Short answer

Designers must proactively identify and mitigate the barriers that prevent users from disclosing sensitive personal experiences online, thereby fostering more supportive and less stigmatizing digital environments.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (2020)
Method: Qualitative research (in-depth interviews)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Understanding the multifaceted factors influencing individuals' decisions not to disclose stigmatized experiences on social media is crucial for designing more supportive online environments. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction. Using Qualitative research (in-depth interviews), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must proactively identify and mitigate the barriers that prevent users from disclosing sensitive personal experiences online, thereby fostering more supportive and less stigmatizing digital environments.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactModerate effect

Social media platforms can reduce stigma by facilitating disclosure of sensitive experiences.

Understanding the multifaceted factors influencing individuals' decisions not to disclose stigmatized experiences on social media is crucial for designing more supportive online environments.

ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction · 2020

Key Findings

01Six types of factors influence non-disclosure decisions: self, audience, network, society, platform, and temporality.
02Existing frameworks for disclosure decisions can also explain non-disclosure decisions.
03Barriers to disclosure contribute to the perpetuation of stigma.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing features for sharing personal stories or support groups, consider implementing granular privacy controls, offering optional anonymity, and providing clear information about the potential impact of disclosure.

Project actions

01When researching user needs for a design project, consider exploring the emotional and social factors that influence sharing behaviour.
02Think about how platform design can either encourage or discourage the disclosure of sensitive information.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat factors influence individuals' decisions to not disclose stigmatized experiences on identified social media platforms?

MethodQualitative research (in-depth interviews)

ProcedureConducted in-depth interviews with women who had experienced pregnancy loss but had not disclosed this experience on identified social media platforms.

ContextSocial media platforms, online disclosure of sensitive personal experiences

Variables

IV["Factors influencing non-disclosure (self, audience, network, society, platform, temporality)"]

DV["Decision to not disclose stigmatized experiences on social media"]

CV["Identified social media use","Experience of pregnancy loss","Participant demographics (e.g., women in the US)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Provides a nuanced understanding of non-disclosure decisions.
+Extends existing privacy theories to explain non-disclosure.

Limitations

The specific context of pregnancy loss might not fully represent the nuances of other stigmatized experiences.

Reliability & validity

The qualitative nature of interviews provides rich, in-depth data but may have limited generalizability. Triangulation with other data sources could enhance validity.

Think critically

How can platform design actively counter societal stigma rather than simply accommodating user privacy concerns?

Design Principles

"Design for safe and controlled self-disclosure of sensitive information."

Designers of social media platforms and related digital tools need to consider the psychological, social, and platform-specific barriers that prevent users from sharing sensitive personal information. Addressing these barriers can lead to more inclusive and supportive online communities, ultimately reducing the negative impact of stigma.

What This Means for Your Design

People don't always share difficult personal stories online because they worry about how others will react, what the platform allows, or if it's the right time. Designers can help by making it easier and safer for people to share if they want to.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify design decisions related to privacy, user control, and community building in your design project.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that user decisions regarding disclosure of sensitive information on social media are influenced by a complex interplay of self-perception, audience considerations, network dynamics, societal norms, platform affordances, and temporal factors. Understanding these barriers is critical for designing digital platforms that foster supportive environments and reduce stigma, as users may refrain from disclosure due to perceived risks and lack of control.

Source

ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction

Disclosure, Privacy, and Stigma on Social Media

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about social media platforms can reduce stigma by facilitating disclosure of sensitive experiences?: Designers must proactively identify and mitigate the barriers that prevent users from disclosing sensitive personal experiences online, thereby fostering more supportive and less stigmatizing digital environments. Evidence: ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (2020).
Why does "Social media platforms can reduce stigma by facilitating disclosure of sensitive experiences." matter for design?: Designers of social media platforms and related digital tools need to consider the psychological, social, and platform-specific barriers that prevent users from sharing sensitive personal information. Addressing these barriers can lead to more inclusive and supportive online communities, ultimately reducing the negative impact of stigma.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers must proactively identify and mitigate the barriers that prevent users from disclosing sensitive personal experiences online, thereby fostering more supportive and less stigmatizing digital environments.
What were the main findings?: Six types of factors influence non-disclosure decisions: self, audience, network, society, platform, and temporality.. Existing frameworks for disclosure decisions can also explain non-disclosure decisions.. Barriers to disclosure contribute to the perpetuation of stigma.
What research method was used?: Qualitative research (in-depth interviews).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing features for sharing personal stories or support groups, consider implementing granular privacy controls, offering optional anonymity, and providing clear information about the potential impact of disclosure.
What are the limitations?: The study focused on women's experiences with pregnancy loss, so findings may not generalize to all stigmatized experiences or demographics.