How to regulate individuals' privacy boundaries on social network sites: A cross-cultural comparison

Individuals presently interact with their diverse social circles on social networking sites and may find it challenging to maintain their privacy while deriving pleasure through self-disclosure. Drawing upon the communication privacy management theory, our study examines how boundary coordination and boundary turbulence can influence individuals' self-disclosure decisions. Further, our study examines how the effects of boundary coordination and boundary turbulence differ across cultures. Our hypotheses are tested with survey data collected from the United States and China. The results strongly support our hypotheses and show interesting cultural differences. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.