Lecture 2: An introduction to privacy
Article 1 - introduction to privacy online – Walther
Even before the internet existed, users wanted to share personal information in online environments
while simultaneously expecting this information to remain private. With the rise of social media, this
tension has only increased. Users enjoy the benefits of self-disclosure, such as social interaction and
connection, but at the same time, they risk their information being shared or misused.
Key factors contributing to online privacy issues:
1. The misconception that online communication is private
2. The technical structure of the internet: "store-and-forward" technology, so online
communication can persist and be reshared
3. Confusion about legal protection: users assume that their online communication is legally
protected, but this applies only in specific cases and not to most online interactions
People unconsciously apply the same privacy expectations to online as in offline situations. Face-
to-face conversations, phone calls, and private gatherings are naturally temporary and limited in
access. Online communication is permanent and public.
Online privacy protection is a personal responsibility. Users must become aware of their online
footprint and learn how to protect themselves (advocating for education on digital footprint).
Privacy settings, carefully selecting online friends, and limiting personal disclosures can help reduce
risks.
Additionally, social media is discussed as a platform where users strategically manage their self-
image. While people enjoy sharing personal information to strengthen social connections, this also
puts their privacy at risk. Users adjust their self-presentation to maintain a certain image.
, Article 2 - Self-disclosure in social media extending the functional approach to disclosure
motivations and characteristics on social network sites – Bazarova & Choi
Public disclosures vs traditional understanding of public disclosures
Self-disclosure is the act of revealing personal information to others by communicating through
verbal behaviours as describing feelings and experiences. Disclosure decisions and strategies
reflect a balance of conflicting needs aimed at maximizing strategic rewards and minimizing
personal risks (je bepaalt immers zelf welke info je deelt).
Study: SNS-users broadcast information all over
Dyadic context: twee
Functional approach of self-disclosure
Disclosure goals or subjective reasons activate disclosure, as well as the decision-making process
and its content. Disclosure goals:
1. social validation
2. self-expression
3. relational development
4. identity clarification
5. social control
Functional model of self-disclosure on SNS
Most people have several different goals in mind when approaching SNS. Their type of
communication is influenced by goals they have in mind. Social media affordances reflect users’
perceptions of media utility in supporting social practices with four kinds:
- Data permanence
- Communal visibility of social information and communication
- Message edibility
- Associations between individuals
Imagined audience = mensen van wie je denkt dat ze deelmaken van jouw publiek. Mensen
waarvan je niet weet wie ze zijn (zijn er meer dan je denkt)
- Visibility: publiekelijke zichtbaar of een-op-een, zoals een privébericht
- Directedness:
o Directed: gericht op één iemand, plaatsen van een bericht specifiek getarget
o Non directed: gericht op massapubliek, zoals een statusupdate
Results contain three different types of communication:
- Wallpost (plaatsen van een bericht op iemand anders zijn wall, gericht op 1 persoon)
- Private message (gericht op 1 persoon)
- Status updates (voor iedereen zichtbaar)
,H1: People pursue different disclosure goals in Facebook status updates, wall posts, and private
messages
H2: Disclosure directed at familiar others are associated with relational development goals more
than disclosures directed at general others, as via Facebook status updates
H3a: People pursue greater social validation goals in nondirected status updates compared to
directed wall posts and private messages
H3b: Social validation goals are more salient in public wall posts compared to private messages
H4: SNS users can adapt to different affordances by choosing to reveal less intimate and private
information via public status updates and wall posts than via private messaging on Facebook
H5: Disclosure goals are expected to affect disclosure intimacy
H6: Less intimate disclosures are associated with social validation goals compared to other self-
disclosure goals, especially the more personally involving relational development goals
H7: Disclosure goals are predicted to mediate between Facebook communication forms and
disclosure intimacy
Results: as technologies expands, opportunities for self-broadcasting and building personal
connections with others increases. People seize these opportunities to satisfy their instrumental
needs and adapt their communication behaviours accordingly.
, Lecture 4: Personalization, privacy concerns and information sharing
Article 1: The role of privacy fatigue in online privacy behaviour
RQ: What is the role of privacy concerns and privacy fatigue in users’…
- intention to disclose personal information (regarding privacy concerns), and
- online disengagement?
Hypotheses
- H1a) A higher level of privacy concern will result in less intention to disclose personal
information.
- H1b) A higher level of privacy concern will result in less disengagement.
- H2a) A higher level of privacy fatigue will result in higher intention to provide personal
information.
- H2b) A higher level of privacy fatigue will result in higher disengagement.
This study compares the influence of privacy concerns and privacy fatigue on both the intention to
share and users’ online disengagement. Which of the two relationships is stronger?
Results Met opmerkingen [TL(1]: Linker diagram snap ik, de
rechter niet. Een lage privacy concern (weinig zorgen),
zouden toch juist moeten leiden tot weinig (+)
disengagement?
Article 1 - introduction to privacy online – Walther
Even before the internet existed, users wanted to share personal information in online environments
while simultaneously expecting this information to remain private. With the rise of social media, this
tension has only increased. Users enjoy the benefits of self-disclosure, such as social interaction and
connection, but at the same time, they risk their information being shared or misused.
Key factors contributing to online privacy issues:
1. The misconception that online communication is private
2. The technical structure of the internet: "store-and-forward" technology, so online
communication can persist and be reshared
3. Confusion about legal protection: users assume that their online communication is legally
protected, but this applies only in specific cases and not to most online interactions
People unconsciously apply the same privacy expectations to online as in offline situations. Face-
to-face conversations, phone calls, and private gatherings are naturally temporary and limited in
access. Online communication is permanent and public.
Online privacy protection is a personal responsibility. Users must become aware of their online
footprint and learn how to protect themselves (advocating for education on digital footprint).
Privacy settings, carefully selecting online friends, and limiting personal disclosures can help reduce
risks.
Additionally, social media is discussed as a platform where users strategically manage their self-
image. While people enjoy sharing personal information to strengthen social connections, this also
puts their privacy at risk. Users adjust their self-presentation to maintain a certain image.
, Article 2 - Self-disclosure in social media extending the functional approach to disclosure
motivations and characteristics on social network sites – Bazarova & Choi
Public disclosures vs traditional understanding of public disclosures
Self-disclosure is the act of revealing personal information to others by communicating through
verbal behaviours as describing feelings and experiences. Disclosure decisions and strategies
reflect a balance of conflicting needs aimed at maximizing strategic rewards and minimizing
personal risks (je bepaalt immers zelf welke info je deelt).
Study: SNS-users broadcast information all over
Dyadic context: twee
Functional approach of self-disclosure
Disclosure goals or subjective reasons activate disclosure, as well as the decision-making process
and its content. Disclosure goals:
1. social validation
2. self-expression
3. relational development
4. identity clarification
5. social control
Functional model of self-disclosure on SNS
Most people have several different goals in mind when approaching SNS. Their type of
communication is influenced by goals they have in mind. Social media affordances reflect users’
perceptions of media utility in supporting social practices with four kinds:
- Data permanence
- Communal visibility of social information and communication
- Message edibility
- Associations between individuals
Imagined audience = mensen van wie je denkt dat ze deelmaken van jouw publiek. Mensen
waarvan je niet weet wie ze zijn (zijn er meer dan je denkt)
- Visibility: publiekelijke zichtbaar of een-op-een, zoals een privébericht
- Directedness:
o Directed: gericht op één iemand, plaatsen van een bericht specifiek getarget
o Non directed: gericht op massapubliek, zoals een statusupdate
Results contain three different types of communication:
- Wallpost (plaatsen van een bericht op iemand anders zijn wall, gericht op 1 persoon)
- Private message (gericht op 1 persoon)
- Status updates (voor iedereen zichtbaar)
,H1: People pursue different disclosure goals in Facebook status updates, wall posts, and private
messages
H2: Disclosure directed at familiar others are associated with relational development goals more
than disclosures directed at general others, as via Facebook status updates
H3a: People pursue greater social validation goals in nondirected status updates compared to
directed wall posts and private messages
H3b: Social validation goals are more salient in public wall posts compared to private messages
H4: SNS users can adapt to different affordances by choosing to reveal less intimate and private
information via public status updates and wall posts than via private messaging on Facebook
H5: Disclosure goals are expected to affect disclosure intimacy
H6: Less intimate disclosures are associated with social validation goals compared to other self-
disclosure goals, especially the more personally involving relational development goals
H7: Disclosure goals are predicted to mediate between Facebook communication forms and
disclosure intimacy
Results: as technologies expands, opportunities for self-broadcasting and building personal
connections with others increases. People seize these opportunities to satisfy their instrumental
needs and adapt their communication behaviours accordingly.
, Lecture 4: Personalization, privacy concerns and information sharing
Article 1: The role of privacy fatigue in online privacy behaviour
RQ: What is the role of privacy concerns and privacy fatigue in users’…
- intention to disclose personal information (regarding privacy concerns), and
- online disengagement?
Hypotheses
- H1a) A higher level of privacy concern will result in less intention to disclose personal
information.
- H1b) A higher level of privacy concern will result in less disengagement.
- H2a) A higher level of privacy fatigue will result in higher intention to provide personal
information.
- H2b) A higher level of privacy fatigue will result in higher disengagement.
This study compares the influence of privacy concerns and privacy fatigue on both the intention to
share and users’ online disengagement. Which of the two relationships is stronger?
Results Met opmerkingen [TL(1]: Linker diagram snap ik, de
rechter niet. Een lage privacy concern (weinig zorgen),
zouden toch juist moeten leiden tot weinig (+)
disengagement?
