When Hosts Disclose Their Private Information on Accommodation Sharing Platforms: An Information Commercialization Perspective

Abstract

The proliferation of the Internet and platform economy has given rise to the sharing economy as a popular business model. While much research has focused on the economic and social benefits aspect, privacy issue in sharing economy is often overlooked. Drawing on the privacy calculus theory and the literature of information-as-a-commodity perspective, this study focuses on accommodation sharing platform Airbnb and aims to investigate the critical role of hosts’ information commercialization in leading to their private information disclosure behavior on the platform. This study fills in the research gap by theorizing the concept of information commercialization in accommodation sharing platforms and addressing its formation mechanisms and behavioral outcome.