Protecting Privacy

Description
Users not wanting to fill in information, beeing afraid that it will be collected by someone illminded.

Examples
In most social medias, the user is asked to fill out personal information about their age, gende, birthday and so forth. Many users do not fill out these forms though, as they are afraid that the information may be used, either by the site-owners (marketing or selling the information) or because they are afraid of others, accessing the information.

Use
The pattern is mostly unwanted as long as the media does not want anonymous members. A way to combat the use, would be to clearly state for what reason the site asks the user to input the information, and to what other actors the information will be shared. However for medias, not focusing entirely on who the user is, but more about what the user contributes to the media, may find such a pattern positive.

Relations
Protecting Privacy is related to the bigger Self Censoring pattern, as it is a form of censoring, and also Profile (Crumlish & Malone) and Avatar (Crumlish & Malone).

Contributors
Created by Christian Broniewicz, from interviews.