This poster uses Q methodology to investigate subjective
perspectives on privacy of and control over social network
profiles. Earlier research using interview and focus group
techniques suggests that the default conception of online
social networks is as public spaces where there is little or
no expectation of control over content or distribution. This
conception, however, applies largely to information posted
by others, and participants frame their own online
participation in different ways. The current study explicitly
investigates these different subjective perspectives. The
results suggest three different user profiles or privacy
orientations: one group views their online profiles as spaces
for social display, but exert control over content and
audience; a second group treats their profiles as spaces for
open social display, exercising little control over either
content or audience; and a third group views social network
profiles as places to post personal information to a
controlled audience. These different perspectives lead to
different privacy needs and expectations