Name-display Feature for Self-disclosure in an Instant Messenger Program: A Qualitative Study in Taiwan

In Taiwan, instant messenger usage has become the third most frequently engaged online activity following web cyberspace’s web surfing and e-mail. Among different kinds of instant messengers, Windows Live Messenger (WLM) is the most popular software program. The purpose of this study is to explore users ’ name-display behaviors on WLM from a self-disclosure perspective. The study employs phenomenological methodology to elicit lived experiences of using the name-display feature in the WLM. Twelve subjects, 3 women and 9 men, participated in this study. From 12 verbatim transcripts, after identifying significant statements, clustering the formulated meanings resulted in 9 themes. The key findings are: (1) Self-disclosure behavior exists in the name-display feature in the instant messenger; (2) Participants revealed disclosure topics to achieve self-expression purpose; (3) Social support occurred when participants identified other online us-ers ’ nicknames; (4) Participants revealed their nicknames for social validation; (5) Self-disclosures would not reveal messages that provoke threats; (6) In order to create a certain desired impression, participants would manipulate the disclosure messages; and (7) Silent self-disclosure with verbal forms is participants ’ preference in cyberspace