Developing Reliable Measures of Privacy Management within Social Networking Sites

Abstract

Besides providing a benefit for future study of SNS, reliable, valid measures are urgently needed due to the unprecedented scale of participation in these sites. SNS have memberships that number in the tens of millions, drawing from countries around the globe [7].It can be argued SNS are the largest examples of information systems that have ever existed. Some information systems theories, such as the Technology Acceptance Model, have been applied to social computing applications [40], but these efforts show that considerable modification needs to be carried out to traditional information systems theory to yield reliable results. So while information systems theory holds much promise in the analysis of social computing, the differences between systems developed for a commercial enterprise versus one for the general population require a reconsideration and re-validation of both theory and related measures. Given the complexity of social computing, most measures must be focused on particular tools and affordances of the SNS rather than the SNS as a whole.In this study we focus on privacy management tools and the nature of their use.

Using the Facebook group as a learning management system: An exploratory study

“…Dwyer, Hiltz and Passerini (2007) investigated the use of Facebook by college students with an average age of 20.4 ( n = 69) and found that more than half of the users accessed Facebook every day, and 82% updated their profiles on a daily basis. Selwyn (2009) found that university students ( n = 909) used Facebook mainly for reflecting on the university experience, exchange of practical and academic information, and displaying supplication or disengagement.…”

Exploring Privacy Management on Facebook: Motivations and Perceived Consequences of Voluntary Disclosure

“…A study of Facebook privacy concerns determined that users practice poor privacy control of their information and third parties were consistently trying to obtain users' information (Jones & Soltren, 2005). Dwyer, Hiltz, and Passerini (2007) found that when comparing the privacy practices of MySpace users to Facebook users, those who used Facebook were more trusting of the website and therefore more likely to disclose identifying information on their profiles.…”

What to Tell About Me? Self-Presentation in Online Communities

“…After the decision to join a social networking site, people even revealed information they were very concerned about being known by strangers (Acquisti & Gross, ). In fact, there is little or no relation between perceived Internet privacy concerns and amount of disclosure (Dwyer et al, ). However, people did not restrict self‐disclosure itself, but adjusted the visibility of their profiles for others by changing their privacy settings to avoid undesired audiences (Tufekci, ; Utz & Krämer, ).…”