Revisiting the Privacy Paradox on Social Media: An Analysis of Privacy Practices Associated with Facebook and Twitter

Abstract

Background Since the development of social media, social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook and Twitter have been at the centre of privacy controversies and debates. Meanwhile, users continue to expose their personal information. Analysis This ethnographic research examines 20 young adults’ privacy practices and their relationship to privacy when they are using social network sites. Conclusions and implications The privacy paradox is shaped by various factors, such as a limited knowledge of institutional surveillance practices, low visibility of these practices in context, a perception of control over the publication of information, and thin social trust. These findings provide empirical support for the application of the contextual integrity approach on social media and the development of a critical media education even at an adult age.