This exposé for my Master’s thesis was written over the last few weeks. Feedback loops have helped me to focus more strongly on some things and now I have a pretty clear picture of what I would like to do and what my approach will be like. This is summarized in the following expose:
In the realm of social media dominance, Instagram stands out, particularly among teenagers. However, beneath the facade of a seemingly happy virtual world lies a range of issues affecting well-being. The constant evolution of Instagram compounds these problems, and the lack of education on responsible social media use for children and teenagers exacerbates the challenges.
While numerous studies have explored the effects of social media, the dynamic nature of Instagram outpaces research efforts. Privacy concerns related to teenagers on social media have been examined, but a critical gap exists—a dedicated study on a modified Instagram version for this demographic. The goal is to address the lack of guidance on navigating this digital space during crucial developmental stages.
The central question guiding this master’s thesis is: How can a modified version of Instagram be designed specifically for teenagers, providing a platform that retains essential functionalities while minimizing toxic features? The objective is to facilitate a safer and age-appropriate transition to the full version of the app.
The hypothesis posits that Instagram can indeed be redesigned for a more positive and user-friendly experience, while still maintaining its popularity. The methodological approach involves an extensive review of existing studies, conducting surveys among teenagers and parents, defining requirements for a teenage Instagram app, and ultimately designing a prototype. An innovative addition to the methodology is the use of card sorting with teenagers to prioritize features that are deemed important for a positive and engaging Instagram experience.
Drawing from various sources such as studies, books, videos, interview protocols, and prototype design tools, the research is grounded in the belief that modifications are necessary to accommodate to the unique struggles teenagers face with social media. The anticipated timeline outlines key milestones, spanning from research and interviews to prototype development, testing, and the finalization of the thesis.
