Visual vs. compact: a comparison of privacy policy interfaces

In this paper, we compare the impact of two different privacy policy representations – AudienceView and Expandable Grids – on users modifying privacy policies for a social network site. Despite the very different interfaces, there were very few differences in user performance. However, users had clear, and different, preferences and acknowledged the tradeoffs between the two representations. Our results imply that while either interface would be a usable option for policy settings, a combination may appeal to a wider audience and offer the best of both worlds. Author Keywords Privacy, access control policy, social network site. ACM Classification Keywords H5.m. Information interfaces and presentation (e.g., HCI): Miscellaneous. General Terms Design, Human Factors, Security.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Heather Richter Lipford, Jason Watson, Michael Whitney, Katherine Froiland, Robert W. Reeder
• Keywords: CHI 2010, Human Computer Interaction, Privacy Policy Representations, Social Network Site, Users Modifying Privacy