Deduction #6-- Devices and Social Media

Hello, devoted readers, and new readers, too!  I've been checking my statistics and I have almost 200 views now.  I must be doing something right here.  Or maybe I'm doing it all wrong and the world is just laughing at me.  But that's still getting views, which means, either as an informational blog or an unintentional humor blog, it's working.

Anyways, today I am talking about deductions you can make from looking at somebody's electronic devices.  As always, do this at your own risk.  (I'm thinking that should be the blog's motto--only in Latin or something.)  Here goes.

What to Look For

• If their computer/phone/music player with a screen/tablet/etc. (henceforth referred to as "device") has a passcode, password, or swiping pattern, well...I'm going to be honest here.  They don't want people like you looking through their device trying to intrude on their privacy in order to figure out things about their personality.  This may be a great revelation to you.  This may not.  Proceed with caution.
• If they do have a passcode, find a time when it would be appropriate to ask them to look at the device.  When that time is, depends on the person.  Maybe if you want to "look at their photos" or something like that.  I'd recommend guessing the password, but that's rather difficult.
• If they don't have a passcode, this might mean that they open up their phone often to take pictures, they like the convenience of instantly opening their device, they have a hard time remembering a passcode, they don't have any problems with people going through their device, and/or they do have problems with people going through their device, but are naive enough to think that nobody could possibly have any motive to do that.  (No offense, but it's always an option.  A rare one, but some people really don't have any idea, especially younger children.)
• Once you've gotten into the device, look at their apps.  (I'm basing these on most common smartphone and touchscreen device applications that people are likely to have.)
• Check any "calendar/planner" app for appointments and such.  What are they doing?  When?  With who?
• Check photos.  Food?  Selfies?  Random street signs?  Interpret these as you will.
• Check notes/reminders and the like for things like errands they have to run, diet reminders, appointment reminders, etc.
• Is the time on their phone different from the one in your time zone?  Are there any additional clocks for other places that they could have been recently, or perhaps where they have family?
• Reading and news apps can tell you a bit about their interests.
• Exercise apps tell you about their workouts, workout goals, diet goals, etc.
• If the device has music, what do they listen to?  Currently popular hits?  Different genres like rap, hip-hop, rock, country, etc.?  Instrumental?  Don't jump to any conclusions, but take note that they may listen to music while doing different activities.  Look for "workout" or "study" playlists especially.
• Music apps (like metronomes, music notes, anything like that) suggest that they play an instrument.
• Voice recorder apps...some devices come with "voice memo" things automatically, but if they have extras...come to your own conclusions.  Maybe they sing or play an instrument and need to make good recordings, but they also may use it to record others' conversations.
• What kinds of games do they have?  Do they have intellectual games, like language-learning, vocabulary, math, or something like that?  Do they have fun games like Angry Birds, Flappy Bird, stuff like that?  Do they have fun games with an intellectual edge, like 2048?  This could tell you a lot about their personality.
• Also look at social media pages and applications.
• If you know them, do the things they post reflect their personality in real life?  Do they make their life seem better or worse than it is?  Consider why that could be.
• Do they use their real name?  They probably communicate mostly with people they know, or they just aren't really concerned about their online privacy.  They are probably fairly open about their lives.  If they don't use their real name, if it's obviously made up, like FrogGirl or AngelDarkness, then they are trying to be more secretive, perhaps have a secret identity of sorts or maybe they just don't want the whole world knowing their name.  If they use the name of a fictional character, like Harry Potter or Jeff the Killer, they are generally part of that fanbase, which, depending on the fanbase in question, can tell you a bit about them or maybe not much at all.
• Do they post their own content, or do they repost/reblog/repin/share other content?  People who post their own content are generally artists, writers, opinionated people, and other creators, who are trying to share that and also enjoy the social aspect of the site.  People who share other content are generally more interested in the social aspect of passing around posts and ideas.
• Are they open about things that they haven't told you in real life?  You may have discovered something that they don't want their friends, family, or co-workers to know about, that they are sharing with the online community to get off their shoulders.  Don't mention it to them.  Or if you do...proceed with caution.
• Did they start using the social media, then stop?  They probably either had important things to do, didn't like it, or were just not motivated enough to keep going.  The last one is especially true if they have many other unfinished projects.  If you plan to enlist them in one of your projects...I'm not saying you should abandon them for life, but, be hesitant.
• Who are their friends?  Do they have hundreds, most of which probably aren't their actual friends?  Or does it seem to be people they know in real life?  Some people go online to keep in touch with people they know; some do it to meet new people.  If somebody doesn't know or get along with many people in real life, they may go online to communicate with people since they aren't very comfortable face-to-face.

Other Related Advice

• When possible, instead of taking people's devices, look them up on various social network sites from your own devices.  You'll see what they show the public and not be accused of unauthorized voyeurism.
• You can probably talk with people about their public social media pages, if it's something they're sharing with the public.  You don't have to take as much caution with this as you would with, say, the contents of their medicine cabinet.
• You also may want to get your own social media page to communicate with people.  It's optional, though, as you can generally look without signing up.
• There aren't necessarily a ton of deductions you can make from some of these things, but you should still be observant should the opportunity come up later.

Signing off,

SM