From the abstract: "This
article introduces a transaction cost economic framework for interpreting the
roles consumers play in social networking services (“SNSs”). It explains why
the exchange between consumers and SNSs is not simple and discrete, but rather
a continuous transaction with atypical attributes. These exchanges are
difficult for consumers to understand and come with costs that are significant
and unanticipated. Under current structures of governance, there is no exit for
consumers who wish to leave an SNS. In other contexts, similar transactions are
bounded by tailored consumer protections. This article explains the need for
tailored consumer protection in the SNS context. Specifically, we argue that a
consumer right to rescind enrollment in an SNS, triggering a deletion of and
ability to export information shared with the service, is appropriate given the
skewed aspects of personal information transactions." Read
