Online Social Networking Has a Greater Effect on Others than on Me: A Third-Person Effect Perspective

TL;DR

This study explores how users perceive the effects of online social networking on themselves versus others, revealing perceptual gaps and their influence on privacy protection behaviors, with gender differences playing a significant role.

Contribution

It applies third-person effect theory to online social networking, highlighting perceptual gaps and their impact on privacy actions, which is a novel application in this context.

Findings

Significant difference in perceived positive and negative effects on self and others.

Perception of usage risks influences support for privacy protection.

Gender differences affect third-person perception gaps for privacy risks.

Abstract

To date, much research has been conducted on the positive and negative effects of online social networking (OSN). However, how users perceive others and themselves being subject to these effects and the consequences of users' perceptions are understudied. Drawing from the third-person effect theory, this study examines the self-other perceptual gap for positive and negative effects of OSN and the consequences of perceptions for negative effects. Findings from our online survey (N=187) and interviews (N=8) suggested a significant difference between the perceived positive and negative effects on self and on others. Furthermore, the link between the third-person perception for usage risks of OSN and support for taking privacy protection actions was confirmed. We also found that the self-other discrepant perceptions were not influenced by age, time spent on OSN, number of OSN friends. However, gender emerged as a key difference in the third-person effects gap for privacy risks.