Privacy in Social Media Friendships With Direct Supervisors: A Psychological Contract Perspective

Social media in modern companies can connect workers with their supervisors in myriad ways via multiple platforms. This study analyzes the perceived relationships between workers and their supervisors using the theoretical framework of psychological contract violation (PCV). The role of social media in the workplace in terms of privacy and trust between workers and their supervisors and workers' organizational commitment was analyzed. Demographic information, communication channels (platforms), and the source of the social media relationship request were also considered. An online survey of full- and part-time employees yielded a diverse sample of 327 participants. This social media privacy research is consistent with previous literature on e-mail privacy. Both social media privacy and PCV influenced perceptions of (supervisor) trust. Additionally, PCV and trust influenced perceptions of affective organizational commitment. Implications of the results are discussed.