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
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.
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
Variables
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
(2020). Disclosure, Privacy, and Stigma on Social Media. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction. https://doi.org/10.1145/3386600 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/93097841-17c9-404b-9dab-ecdc736a7813/social-media-platforms-can-reduce-stigma-by-facilitating-disclosure-of-sensitive-experiences
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 sourceQuestions 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.
- Is there evidence that social media affects design outcomes?
- Individuals' decisions about whether or not to share sensitive personal experiences on social media are complex, influenced by personal feelings, perceptions of others, social networks, societal norms, platform features, and the timing of the disclosure. Designers of social media platforms and related digital tools nee Source: ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction (2020).
- Where does this sensitive personal research apply?
- Social media platforms, online disclosure of sensitive personal experiences It sits within user-centred design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
social media design research · evidence on social media · does social media improve design outcomes · sensitive personal studies for designers · social media and sensitive personal findings · user-centred design research evidence