Alexandria Digital Research Library

Comparative Optimism About Privacy Risks on Social Network Sites

Author:
Suh, Ji Young
Degree Grantor:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Communication
Degree Supervisor:
Miriam Metzger
Place of Publication:
[Santa Barbara, Calif.]
Publisher:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Creation Date:
2016
Issued Date:
2016
Topics:
Behavioral sciences, Web studies, and Communication
Genres:
Online resources and Dissertations, Academic
Dissertation:
M.A.--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2016
Description:

Comparatively optimistic people think that they are less susceptible to risks than others, and that sense of invulnerability may lead them to engage in risky behaviors. This study investigated antecedents (perceived control, prior negative privacy experiences by self or others, SNS usage, and privacy concern) and outcomes (information disclosure, use of privacy protection strategies, and profile visibility) of comparative optimism about privacy risks on social networking sites (SNSs). Results from a nationally representative survey of Facebook users in the U.S. show that users are comparatively optimistic, believing that they are less susceptible to privacy risks than are average users. However, unlike prior findings from offline contexts, comparatively optimistic SNS users do not engage in riskier privacy behaviors. This study also sheds light on the concept of users' sense of 'networked privacy,' which is the notion that privacy in networked environments is affected by actions of both self and others (e.g., tagging). Results of this study confirm that on SNSs, users' privacy perceptions are affected by how they perceive their own risk, as well as others' risk of having a negative privacy experience.

Physical Description:
1 online resource (45 pages)
Format:
Text
Collection(s):
UCSB electronic theses and dissertations
ARK:
ark:/48907/f3k93797
ISBN:
9781339671567
Catalog System Number:
990046534650203776
Rights:
Inc.icon only.dark In Copyright
Copyright Holder:
Ji Young Suh
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