Privacy Concerns Versus Desire for Interpersonal Awareness in Driving the Use of Self-Disclosure Technologies: The Case of Instant Messaging in Two Cultures

TLDR

Social computing technologies provide features that enable users to disclose personal information, and such self‑disclosure is generally viewed as beneficial for interpersonal communication. The study investigates how cultural differences shape information privacy concerns and the desire for online interpersonal awareness, and how these factors influence attitudes toward, intentions to use, and actual use of self‑disclosure technologies. Using a social‑exchange‑theory‑based model, the authors tested these relationships with instant‑messaging users from China and the United States. Cross‑cultural dimensions significantly predict privacy concerns and desire for online awareness, which in turn predict attitudes, intentions, and actual use of instant messaging; the model applies to both cultures and offers practical guidance for adding control features. Keywords: instant messaging, privacy, self‑disclosure, social computing, social exchange theory.

Abstract

Abstract Social computing technologies typically have multiple features that allow users to reveal their personal information to other users. Such self-disclosure (SD) behavior is generally considered positive and beneficial in interpersonal communication and relationships. Using a newly proposed model based on social exchange theory, this paper investigates and empirically validates the relationships between SD technology use and culture. In particular, we explore the effects of culture on information privacy concerns and the desire for online interpersonal awareness, which influence attitudes toward, intention to use, and actual use of SD technologies. Our model was tested using arguably the strongest social computing technology for online SD—instant messaging (IM)—with users from China and the United States. Our findings reveal that cross-cultural dimensions are significant predictors of information privacy concerns and desire for online awareness, which are, in turn, found to be predictors of attitude toward, intention to use, and actual use of IM. Overall, our proposed model is applicable to both cultures. Our findings enhance the theoretical understanding of the effects of culture and privacy concerns on SD technologies and provide practical suggestions for developers of SD technologies, such as adding additional control features to applications. Keywords: instant messagingprivacyself-disclosureself-disclosure technologiessocial computing technologiessocial exchange theorytheory of reasoned action