"Less Is Not More; Mapping a Better Route to User Ad Settings"

For users seeking to modify their privacy settings on websites such as Facebook and Google, the process often feels like a scavenger hunt. In many cases, these settings are spread across multiple pages, requiring at least five clicks to locate the desired option. In a new study titled "Less is Not More: Improving Findability and Actionability of Privacy Controls for Online Behavioral Advertising," researchers from Carnegie Mellon University's (CMU) CyLab Security and Privacy Institute and the University of Michigan explore design options for making settings related to advertising preferences on Facebook more discoverable. The researchers also try to understand how design changes would affect users' behaviors and sentiments towards settings and the platform. The study focuses on two variables: the entry points a user would click on to locate the correct ad settings and the level of actionability within the ad control interface. This article continues to discuss the study on improving the findability and actionability of privacy controls.

CyLab reports "Less Is Not More; Mapping a Better Route to User Ad Settings"