# Unpacking the Layers: Exploring Self-Disclosure Norms, Engagement Dynamics, and Privacy Implications

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.10701 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.10701/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 15 Feb 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Characterizing LLM-driven Social Network: The Chirper.ai Case](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.10286/) (2025)
- [Protecting Vulnerable Voices: Synthetic Dataset Generation for Self-Disclosure Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.22930/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This paper characterizes the self-disclosure behavior of Reddit users across 11 different types of self-disclosure. We find that at least half of the users share some type of disclosure in at least 10% of their posts, with half of these posts having more than one type of disclosure. We show that different types of self-disclosure are likely to receive varying levels of engagement. For instance, a Sexual Orientation disclosure garners more comments than other self-disclosures. We also explore confounding factors that affect future self-disclosure. We show that users who receive interactions from (self-disclosure) specific subreddit members are more likely to disclose in the future. We also show that privacy risks due to self-disclosure extend beyond Reddit users themselves to include their close contacts, such as family and friends, as their information is also revealed. We develop a browser plugin for end-users to flag self-disclosure in their content.