Online Social Networks: Why We Disclose

• Published in: Journal of information technology Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 109 - 125
• Main Authors: Krasnova, Hanna, Spiekermann, Sarah, Koroleva, Ksenia, Hildebrand, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.06.2010; Palgrave Macmillan UK; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Business and Management; Business Information Systems; Calculus; Content analysis; Cost control; Disclosure; Electronic commerce; Focus groups; Information Systems and Communication Service; Innovation/Technology Management; Management; Mathematical models; Perceptions; Personal information; Privacy; Qualitative research; Research Article; Social exchange theory; Social networks; Studies; Trust; User behavior; online communities; privacy; structural equation modeling; information disclosure; online social networks; motivation
• ISSN: 0268-3962; 1466-4437
• DOI: 10.1057/jit.2010.6

On online social networks such as Facebook, massive self-disclosure by users has attracted the attention of Industry players and policymakers worldwide. Despite the Impressive scope of this phenomenon, very little Is understood about what motivates users to disclose personal Information. Integrating focus group results Into a theoretical privacy calculus framework, we develop and empirically test a Structural Equation Model of self-disclosure with 259 subjects. We find that users are primarily motivated to disclose Information because of the convenience of maintaining and developing relationships and platform enjoyment. Countervailing these benefits, privacy risks represent a critical barrier to information disclosure. However, users’ perception of risk can be mitigated by their trust in the network provider and availability of control options. Based on these findings, we offer recommendations for network providers.