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Often referred to as the ‘new norm’, academics across disciplines have resorted to the use of SNS in order to disseminate information and for information sharing in recent years. This ‘new norm’ of information sharing has challenged traditional modes and methods of information sharing in the academic realm for a number of reasons, not least its methods are unorthodox (Gorska et al., 2020). There are also genuine ethical questions including privacy issues being raised about the use of SNS for the dissemination information sharing by academics(Nemati et al., 2014). Yet, this ‘new norm’ also presents a lot of opportunities, including but not limited to the avoidance of bureaucracy by publishers, and the ability to reach wider berth instantly. Given that research interests in this area seems relatively subdued or in its nascent stages at best (Barnes, 2006; Gorska et al., 2020; Mousavi et al., 2020; Rafique, 2017), this paper explores the gender dimension of the broader subject matter by interrogating the views of male and female academics on the issue of privacy.
Generally, SNS platforms over time have put in place measures to protect users’ privacy and allow them to control the information they share through the use of privacy policies and settings features. However, such sites face their own challenges, including what the content users share with other people, intrusion on online privacy, and other ethical conduct (Gorska et al., 2020; Krishnamurthy & Wills, 2009; Mousavi et al., 2020; Nemati et al., 2014). Another common danger associated with SNS, more often than not, is that information on such sites is subject to misuse including the sharing, doctoring and deliberate wide misuse of data with personal identifiable information as well as non-anonymized facts without the consent of users (Cao & Everard, 2008; Chen et al., 2013; Gorska et al., 2020; Mitchell & El-Gayar, 2020; Nemati et al., 2014). Users’ private information could also be easily collected, disclosed, and shared with other businesses and organizations with or without the knowledge and consent of users (Cao & Everard, 2008; Chen et al., 2013; Gorska et al., 2020). Further, identity theft and privacy invasion are critical problems facing SNS firms (Mitchell & El-Gayar, 2020). There is therefore a growing genuine concern over the threat, perceived or real, about the use of SNS by academics for the dissemination of information.
Under the backdrop that there are several pioneering studies that have examined online privacy in general (e.g. Cao & Everard, 2008; Gorska et al., 2020; Khandelwal et al., 2020; Mehta & Sivadas, 1995; Miyazaki & Fernandez, 2001; Mutimukwe et al., 2020), this paper provides an alternate perspective based on the gender of users. This paper also proposes a theoretical framework within the discourse of information dissemination on SNS and its consequential privacy challenges. Specifically, this paper focuses on exploring two principal questions:
The evidence from classical existing literature on the issue of information privacy suggest that at best, there are conflicting perspectives regarding the differences between the perceptions of males and females on information privacy in general (Carr & Kaynak, 2007; Rafique, 2017). For example, while some researchers find no gender differences in a number of privacy-related issues (e.g. Gorska et al., 2020; Lin & Brooks, 2013; Xiaolin Lin et al., 2013); others argue that there are demonstrable gender differences in a number of privacy-related issues (e.g. Dwyer et al., 2002; Mutimukwe et al., 2020). The significance of exploring the gender dimension of privacy in the use of SNS is to promote education on the topic, trigger political debates, make a case for gender equality and help in shaping policy. Such is necessary, particularly in cultures with strict gender roles. This paper therefore seeks to explore the gender differentials on information sharing and privacy concerns on SNS from the perspectives of academic users. The ensuing section provides a review of the literature on information privacy concerns.