Privacy and Social Networks: Is Concern a Valid Indicator of Intention and Behaviour?

Abstract

End-user privacy is a well-defined problem in Social Networks such as Facebook. Users have stated concern for their privacy yet display behaviour to the contrary within the system, a phenomenon known as the privacy paradox. There is an assumption that high levels of concern for one's privacy should lead to a reluctance to disclose information and to an acceptance of highly protective measures within the network. Few works have studied this paradox in its entirety, each taking differing views of it and using a variety of measures. Furthermore, evidence for the paradox has been found between varying conceptual elements of it and hence, there is a need for a holistic study of this phenomenon in order to identify where the paradox manifests. This work implements a survey instrument aimed at examining if concern should be used as an indicator of intention and action as it is assumed in past literature. Results show that users of social networks desire a benchmark of privacy that is consistent across measures of concern. A survey instrument examining general statements of concern would appear to inadequate in exploring the complex nature of privacy in social networks.