Three focus groups were conducted in 2010 with active Facebook members from three different age groups – 18–21 years, 22–29 years and 30 years plus – to observe different attitudes and concerns relating to privacy and trust in an online social networking context. (For the cross-sectional survey research the 22–29 age group was divided into two groups:
22–25 and 26–29 years.) The focus group results showed that an element of uncertainty exists with regard to privacy issues on Facebook and also uncovered a contradiction in terms of privacy concern and social networking behaviour; that is, while concerns were evident, Facebook users openly share detailed personal information on Facebook and happily communicate and interact in this public forum. (Focus group results are presented in Table 2). These findings helped guide the development of the cross-sectional survey.