The Evolution of Privacy Norms: Mapping 35 Years of Technology-Related Privacy Discourse, 1980-2014

Today, information disclosure decisions are characterized by their growing ubiquity and complexity. Endowed with limited cognitive resources, individuals therefore rely ever more on heuristic rather than deliberate decision-making. This paper argues that collective privacy norms serve as such a heuristic that guides individuals in their disclosure decisions and gradually replaces the individual privacy calculus. It is hence crucial to shed light on the evolution, efficiency, and behavioral implications of privacy norms as they unfold over time. To gain insights into the interplay of privacy norms and technological innovation, we explore 35 years of technology-related privacy discourse in The New York Times. When unpacking the dynamics of privacy norms and their salience for disclosure decision-making in such a way, privacy norms emerge as fragile social constructions that are increasingly vulnerable to collective myopia and purposive manipulation