Short answer
Design interfaces and features that acknowledge and support the dual nature of privacy management – enabling users to strategically plan their disclosures and also to exert control when needed.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Aaltodoc (Aalto University) (2013)
- Method
- Qualitative research using in-depth interviews.
- Sample
- 17 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Bloggers employ distinct strategies, either as proactive, planned actions or as reactive control mechanisms, to manage their online privacy. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2013 study published in Aaltodoc (Aalto University). Using Qualitative research using in-depth interviews. with 17 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design interfaces and features that acknowledge and support the dual nature of privacy management – enabling users to strategically plan their disclosures and also to exert control when needed.
Blogger Privacy Strategies: Strategic Action vs. Control
Bloggers employ distinct strategies, either as proactive, planned actions or as reactive control mechanisms, to manage their online privacy.
Aaltodoc (Aalto University) · 2013
Key Findings
- 01Bloggers are motivated by self-documentation and a sense of community.
- 02Symbolic consumption plays a role in balancing identity conflicts and signifying affiliation/distinction.
- 03Two primary privacy management strategies were identified: privacy as strategic action and privacy as control.
Application
Design takeaway
Design interfaces and features that acknowledge and support the dual nature of privacy management – enabling users to strategically plan their disclosures and also to exert control when needed.
How to apply
When designing social media features, consider how users might proactively set up their profiles and privacy settings, as well as how they might reactively adjust them based on evolving circumstances or perceived risks.
Project actions
- 01When researching user behaviour, consider the different ways users might approach privacy.
- 02Explore how users construct their identity online and the role of their shared content and consumption choices.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes a qualitative approach to gain deep insights into user experiences.
- +Employs established qualitative research methods (autodriving, narrative analysis).
Limitations
The sample size is relatively small, and the participants are all bloggers, which might not represent the general population of social media users.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity is enhanced by the use of established qualitative methods and a hermeneutic framework for interpretation. Reliability might be limited due to the subjective nature of interviews and the small sample size.
Think critically
How might the perceived benefits of self-disclosure on social media influence a user's choice between a strategic or control-based privacy management approach?
Design Principles
"Provide flexible and layered privacy controls that accommodate diverse user strategies for self-disclosure and information management."
Understanding these varied privacy management approaches is crucial for designing social media platforms and digital tools that cater to diverse user needs and comfort levels regarding self-disclosure and personal information.
What This Means for Your Design
People who blog about their daily lives manage their privacy in two main ways: they either plan ahead what they share, or they actively try to control who sees what.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to inform the design of privacy features in your project, considering different user needs.
- 2.Reference this study when discussing user identity construction and self-presentation in online environments.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that online users, particularly bloggers, employ distinct strategies for managing their privacy, categorised as either 'strategic action' (proactive planning) or 'control' (reactive management). This suggests that digital product design should accommodate both approaches, offering flexible privacy settings that allow users to pre-emptively define their sharing preferences as well as to actively modify them as needed.
Source
Aaltodoc (Aalto University)
Remarks from the backstage: Blogging performances, blogger identity and privacy strategies
journal · 2013
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about blogger privacy strategies: strategic action vs. control?
- Design interfaces and features that acknowledge and support the dual nature of privacy management – enabling users to strategically plan their disclosures and also to exert control when needed. Evidence: Aaltodoc (Aalto University) (2013).
- Why does "Blogger Privacy Strategies: Strategic Action vs. Control" matter for design?
- Understanding these varied privacy management approaches is crucial for designing social media platforms and digital tools that cater to diverse user needs and comfort levels regarding self-disclosure and personal information.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design interfaces and features that acknowledge and support the dual nature of privacy management – enabling users to strategically plan their disclosures and also to exert control when needed.
- What were the main findings?
- Bloggers are motivated by self-documentation and a sense of community.. Symbolic consumption plays a role in balancing identity conflicts and signifying affiliation/distinction.. Two primary privacy management strategies were identified: privacy as strategic action and privacy as control.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research using in-depth interviews. with 17 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2013 journal from Aaltodoc (Aalto University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing social media features, consider how users might proactively set up their profiles and privacy settings, as well as how they might reactively adjust them based on evolving circumstances or perceived risks.
- What are the limitations?
- The findings are based on a specific group of bloggers ('lifestreamers') and may not be generalizable to all social media users. The subjective nature of interviews and narrative analysis introduces potential for researcher interpretation.