Platforms, Privacy, and Power: Examining Predictors of Online Intimate Information Disclosure and Expression

When intimate privacy is violated, self- and relational development is impaired to the detriment of individuals and society. Despite these costs, there is a lack of systematic empirical and theoretical study of intimate privacy and efforts to protect it. This research helps fill this void through two complementary studies. Through a longitudinal experimental design, results from Study 1 highlight that partner trust and response-efficacy were not only positively predictive of online intimate disclosure, but also strengthened following knowledge of intimate privacy protections. In Study 2, we find individuals are more likely to engage in public-facing online sexual expression if the platform—as opposed to the government—is responsible for intimate privacy policy. This article underscores the value of empirical methods to the law and provides implications for policymakers and platform designers seeking to heighten intimate privacy protections.