Perceived Audience

Description
This dynamic pattern occurs when there is a mismatch between the user's perceived (and thus perhaps intended) audience, and the actual audience. The typical example is when Twitter users believe that their followers are the only ones that can see their content.

Examples
On Twitter, one might believe that ones followers are the only ones capable of seeing ones content. However it is quite commen to read other Twitter users content, as it is public. There is however an option to make your Twitter profile protected which requires a person to send a request to follow you in order to see your content.

Another example is from Facebook where the user might forget that users from whom she has chosen to hide content, still will be able to view her content.

Pros & Cons
- This behavior can lead to the user sharing content with people which this content wasn't intended.

Relations
This pattern is closely related to Targeting Insiders which also addresses the intended audience.

Mechanics that accidentaly or not hide from the user who they have as friends and hence who will see their content. Enabeling the user to direct their content (as suggested by the Circle of Connections pattern by Curmlish & Malone) to other perons and to see who these persons are can counteract this pattern.

Contributors
Created by Patric Westberg from the inspiration of Malin Mattsson and Magnus Spånggård. Revised by Magnus Spånggård