<p>Interpersonal conflicts arising in computer-mediated communication, especially on social media, due to privacy violations are increasingly frequent. It is essential to examine how individuals protect themselves from these conflicts. This study investigates how interpersonal conflicts on social media influence users to adopt privacy protection behaviors, specifically identity masking and suspended use of social media. Grounded in Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the research explores the mediating roles of privacy concerns and online information disclosure awareness in shaping these behaviors. A survey of social media users in Pakistan provides empirical evidence to support the theoretical model. The findings reveal that interpersonal conflicts significantly drive the adoption of privacy protection behaviors. Privacy concerns act as a key mediator, increasing the likelihood of identity masking, while heightened awareness of online information disclosure motivates users to suspend social media use to mitigate conflicts. Additionally, the results indicate a significant positive correlation between identity masking and suspended use of social media, highlighting a progression from privacy-protective actions to withdrawal behaviors. This study addresses the challenges of balancing social connectivity with privacy concerns in the context of social media and highlights the need for effective privacy management tools and literacy programs. By extending PMT to the culturally specific context of Pakistani social media users, this research offers novel insights into privacy behaviors and presents actionable recommendations for platform developers and policymakers to enhance user safety and experience.</p>