Predicting Teens' Privacy Management and Attitude Toward Data Protection on Social Media

Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2023 Mar;26(3):153-160. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2021.0338. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Abstract

This study contributes to ongoing debates on the protection of teens' privacy on social media. While ample research is focused on teens' privacy management, less is known about their attitude toward data protection. Drawing from cross-sectional survey data, this study examines whether predictors of privacy management, namely privacy literacy, privacy concern, and perceptions of data control, also predict teens' attitude toward data protection. Structural equation modeling indicates that all three factors positively predict this facet of privacy. No significant differences were found in the strength of predictors for boys versus girls for privacy management, although the findings do suggest some gender differences for attitude toward data protection that call for further research.

Keywords: data control; data protection; privacy; privacy literacy; privacy management; teens.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attitude
  • Computer Security
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Privacy*
  • Social Media*