In this blog post, we will talk about our first meeting with our steering group:
This meeting had two main goals:
- For the research team and the steering group to introduce themselves to each other
- For the research team and the steering group to discuss the aims of the project and possible ways of collaborating over the next few years
Introducing ourselves
In our first virtual meeting, we wanted everyone to get to know each other better. However, we know that traditional icebreakers can sometimes be difficult or uncomfortable. So instead of asking everyone to tell a fact about themselves, we asked everyone to share their areas of interest and whether they use social media to engage with them. As well as fitting in thematically with the project, we hoped that this ice breaker would be more enjoyable.
We heard and read in chat about a wide range of interests – including music and playing instruments, role-playing games, musical theatre, neurodiversity and mental health advocacy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, language learning, and yoga. We also learnt that the group uses a variety of social media platforms, from popular sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, to the more niche sites like BlueSky and Locket. Some of us had taken a break from social media, while others enjoyed trying out new platforms.
Introducing the project and co-produced research
For the rest of the meeting, members of the research team gave an overview of the project. We first discussed what co-produced research is and how it is reflected in the project aims. Then the research team introduced the project aims and what ‘affinity spaces’ are, as well as some of the methods we plan to use to investigate communication in these online spaces.
Finally, we talked about the purpose of the steering group and what the role would involve in practical terms. We talked about the importance of mutual understanding and respect, as well as how we might address any challenges during the research process.
What happens next?
In our second meeting, we will discuss 1) information sheets and consent forms and 2) our survey questions.
