apc2012 conference, amsterdam.1 relinquishment of privacy or empowering exhibitionism? weight loss...

APC2012 Conference, Amsterdam. 1

Relinquishment of privacy or

empowering exhibitionism? Weight loss bloggers’ disclosure of personal information

Anne-Marie OostveenUniversity of Oxford

Overweight & Obesity• Worldwide 1.5 million adults overweight, 200

million men and 300 million women obese (World Health Organization, 2011).

• These people experience stigma: devalued, lower status, targets of negative stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination.

• Makes them reluctant to talk about it F2F, even though they are ‘discredited’ individuals (Goffman, 1968) .

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Research Questions• Online: personal blogs with open accounts of

overweight and related issues, even though on the Internet people are discreditable.

• Why are people willing to disclose information which has a social stigma offline?

• Are the bloggers anonymous?

• ‘Careless relinquishment of privacy’ or ‘empowering exhibitionism’?

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Privacy Concerns• Personal blogs are a central repository of personal

information, both persistent and cumulative

• Electronic Frontier Foundation: keep personal blogs private, or accessible only to certain trusted people (passwords)

• Weight loss bloggers are aware of the potential negative consequences, but experience many benefits.

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Methods• Online questionnaire, 30 questions (screening,

demographics, stigma, online disclosure, privacy behaviour and privacy concern).

• N=79 active bloggers (67 females, 12 males).

• Mean age = 35 (range between 21 – 65 years)

• 54% USA, 16% Canada, 7% UK, 6% Australia/N-Zealand.

• Oldest blog from June 2000.

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• 40% experience high levels of stigma, 46% medium levels.

‘It is hard to be around others who don't have to watch what they eat. I often feel inadequate and fatter than I am’

• Individuals feel embarrassed, disappointed in themselves, uncomfortable, ugly, and self-conscious around others.

• 75%: society fairly to very hostile

• Only 14% blog anonymously6

Information provided

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• 72% find their provided information somewhat to extremely private.

• Level of sensitivity changes over time: about 33% disclose more private information

‘The more I blog, the more I tend to reveal about my weight loss and eating habits. I feel as though the people that read my blog know a side of me that many of my friends and family don’t’ (Female, 32)

• While 15% disclose less.• 20% had information misused.• 95% not concerned that info will be available for a

long time

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Motivations

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• Accountability

‘Knowing that other people are watching my progress (or setbacks) keeps me accountable’

• Recognition/understanding from like-minded people

‘Understanding from those who identified with what I was going through was key to dusting off my knees if I fell’

• Valuable feedback

‘I receive the most supportive comments and feedback from my readers. It truly does make a difference in moving forward when you hit inevitable bumps along the way. Roadblocks are an inevitable part of it and to have people cheer you on is incredibly motivating’

• Experiential information

‘Readers provide advice and tips that can help you move past a specific issue that might arise in the process’

• Social Connections

‘I met hundreds of people who identify with what I was experiencing, which was not readily available in my real life. Consequently I have made some best friends who I have gotten to know in “real” life’

• Giving back to community

‘I knew my life would be different if I lost the weight, but the degree to how much it has, and the joy it brings, is enough for me to encourage others to see that it is possible and I want to share that with as many people as possible’

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Conclusion• Moral support & acceptance from

‘sympathetic others’ critical for well-being.

• Privacy advocates’ advice to use passwords defies the purpose of reaching a wide audience of like-minded strangers.

• A social support system helps individuals to lose more weight. Internet’s 24/7 availability gives access to this support and helps to improve health, self-esteem & well-being.

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Thank you!

anne-marie.oostveen@oii.ox.ac.uk

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