will be focussing on 13-19 year olds.
View all The Web Makes Me Feel updates
(TWMMF is MediaSnackers pro bono project for 2009)
February 6th, 2009
Lovely idea. Fantastic.
Not sure how it will work, but there’s got to be something in it.
And gimme a shout if I can help in any way…
February 6th, 2009
Let’s hope you beat this guy to it!
http://valleywag.gawker.com/5092049/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-know-how-you-feel
February 6th, 2009
Very interesting idea… Facebook is a classic example of why this would be an interesting site / web app or whatever. Most people presume that everyone goes to Facebook because they love it. The gossip. The old friends. The stalking people in your office. etc. But what nobody ever gets at is WHY are people so drawn to it. I’ve had a number of conversations with friends and family who say they’re on facebook but going on there just makes them depressed. It’d be interesting to see how many people actually FEEL happy when they’re on facebook and how many actually feel kinda inadequate. In which case what’s the draw? Is it some kinda masochistic pleasure? They’re drawn to the voyeuristic pleasure but actually come away feeling bad about themselves, or like they’ve under achieved compared to their peers, or that they fatter or look older than their peers. Interesting idea… like it.
K
February 6th, 2009
this should be interesting
Will be especially interested in how you go about trying to get the measurements. I’m still struggling with doing something similar (more to do with soft skills though), so its good to see more efforts to go beyond the numbers.
February 7th, 2009
Kieran’s comments are spot on.
I’m bipolar (so often run through most of the 40 odd acknowledged emotions quicker than a dose of salts) and so if I’m ‘up’, the opportunity with SNS to see friends making each other laugh, holiday pics, family, celebration, etc is GREAT and can make you feel the world is a good place and that input is undoubtedly healthy.
If I’m ‘down’, facebook & other SNS can actually make you feel even worse, isolated and underachieving…
I’ve just started a private blog as an extension of cognitive behavioural therapy, and I’m interested in how blogs can help people with mental health issues (it’s somewhat easier to write than a ‘mood monitoring’ diary…and you can use audio/video as a helpful non-verbal mode of comms…)
February 7th, 2009
love the idea:) Made me start to think how do I feel when I use the web….hadn’t really considered it before and I wonder how young people feel….or is it just like talking to them, and does that make you feel anything?
February 7th, 2009
Many thanks for the comments guys – we’ll be sharing the methodology in the coming months as we log the projects path.
I just added a little note just explaining the demographic focus of this project (will be 13-19 year olds solely).
Kieran – maybe we could explore doing a ‘TWMMF’ app… I’ll catch you on skype about iti
February 7th, 2009
even better! Lots of questions – does social media/the web make you feel anything or is it just the news/information that would make you feel that way regardless of the medium? which services are consciously aiming to make people ‘feel’? do 13-19 year olds feel more depressed than everyone else?
are issues more emotive than relationships? will young people become more aware of their feelings when they’re being ‘analysed’ and can this be useful? can anything be related to things like the ‘suicide sites’? does where you access the web from have an influence? what about using the web as an individual vs with friends or in a social space?
lol sorry to plague you with questions, no doubt most of which you’ve already considered. I think its sensible not to get hung up on it as ‘research’, there’s always potential for others to build on what you do in the future anyway -it would be cool to explore fun ways of getting young people thinking about it and capturing those thoughts. Great project anyway and looking forward to following it.
February 7th, 2009
I think this is a great idea and, as a mum to two teenage daughters, I’d be very interested in reading data on how teenagers feel about using social media, and how it affects how they feel.
I’ve seen participation on social media sites have positive and negative impacts on the way my daughters feel, and it would be good to see a bigger picture of its impact.
Teenagers today seem to have many more pressures in life than I remember having; so is their almost ubiquitous use of social media largely suporting them and helping them and improving their life? – or is it sometimes contributing to the pressure to be something they’re not, to look a particular way, be popular, own the ‘right’ bits of technology, wear the right clothes etc etc? There are many more questions and I’m looking forward to seeing how this project develops – good luck with it
February 7th, 2009
Mas/Angela – lots of those questions will be answered as we continue to post the development of the project
We’re approaching this as an insights project and definitely not research (as Mark has outlined) – hopefully offering a snapshot of the time and who knows, maybe someone will commission us to go deeper the year after…
February 15th, 2009
Great idea. Have you guys seen these projects – maybe worth noting? – The Listening Post and We Feel Fine.
February 15th, 2009
Thanks for the links Kate – wefeelfine.org is amazing and have been aware of that for some time, however, just checking out the listening post and thanks for bringing it to our attention… keep in touch and have a great weekend!
March 17th, 2009
[...] the last post just introduced the project, I’ll use this post to go into a little more [...]
May 6th, 2009
[...] my eye fell on a blogpost and event Mediasnackers is organizing: The Web makes me feel. I’ve been thinking about this and have to agree, there has to be an emotional touch to [...]