Abstract:
The article analyses the role of netnographic research as a part of the classical ethnographic
research concerning linguistic, cultural and identity practices of young
people belonging to European linguistic minorities. Based on personal experience
from field research, two main attitudes of the Facebook researcher are presented:
the participant–observer and the observer not participating. The first is engaged
in Facebook community life and actively reacts against informants listings, poses
questions and stimulates conversations. The observer not participating is mute
and does not react in any way to the contents placed on Facebook. Both attitudes
are loaded with ethical problems: from breaking the anonymity and consciousness
of being observed rule to the possibility of manipulation of observed people.
This article concentrates on the advantages of using the Internet and particularly
Facebook as a supplement to classical ethnographic fieldwork while it gives the
observer access to all spheres of young people’s lives which are not accessible when
researching only in the off-line reality.
