Displaying the Genetic Family: Exploring Practices for Privacy and Visibility on DNA Platforms

The family history industry has seen exponential growth in recent years, in large part due to the rise of direct-to-consumer DNA testing platforms. Researchers from a range of fields have found utility in the sociological concept of ‘family display’ which has been applied to a range of digital technologies of/for family. In this paper, I draw on accounts from the first empirical Australian study of individuals searching for information about family via direct-to-consumer DNA testing. Semi-structure interviews (N=23) were conducted with family history enthusiasts, and individuals affected by adoption and donor conception. Reflexive thematic analysis derived three key themes: (1) Making oneself visible to the genetic family, (2) Considering invisible family members, (3) Managing privacy towards/on the platform. More broadly, I consider how ‘display’ as a practice can be both agentive and passive in a context in which what is visible in the digital display is controlled by a large private corporation. This work contributes to understanding digital displays of family, specifically how DNA platforms shape understandings and practices of family.