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arXiv · 2604.16414

How Do Terms of Service Influence Social Media User Dynamics from A Privacy Anxiety Perspective

Jingyuan Liu
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Abstract

This study examines how a Terms of Service update on X enabling default AI training on user content activated privacy anxiety and reshaped user behavior. Privacy anxiety is conceptualized as a structural outcome of reduced control over data use, particularly among content creators. The study finds that privacy anxiety is activated within creator communities and diffused across user groups through inter- and cross- community interaction. As anxiety escalated, engagement declined and migration intentions increased. These findings point to an unresolved dilemma in AI-driven platform governance: how user trust and autonomy can be sustained under conditions of concentrated power and data-dependent business models remains unclear.

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Jingyuan Liu. 2026-04-02. How Do Terms of Service Influence Social Media User Dynamics from A Privacy Anxiety Perspective. https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.16414

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