Response: Boundary Regulation in Social Media

Summary:

In this paper the authors investigate the motivations of people in using separate accounts for social networks. They compare different usage patterns ranging from fully open transparent connection of accounts and networks using real names to disconnected hidden accounts using pseudonyms. They also look at the motivation for peoples behavior using these systems, finding that there interest is more than just that of privacy, but also utility, identity management and social behaviour.

Response:

I was surprised at first by the findings of the authors, especially that privacy was not the only reason people chose to use multiple accounts to manage their online identity. On further reflection though I am less surprised, especially when looking at the divisions the authors selected, which I would argue are mostly types of privacy preservation. Whether the reasons are you don't want your boss to see what you do, you don't want your mother to see what you do or you don't want people who don't know who you are what you do, there are all aspects of the same concept.

The utility argument is more interesting to me in that it is caused largely by the lack of control people have over these types of services. Sadly they did not include and google plus users in their study. It would have been interesting to see what having the ability to decide which sections of your audience receives your posts does to the concerns about having professional and private accounts.