Internet users' perceptions of 'privacy concerns' and 'privacy actions'

  • Authors:

  • Carina Paine;Ulf-Dietrich Reips;Stefan Stieger;Adam Joinson;Tom Buchanan

  • Affiliations:

  • Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK;Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland;Core Unit for Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna, Austria;Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK;Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, Regent Street, London WC1, UK

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Human-Computer Studies
  • Year:
  • 2007

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Abstract

A consistent finding reported in online privacy research is that an overwhelming majority of people are 'concerned' about their privacy when they use the Internet. Therefore, it is important to understand the discourse of Internet users' privacy concerns, and any actions they take to guard against these concerns. A Dynamic Interviewing Programme (DIP) was employed in order to survey users of an instant messaging ICQ ('I seek you') client using both closed and open question formats. Analysis of 530 respondents' data illustrates the importance of establishing users' privacy concerns and the reasoning behind these concerns. Results indicate that Internet users are concerned about a wider range of privacy issues than surveys have typically covered. The results do not provide final definitions for the areas of online privacy, but provide information that is useful to gain a better understanding of privacy concerns and actions.