Analysis and Comparison of Usability in Privacy Settings: a Case Study of the Social Medias Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

• Nayara Santos Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3459-2310
• Guilherme Schüler Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Julio Sieg Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Gustavo Duarte Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
• César Marcon Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7811-7896
• Isabel Manssour Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9446-6757
• Márcio Pinho Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8873-1005
• Sabrina Marczak Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Milene Silveira Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2159-551X

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/ihc_estendido.2022.225344

Abstract

This paper analyzes the usability of privacy settings interfaces of social media applications. Heuristics analysis was performed using the structured analysis of privacy (STRAP) framework, a set of heuristics intended to evaluate and detect privacy issues within interactive systems. Additionally, a questionnaire concerning usability was developed and answered by a hundred users. Heuristic evaluation yielded valuable results. Overall, Instagram scored highest on usability problems among targeted apps. Out of all heuristics, these apps had most issues dealing with explicit consent. Moreover, the questionnaire supported the usability issues identified above.

Keywords: Privacy, Social Medias, Heuristic Evaluation, STRAP, User Research

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