Social Reading and Privacy Social Reading and Privacy Norms: Norms: The Aesthetic of Simplicity, The Aesthetic of Simplicity, Online Reading, and Interface Online Reading, and Interface ConfusionConfusion

J. Richard StevensJ. Richard Stevens

The Paradox of Data The Paradox of Data PrivacyPrivacy

Studies show Americans are generally concerned Studies show Americans are generally concerned about data privacy (Stevens, 2007; Stutzman, 2006; about data privacy (Stevens, 2007; Stutzman, 2006; Solove, 2004; Palen and Dourish, 2003) ... Solove, 2004; Palen and Dourish, 2003) ... ... but do little to protect their private data (boyd, ... but do little to protect their private data (boyd, 2004; Gross and Acquisti, 2006; Jupiter Research, 2004; Gross and Acquisti, 2006; Jupiter Research, 2002) ...2002) ...... and continually adjust expectations to meet ... and continually adjust expectations to meet offered choices (Palen and Dourish, 2003; Bennett, offered choices (Palen and Dourish, 2003; Bennett, Raab & Regan, 2003; Friedman, 1997; Murphy, Raab & Regan, 2003; Friedman, 1997; Murphy, 1964).1964).

Privacy DefinedPrivacy DefinedSolove (2007) argues:Solove (2007) argues:““… … the quest for a traditional definition of the quest for a traditional definition of privacy has led to a rather fruitless and privacy has led to a rather fruitless and unresolved debate. In the meantime, there are unresolved debate. In the meantime, there are real problems that must be addressed, but real problems that must be addressed, but they are either conflated or ignored because they are either conflated or ignored because they do not fit into various prefabricated they do not fit into various prefabricated conceptions of privacyconceptions of privacy”” (759). (759).

Privacy as reaction to technological innovationPrivacy as reaction to technological innovationPrivacy controversies as routinized moral panicsPrivacy controversies as routinized moral panics

Privacy and ContextPrivacy and ContextDecisions concerning information disclosure Decisions concerning information disclosure depend heavily on the circumstances, depend heavily on the circumstances, audience and perceived implications of the audience and perceived implications of the potential disclosure (Rosen, 2000)potential disclosure (Rosen, 2000)Privacy decisions are largely informed by Privacy decisions are largely informed by expectations, expectations that rely on expectations, expectations that rely on contextual cuescontextual cuesOnline, context is communicated through Online, context is communicated through design aesthetics and affordances.design aesthetics and affordances.

HCI and Interface HCI and Interface StudiesStudies

Classic Human-Computer Interaction has historically Classic Human-Computer Interaction has historically focused on usability, the effectiveness of design in focused on usability, the effectiveness of design in allowing users to achieve their goals.allowing users to achieve their goals.Usability is usually defined in terms of a lack of Usability is usually defined in terms of a lack of obstruction or complexityobstruction or complexityRecent moves to examine aesthetics of interface as Recent moves to examine aesthetics of interface as factors in encouraging particular behaviors.factors in encouraging particular behaviors.Design aesthetics communicate context: sense of Design aesthetics communicate context: sense of ““placeplace”” (Harrison and Dourish 1996) and interface (Harrison and Dourish 1996) and interface interpretations (Dourish and Button 1998) for interpretations (Dourish and Button 1998) for transactions.transactions.

Privacy Expectations Privacy Expectations and Interface Designand Interface Design

Interface designs increasingly utilize affordances of Interface designs increasingly utilize affordances of simplicity to increase user confidence and performancesimplicity to increase user confidence and performance

++Back-end architecture is increasingly complex, creating Back-end architecture is increasingly complex, creating ““architectures of vulnerabilityarchitectures of vulnerability”” (Solove 2004) (Solove 2004)

++Low user digital literacyLow user digital literacy

==Increasing gulf between how tools APPEAR to function Increasing gulf between how tools APPEAR to function to users and the actual functionality of back-end tools to users and the actual functionality of back-end tools

Interface Interface DisconnectionsDisconnections

... the importance of interface design revolves around this ... the importance of interface design revolves around this apparent paradox: we live in a society that is increasingly apparent paradox: we live in a society that is increasingly shaped by events in cyberspace, and yet cyberspace remains, shaped by events in cyberspace, and yet cyberspace remains, for all practical purposes, invisible, outside our perceptual for all practical purposes, invisible, outside our perceptual grasp. Our only access to this parallel universe of zeros and grasp. Our only access to this parallel universe of zeros and ones runs through the conduit of the computer interface, ones runs through the conduit of the computer interface, which means that the most dynamic and innovative region of which means that the most dynamic and innovative region of the modern word reveals itself through the anonymous the modern word reveals itself through the anonymous middlemen of interface design (Johnson 1997, 19).middlemen of interface design (Johnson 1997, 19).““As far as the customer is concerned, the interface is the As far as the customer is concerned, the interface is the productproduct”” (Raskin 2000, 5) (Raskin 2000, 5)Hutchins et al.Hutchins et al.’’s (1986) s (1986) ““gulf of interpretationgulf of interpretation”” - difficulty of - difficulty of interpreting systeminterpreting system’’s state as a response to a users state as a response to a user’’s s commandcommand

Open GraphOpen Graph

Facebook protocol enabling Facebook protocol enabling ““frictionless frictionless sharing,sharing,”” introduced September 2011. introduced September 2011.First 9 weeks:First 9 weeks:

Yahoo Social Reader - 10 million usersYahoo Social Reader - 10 million usersThe Guardian Social Reader - 4 million usersThe Guardian Social Reader - 4 million usersThe Washington Post - 3.5 million usersThe Washington Post - 3.5 million users

Privacy Privacy Controls/PermissionsControls/Permissions

Importance of Importance of AestheticsAesthetics

In physical space, architecture creates In physical space, architecture creates psychological and social effects (Tuan 1977) psychological and social effects (Tuan 1977) including altering individual conduct (Katyal including altering individual conduct (Katyal 2002). 2002). ““Information design makes information Information design makes information understandable by giving it a context. understandable by giving it a context. Information design builds new relationships Information design builds new relationships between thoughts and placesbetween thoughts and places”” (Mok 1996, 46). (Mok 1996, 46).

Washington Post Social Washington Post Social Reader PermissionsReader Permissions

Unconscious PromotionUnconscious Promotion

Social Readers Increase Social Readers Increase Architectures of Architectures of VulnerabilityVulnerabilityNews media organizations using social reader News media organizations using social reader

exacerbate by appearing to offer content as an exacerbate by appearing to offer content as an enticement for installing software.enticement for installing software.““Okay, Read ArticleOkay, Read Article”” = install reader software, = install reader software, become unpaid distributor of content for a media become unpaid distributor of content for a media organization. organization. ““CancelCancel”” = don = don’’t install, read article on websitet install, read article on websiteResult: further undermining of user contextual Result: further undermining of user contextual assessment, user surprise at results of choice (if assessment, user surprise at results of choice (if comparative results of choice options are even comparative results of choice options are even detected)detected)