Paper Type
Short
Paper Number
PACIS2026-1158
Description
In response to growing online governance challenges, social media platforms have adopted mandatory geographic disclosure policies that emphasize group identity rather than individual identification. This study conceptualizes social media engagement as a two-stage process—initial engagement decision-making and expression effort—and investigates how mandatory geographic disclosure policies influence user engagement from the perspective of group-based impression management. Using Sina Weibo as the empirical setting, we employ an interrupted time series (ITS) design to examine the effects of policy implementation. The results show that, at the engagement decision-making stage, the policy prompts users to adopt defensive image management strategies, reflected in reduced posting volume. At the expression stage, users shift to acquisitive strategies by increasing effort. Overall, users’ expression strategies shift from high-volume, low-effort engagement toward low-volume, high-effort engagement. This study reveals the dynamic impression management mechanisms underlying engagement in group identity contexts and provides insights for platform governance design.
Recommended Citation
Han, Yu; Zhang, Ziqiong; Ou, Carol; and Zhang, Zili, "Geography as Identity: The Effects of Mandatory Geographic Disclosure on Social Media Engagement" (2026). PACIS 2026 Proceedings. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2026/data_analtyics/data_anltics/1
Geography as Identity: The Effects of Mandatory Geographic Disclosure on Social Media Engagement
In response to growing online governance challenges, social media platforms have adopted mandatory geographic disclosure policies that emphasize group identity rather than individual identification. This study conceptualizes social media engagement as a two-stage process—initial engagement decision-making and expression effort—and investigates how mandatory geographic disclosure policies influence user engagement from the perspective of group-based impression management. Using Sina Weibo as the empirical setting, we employ an interrupted time series (ITS) design to examine the effects of policy implementation. The results show that, at the engagement decision-making stage, the policy prompts users to adopt defensive image management strategies, reflected in reduced posting volume. At the expression stage, users shift to acquisitive strategies by increasing effort. Overall, users’ expression strategies shift from high-volume, low-effort engagement toward low-volume, high-effort engagement. This study reveals the dynamic impression management mechanisms underlying engagement in group identity contexts and provides insights for platform governance design.
Comments
05-DataAnalytics