A new study (Madden, 2012) from the Pew Internet and American Life Project found a growing trend among social media users---unfriending. Managing your online profile comes at a time of greater concern for privacy, concern about how one is portrayed online, and concern that "oversharing" can negatively impact business and social contacts.
While social media sites continue their exponential growth, a growing concern about privacy has resulted in 63% of users reporting that they have deleted people from their friends list, an increase since the last study in 2009. The study also reported that 58% of users share their profile with only a close group of friends or relatives while only 20% make their profiles public.
This trend reflects concern with privacy and the amount of information easily available about an individual through their online profiles. As sites like Facebook launch new features such as Timeline, that put historic data "front and center" on the profile, people are concerned about what they've posted and how they may have been "tagged" in the postings of others. Privacy concerns were greater among women. Men were more likely to report that they regretted something they posted on a social media site. Thirty-seven percent of people regularly scan other sites and "untag" themselves on those sites.
The Pew Internet and American Life Project is one of the most respected research centers on use of social media technology. Their study suggests that people have begun to simplify their online identity management and increasingly recognize the costs associated with personal content that may be available online.
We'd enjoy hearing from you about the issue of social media and privacy. What do you do to monitor your online profile?
Great resource, Ron. Thank you so much. Am downloading the full report now. In my opinion it shows that we are learning that digital footprints are important and are actively beginning to manage them. I have tweeted out your blog & this report on my twitter account.
ReplyDelete@jhengstler