Most users simply don't realize how little privacy they have online and what consequences it can have.
They're relying on social instincts that tell them that only the people they percieve as being present can hear what they say, and that it might get passed on, but thereby becomes hearsay and gossip that can be denied.
They may know intellectually that online statements are much less ephemeral and private than spoken words, but the act based on their instincts, not their knowledge.
have you ever talked to normal people about technology. not to teach them, but to understand how they think? you could figure out how accurate your belief is.
talk to normal ppl about IP addresses, privacy settings, open graph, API, etc etc and their eyes glaze over. in my experience, most of them have no clue. (not because they're dumb, mind you - it's because they don't live and work online like most of us.)
Anecdotal evidence for sure, but my main point wasn't even about what users think, but about them acting based on social instincts without giving it much thought.
They're relying on social instincts that tell them that only the people they percieve as being present can hear what they say, and that it might get passed on, but thereby becomes hearsay and gossip that can be denied.
They may know intellectually that online statements are much less ephemeral and private than spoken words, but the act based on their instincts, not their knowledge.