apc2012 conference, amsterdam.1 relinquishment of privacy or empowering exhibitionism? weight loss...
TRANSCRIPT
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) .
2
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’?
3
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.
4
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.
5
• 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
7
8
• 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
9
Motivations
10
• 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’
11
12
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.
13
