Mapping the intellectual structure of privacy concern and information sharing behavior: a comprehensive bibliometric review

Purpose This paper aims to map the intellectual structure of research on privacy concern (PC) and information-sharing behavior (ISB). This study addresses a field that has grown across digital contexts but remains fragmented in its concepts, theories and research themes. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes 862 publications indexed in the Web of Science database. It uses co-citation analysis to identify the knowledge base, bibliographic coupling to identify current research streams and keyword co-occurrence analysis to map recurring themes connecting PC and ISB. Findings The analysis identifies five main themes related to the foundations and measurement of PC, determinants of privacy-related disclosure decisions, the privacy paradox and the attitude–behavior gap, privacy governance and protection and advanced disclosure mechanisms in emerging digital environments. The findings of this study suggest that PC–ISB research has moved beyond a simple view of PC as a direct barrier to ISB. Recent studies explain this relationship through perceived value, privacy calculus, governance mechanisms, contextual conditions and emerging digital environments. Originality/value This study connects the knowledge base, current research streams and recurring concepts in the PC–ISB literature. This study shows that PC is usually examined as part of information sharing decision mechanisms, rather than only as a direct barrier to sharing. This study also proposes an integrative framework that places measurement foundations, decision mechanisms, governance, context and emerging digital environments in one model. This framework helps future studies identify where they can contribute to the PC–ISB literature.