Inside out and outside in: How the COVID-19 pandemic affects self-disclosure on social media. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nabity-Grover, Teagen; Cheung, Christy M.K.; Thatcher, Jason Bennett
• Is Part Of: International journal of information management. Volume 55(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Self-disclosure -- COVID-19 pandemic -- Social media -- Self-focus -- Other-focus -- Research agenda; Social sciences -- Information services -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; Management information systems -- Periodicals; Knowledge management -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Documentation, Services de -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'information -- Périodiques; Systèmes d'information de gestion -- Périodiques; Information science; Management information systems; Social sciences -- Information services; Social sciences -- Research; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 025.52068
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102188
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-4012

Abstract

Highlights: People engage in self-disclosure on social media to stay connected with others during the pandemic. We observe a shift in which disclosures serve the public good and which are considered socially inappropriate. We propose using the self-focus and other-focus perspectives to explain pandemic-related self-disclosure on social media. We present a research agenda and discuss practical insights. Abstract: As social distancing and lockdown orders grew more pervasive, individuals increasingly turned to social media for support, entertainment, and connection to others. We posit that global health emergencies - specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic - change how and what individuals self-disclose on social media. We argue that IS research needs to consider how privacy (self-focused) and social (other-focused) calculus have moved some issues outside in (caused by a shift in what is considered socially appropriate) and others inside out (caused by a shift in what information should be shared for the public good). We identify a series of directions for future research that hold potential for furthering our understanding of online self-disclosure and its factors during health emergencies.