Beyond privacy settings: Creating a safer social media space for adolescents

Teenagers rely on social media not just for entertainment but as a primary tool for maintaining friendships and developing social identity. However, the design of current platforms often discourages self-disclosure, making it difficult for teens to share everyday moments freely. The study reveals that while adolescents want to engage in casual, frequent sharing to maintain relationships, concerns over audience perception, potential judgment, and a lack of control over shared content lead to self-censorship.

Social media plays a pivotal role in shaping teenage interactions, yet the existing design of these platforms often fails to support meaningful and trust-driven communication. Teens are encouraged to share, yet they face challenges in regulating their online boundaries due to ambiguous audience expectations, social risks, and a lack of effective privacy features.

A recent study, “Trust-Enabled Privacy: Social Media Designs to Support Adolescent User Boundary Regulation”, conducted by JaeWon Kim, Robert Wolfe, and Alexis Hiniker from the University of Washington, along with Ramya Bhagirathi Subramanian, Mei-Hsuan Lee, and Jessica Colnago, delves into these challenges. Published in arXiv, the study proposes a trust-centered approach to privacy that allows teens to manage their online presence more effectively while fostering social connections.

Challenges of self-disclosure on social media

Teenagers rely on social media not just for entertainment but as a primary tool for maintaining friendships and developing social identity. However, the design of current platforms often discourages self-disclosure, making it difficult for teens to share everyday moments freely. The study reveals that while adolescents want to engage in casual, frequent sharing to maintain relationships, concerns over audience perception, potential judgment, and a lack of control over shared content lead to self-censorship.

Many teens struggle with managing their audience, as social media platforms do not provide sufficient tools for dynamically adjusting privacy settings based on evolving relationships. The fear of oversharing, being misunderstood, or having their content seen out of context further exacerbates these concerns. As a result, teens often withdraw from sharing rather than navigating the risks, missing opportunities for social connection and engagement.

Introducing trust-enabled privacy

To address these issues, the researchers introduce the concept of Trust-Enabled Privacy, a framework that reframes privacy as a trust-driven process rather than a rigid control mechanism. Their findings suggest that when trust is actively supported within social media environments, boundary regulation becomes more adaptive and empowering. Conversely, when trust is lacking, teens default to restrictive self-censorship or withdrawal.

The study proposes several innovative design affordances to support trust-based privacy. These include guided disclosure, which offers recommendations on audience segmentation; intentional engagement signaling, which encourages meaningful interactions instead of passive likes; and trust-centered norms, which foster a positive social media culture that reduces judgment and enhances community support. These features allow teens to regulate their disclosures more effectively, ensuring that their content reaches the right audience without fear of misinterpretation or unintended exposure.

Redesigning social media for better boundary regulation

The study highlights the necessity of redesigning social media platforms to reflect the dynamic nature of trust and relationships. Unlike traditional privacy settings that focus on binary controls (public vs. private), the researchers advocate for a model that aligns with how trust evolves over time. They suggest that social media should provide users with tools that allow them to gradually build trust through repeated interactions, creating a more comfortable space for sharing.

For instance, the introduction of contextual audience segmentation would enable teens to share specific content with select groups, reducing the anxiety of posting to a broad, undefined audience. Additionally, the use of temporary access controls - such as expiring posts or limited visibility based on recent interactions - could further enhance confidence in online sharing. By implementing such trust-centered privacy features, platforms can create an environment where teens feel more in control of their digital presence while still maintaining valuable social connections.

Future of privacy on social media

The study underscores the importance of shifting away from traditional control-based privacy models toward more adaptive, trust-enabled frameworks. As social media continues to shape adolescent experiences, it is crucial that platform designers recognize the relational nature of privacy and implement features that empower users rather than restrict them through fear-driven mechanisms.

By integrating insights from the study, social media platforms have the potential to foster a healthier, more supportive online environment for teenagers. With dynamic privacy settings, trust-building interactions, and a user-centered approach, the future of digital communication can be one where teens feel confident in their ability to share, connect, and engage without the looming fear of judgment or exposure.