Fuzzy Facebook privacy boundaries: Exploring mediated lurking, vague-booking, and Facebook privacy management

Abstract

Managing privacy in the interconnected digital interaction environment of Facebook can be a complex yet vital endeavor. This study utilizes the theoretical framework of Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory to explore relationships between concern about mediated lurking, strategic ambiguity (or vague-booking) on Facebook, and Facebook privacy management. The study explores three hypotheses. Overall, 383 participants completed an online survey instrument. Greater concern about mediated lurking was related to more Facebook privacy management. More frequent use of strategic ambiguity on Facebook was related to less Facebook privacy management. Individuals who were more highly concerned about mediated lurking were also more likely to employ more frequent use of strategic ambiguity on Facebook. Men engaged in significantly greater use of strategic ambiguity on Facebook and enacted significantly less Facebook privacy management than did women. Implications and future research related to Facebook privacy management from a CPM perspective are explored.