Privacy In Social Networks Research Articles

A deep decentralized privacy-preservation framework for online social networks

This paper addresses the critical challenge of privacy in Online Social Networks (OSNs), where centralized designs compromise user privacy. We propose a novel privacy -preservation framework that integrates blockchain technology with deep learning to overcome these vulnerabilities. Our methodology employs a two-tier architecture: the first tier uses an elitism-enhanced Particle Swarm Optimization and Gravitational Search Algorithm (ePSOGSA) for optimizing feature selection, while the second tier employs an enhanced Non-symmetric Deep Autoencoder (e-NDAE) for anomaly detection. Additionally, a blockchain network secures users’ data via smart contracts, ensuring robust data protection. When tested on the NSL-KDD dataset, our framework achieves 98.79% accuracy, a 10% false alarm rate, and a 98.99% detection rate, surpassing existing methods. The integration of blockchain and deep learning not only enhances privacy protection in OSNs but also offers a scalable model for other applications requiring robust security measures.

Social media and body image: Relationships between social media appearance preoccupation, self-objectification, and body image

Nearly 85 % of emerging adults report using at least one social media site. Research suggests that viewing and internalizing unrealistic body ideals often displayed online may pose harmful effects on young people’s body image. However, studies on the relationships between social media usage and body image have predominantly focused on women’s drive for thinness. We sought to explore the relationships between social media appearance-related preoccupation (SMARP), body shame and surveillance, and drives for leanness, muscularity, and thinness, specifically examining the moderating role of gender within these relationships. Data from 939 undergraduate students (n = 240 men) were analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Surveillance significantly mediated the positive associations between SMARP and drive for leanness for women and men. For SMARP and drive for muscularity, surveillance was a mediator for men only. Shame emerged as a significant mediator of the positive association between SMARP and drive for thinness for women and men. Moderated mediation was supported, such that the indirect effect of SMARP on drive for thinness was significantly stronger for women. These results suggest that for men in particular, SMARP is not necessarily associated with increased drives for leanness and muscularity unless men are also engaging in body surveillance.

A Privacy-Preserving Friend Matching Scheme Based on Attribute Encryption in Mobile Social Networks

In mobile social networks, users can easily communicate with others through smart devices. Therefore, the protection of user privacy in social networks is becoming a significant subject. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a fine-grained data access control scheme that uses attributes to match friends. In our scheme, the friend-making parties generate friend preference and self-description lists, respectively, realizing attribute hiding by converting friendship preference into ciphertext access control policies and self-description into attribute keys. The social platform matches user profiles to quickly eliminate unmatched users and avoids invalid decryption. In order to reduce the computational burden and communication cost of mobile devices, we adopt an algorithm mechanism for outsourcing decryption. When the user meets the matching conditions, the algorithm outsources the bilinear pair operation with large computation to the friend server. After that, the user finally decrypts the ciphertext. Security analysis shows that our scheme is safe and effective. In addition, performance evaluation shows that the proposed scheme is efficient and practical.

Multi-grained alignment method based on stable topics in cross-social networks.

The user alignment of cross-social networks is divided into user and group alignments, respectively. Obtaining users' full features is difficult due to social network privacy protection policies in user alignment mode. In contrast, the alignment accuracy is low due to the large number of edge users in the group alignment mode. To resolve this issue, First, stable topics are obtained from user-generated content (UGC) based on embedded topic jitter time, and the weight of user edges is updated by using vector distances. An improved Louvain algorithm, called Stable Topic-Louvain (ST-L), is designed to accomplish multi-level community detection without predetermined tags. It aims to obtain fuzzy topic features of the community and finalize the community alignment across social networks. Furthermore, iterative alignment is executed from coarse-grained communities to fine-grained sub-communities until user-level alignment occurs. The process can be terminated at any layer to achieve multi-granularity alignment, which resolves the low accuracy issue of edge user alignment at a single granularity and improves the accuracy of user alignment. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown by implementing real datasets.

A Systematic Mapping Study on Social Network Privacy: Threats and Solutions

Online Social Networks (OSNs) are becoming pervasive in today’s world. Millions of people worldwide are involved in different forms of online networking. However, this ease of use of OSNs comes with a cost in terms of privacy. Users of OSNs become victims of identity theft, cyberstalking, and information leakage, which are real threats to privacy. These threats can obtain a user’s personal information and disclose it for malicious purposes. To understand how researchers are addressing this question, the state of the art of the existing privacy threats in OSNs described in the literature and the existing academic research-based solutions to address such threats were reviewed. To this end, we performed a systematic mapping study to identify, classify and analyze them. From the initial set of 1117 papers, we selected and extracted 45 publications reporting different threats and solutions. Based on this, this is the first systematic mapping study, to provide: a) well-defined categories of specific privacy threats in the OSN domain; and b) the available academic solutions for preventing these threats. Our results serve as a guide for researchers and analysts in academia and industry to understand the most important privacy threats in OSNs and make moves towards mitigating them.

An Uncertain Graph Method Based on Node Random Response to Preserve Link Privacy of Social Networks

An Uncertain Graph Method Based on Node Random Response to Preserve Link Privacy of Social Networks

‘They are watching you do everything online’: Children's perceptions of social media surveillance

AbstractThrough a Foucauldian lens, this qualitative study explored the perspectives and lived conditions of children's experiences of social media surveillance. Sixteen children between the ages of 10 and 11 years old participated in the creative method of collaging with an unstructured interview in four schools in South Wales, UK. Visual combined with verbal analysis found a nuanced picture of how social media surveillance has influenced children's cultural and social practices of their childhood. Despite the challenges of peer and adult control exemplified, children did demonstrate agency within their digital spaces. Policy implications should involve a stronger emphasis on developing children's emotional resilience and discernment surrounding perceived surveillance.

Privacy by design. User-held data model as a basis for Privacy and Personal Data protection in social networks

The article reveals the concept and features of privacy by design approach. An analysis of the legislation of the European Union, which regulates the obligation to comply with mentioned concept, namely the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, was carried out. Within the framework of the concept of privacy by design, the concepts and pecularities of using user-held data model are studied, which aims to change the legal regulation and technical support of information security as well as the security of personal data in social networks.
 In order to achieve the goal of the research, the need to introduce the specified model of data protection was analyzed – namely practical problems of personal data protection within the peculiarities of the market of social network service providers. The need of the interpretation of personal data as an object of property right was outlined, as well as the interpretation of the purpose of the meta data itself as personal information about a person that can be used to recognize or track a person separately or in combination with other information, which is directly stated in the OMB Act No. A-130, however, is neither interpreted similarly in the Data Protection Regulation nor in the legislation of Ukraine. The main advantages of implementing a user-held data model are presented, namely the advantages for data owners, businesses, the state, and cloud service providers for providing and maintaining the model.
 Legislation in the field of personal data protection in the EU, in particular in the field of social networks, is more complex at the supranational and national level. It is provided with a separate regulatory and organizational mechanisms, which are different from the one that exists today in Ukraine. The mechanism for the protection of personal data in the European Union provides the creation of independent public authority that is responsible for the implementation and compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation. The article highlights the need to create a single separate body in the field of personal data protection in Ukraine, which will be able to perform the function of monitoring and ensuring compliance with the requirements of the relevant legislation, in particular, compliance with privacy by design.

Does centralization of online content regulation affect political hate speech in a country? A public choice perspective

This study primarily examines how the centralization of online content regulation increases political hate speech in a country. It also explores the roles of the government's social media surveillance and disinformation in this relationship. Calhoun's public choice theory is used as a theoretical foundation to examine relationships. Data from 179 nations are analyzed using a mixed-method approach (i.e., path analysis and fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis), and the findings reveal how centralization of online content regulation results in higher levels of political hate speech by increasing social media surveillance of political content and disinformation through social media by the government.

Security and privacy concerns in social networks mathematically modified metaheuristic-based approach

Potential risks and vulnerabilities in Social Networks (SN) that may threaten the confidentiality, accuracy, and accessibility of data provided by users have been identified as safety risks. Unauthorized usage of the system, breaches of data, privacy violations, cyber-attacks, and other malicious behaviors that negatively impact the SN’s reliability and security may be addressed within these. Innovative techniques that use scientifically enhanced metaheuristic algorithms are the subject of the study, which attempts to address evolving issues of security and privacy in SNs. In order to improve the security of online social networking data encryption, researchers recommend implementing the MMCSOA approach, which is the Mathematically Modified Cuckoo Search Optimization Algorithm. An enhanced tuning of elliptic curve parameters can be accomplished by adapting the Cuckoo Search method, which, in consequence, provides an encrypted environment for multi-party computing. Users’ preferences for confidentiality are considered while applying a fuzzy logic (FL) decision matrix to select individuals. Data security is improved, and users receive additional authority over data shared with MMCSOA. Research findings prove that MMCSOA is higher compared to other methods in securing users’ privacy.

EXPLORING RELATIONSHIPS AMONG CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUES, SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, AND LIFE SATISFACTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA

Cultural ecosystem services significantly affected human well-being in the COVID-19 era. This study investigates visitors’ cultural ecosystem service values at Saguaro National Park (US) and how those values affect tourists’ spiritual well-being and life satisfaction in the post-pandemic era with an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In a qualitative phase using a netnographic analysis of Instagram data (N = 449), seven themes emerged: national environment, learning, socialization, escape and solitude, mental well-being, outdoor recreation during COVID-19, and tourism during COVID-19. Subsequently, these themes were used to develop and test the proposed hypotheses on data collected from 316 participants of an online survey using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results disclosed that cultural ecosystem service values can significantly affect different dimensions of spiritual well-being. This study emphasizes the mediating role of personal and communal spiritual well-being between cultural ecosystem service values and life satisfaction. Further, it bridges the application of real-time social media surveillance with a content analysis of text and images and a quantitative analysis of qualitative results. The managerial implications provide suggestions for promoting small/medium national parks in the post-pandemic era.

Unveiling the Social Media Surveillance Research: Themes, Ethics, and Global Implications

Unveiling the Social Media Surveillance Research: Themes, Ethics, and Global Implications

Internet of things-based virtual private social networks on a text messaging strategy on mobile platforms

Internet of things-based virtual private social networks on a text messaging strategy on mobile platforms

Internet of things-based virtual private social networks on a text messaging strategy on mobile platforms

Internet of things-based virtual private social networks on a text messaging strategy on mobile platforms

Social Networks and the concept of Self: Identity and self-expression in the online world

This article attempts to investigate the influence of social networks on the concept of personality and selfexpression in the modern online world. The article is an in-depth analysis of important aspects of this issue, starting with the creation of a virtual personality and control over its image in the digital environment. The authors also analyze the phenomenon of online self-expression and social accentuation, identifying philosophical and psychological aspects of the interaction between personality and digital reality. An important focus of the article is the question of how social networks and the digital environment in general affect the formation and modification of personal identity. The authors discuss changes in the perception of personality in the online space and consider which aspects of digital life contribute to strengthening or changing our concept of self. In addition, the article raises important ethical dilemmas related to privacy and social life in social networks. She highlights questions about the boundaries between the personal and the public in the digital age and offers a philosophical view on solving these dilemmas. Through the philosophical analysis presented in the article, a deep understanding of how the digital world shapes and changes our ideas about our own personality and social interactions in modern society is provided

Composition of Ukrainian households under forced migration and its impact on livelihood opportunities at early stage of stay in Krakow

ABSTRACT In this study, we analyze the changes in the composition of Ukrainian households participating in mass migration to Krakow, Poland, at the onset of the war and verify the significance of their newly formed composition for their financial situation abroad. For this purpose, we utilize household-level data and statistical inference methods. The findings reveal that the decisions to leave the home country were often associated with separation, not only from life partners but also from elderly members of the households. We confirm the significance of the presence of specific household members, such as life partners, other adults, and children, for households opportunities and limitations in the host country. We recognize households with seniors as having the most challenging financial situation. Conversely, singles and households with adults other than life partners are found to have the highest degree of self-reliance due to their access to private financial resources and social networks. Migrating couples tended to rely on public assistance but were determined to find employment. Households with children were found to be dependent on diverse forms of public assistance and showed less interest in gainful employment but open to social integration.

Information Security and Individual Privacy in Social Networks“Kurdish Users” as a Case Study

Information Security and Individual Privacy in Social Networks“Kurdish Users” as a Case Study

The Development and Validation of a Scale Measuring Social Media Surveillance from Colleagues

The Development and Validation of a Scale Measuring Social Media Surveillance from Colleagues

A negative survey based privacy preservation method for topology of social networks

With the development of social platforms, the social network has aroused wide attention. Since social networks contain a lot of personal sensitive information, many privacy preservation methods have been designed for social networks to allay concerns about privacy disclosure of people. However, most of the existing methods disturb the social networks too much to ensure the utility of social networks. To this end, we propose a negative survey based privacy preservation method, called NetNS, to preserve the topology privacy of social networks, where a dedicated negative survey model is developed to disturb edges in social networks in order to preserve the topology privacy of them. The theoretical analysis indicates that the developed NetNS is efficient, and can resist two common graph structure attacks including friendship attack and subgraph attack, while empirical studies conducted on three real-world social networks show that compared to six existing privacy preservation algorithms tailored for the topology of social networks, the developed NetNS can provide disturbed social networks with better utility while achieving same privacy preservation level.

A codesign study exploring needs, strategies, and opportunities for digital health platforms to address pandemic-related impacts on children and families

In this paper we contribute seven design opportunities for future digital health platforms, like Private Social Networks (PSNs), focused on supporting the (un)met mental health and socioemotional needs of children (∼8-12 years old) and their supporting adults (parents and teachers) in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. These were derived from the thematic analysis of a two-phase co-design study with children, their parents, and their teachers (Phase 1), and employees at our industry partner Curatio.me (Phase 2). Our thematic findings contribute understanding about the types of experiences children, families and educators have had, and open the conversation around designing digital health platforms that can support mental health and socioemotional wellbeing in children and their supporting adults. Through individualized tracking, social capabilities, and secure, vetted sources of support, PSNs offer unique opportunities to (1) provide children with a safe space to share, reflect and come together, (2) extend existing practices related to SEL across children’s changing contexts and developmental needs, (2) support an integrated digital ecosystem of care across different stakeholders that allows for engagement and targeted interventions, and (3) support niche or marginalized communities in gaining access to relevant, meaningful and identity-specific support that may not otherwise be available.