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

Why It Matters

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.

Key Finding

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.

Key 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.

Research Evidence

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

Method: Qualitative research (in-depth interviews)

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

Context: Social media platforms, online disclosure of sensitive personal experiences

Design Principle

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

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.

Limitations

The study focused on women's experiences with pregnancy loss, so findings may not generalize to all stigmatized experiences or demographics.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: 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.

Why This Matters: Understanding why users hesitate to share personal experiences is key to designing digital products that are truly user-centred and supportive, especially when dealing with sensitive topics.

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

IA-Ready Paragraph: 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.

Project Tips

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

How to Use in IA

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

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological and social barriers users face when interacting with digital platforms, particularly concerning sensitive disclosures.

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

Dependent Variable: ["Decision to not disclose stigmatized experiences on social media"]

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

Strengths

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

Critical Questions

• To what extent can platform design truly mitigate deeply ingrained societal stigma?
• What are the ethical considerations when designing for disclosure of sensitive information?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the design of online support communities for specific stigmatized conditions, focusing on features that encourage safe disclosure and peer support.

Source

Disclosure, Privacy, and Stigma on Social Media · ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction · 2020 · 10.1145/3386600