Privacy Education Effectiveness: Does It Matter?

Authors

Matthew Heinrich, Rockhurst UniversityFollow
Natalie Gerhart, Creighton UniversityFollow

Abstract

Mobile devices are a constantly used item in a college student’s life. Students depend on them for entertainment, academics, and socializing with their friends. While they continually use them, they perhaps do not understand the impact of their use on their privacy or that the devices can be used to track them and collect their personal information. This study utilizes the Antecedent, Privacy Concern, Outcome (APCO) model, combined with the Fogg Behavior Model (FBM) to determine (1) the factors that comprise privacy concerns on a mobile device; (2) whether individuals use privacy-protective behaviors, and (3) whether education on privacy issues regarding mobile devices will increase their use of privacy-enhancing technology (PET). A longitudinal study was conducted to test whether privacy protection education increases the use of PET. While students express concern for their privacy when using mobile devices and express an intent to use additional PET, their behavior using mobile device protections does not change, even after an educational intervention. Perceived privacy control does not change their privacy concern and habit and trust outweigh the impact of privacy concern. Theoretical and practical implications are provided.

Recommended Citation

Heinrich, Matthew and Gerhart, Natalie (2023) "Privacy Education Effectiveness: Does It Matter?," Journal of Information Systems Education: Vol. 34 : Iss. 1 , 49-69.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jise/vol34/iss1/5