A recent UK study on social networks found that many users aren’t that concerned about posting personal information online because the whole point of social network sites is to share details about yourself so you can link up with other people and communicate. This point of view is not surprising because it’s human nature to focus on the benefits and not think through all the possible consequences. Also, people’s comfort level online is directly related to assumptions they make about risk.
danah boyd says:
Yes, people reveal personal stuff to a website. They know that they revealed that information but they still have an assumption about how it is to be presented and the ways that make them comfortable and the things that make them go ick…People choose to take risks based on that they assume the architectural affordances and norms of a space to be…we need to find ways of providing reasonable levels of protection and comfort….
Do you agree with danah’s point? If so, what would a reasonable level of protection and comfort be for you?