Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science

Investigating the factors affecting the promotion of students' online privacy literacy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zohre Azizi 1
saleh rahimi 2
vakil ahmadi 3

1 MSc., Department of Information Science and Knowledge Studies, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Information Science and Knowledge Studies, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology. Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22055/slis.2021.34109.1758
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Today, the Internet has a vibrant presence in people's lives, but with the advent of the Internet, there have been widespread concerns about protecting personal information and making users enjoy the benefits of the Internet, requiring the knowledge and ability to apply the necessary privacy-friendly solutions. Online privacy literacy as a knowledge to protect personal information is an essential literacy for living in the digital age that provides awareness of issues related to online privacy such as awareness of threats and dangers of online privacy as well as awareness of solutions Necessary to control online privacy, it helps users to protect their information. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effective factors (Internet skills, online privacy self-efficacy, online surveillance awareness, online privacy concerns and online privacy risks) on online privacy literacy of Razi University students.
Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive and survey method. The statistical population of this study includes all students of Razi University (11268 people) in the academic year of 99-98. The sample size was 372 using Morgan's table and was determined by stratified random sampling. The researcher-made questionnaire (Internet Skills, Online Privacy Self-efficacy, Awareness of Online Monitoring, Concerns of Online Privacy and Awareness of Online Privacy Risks), Also, a researcher-made questionnaire made of online privacy literacy was used, which has 4 components (knowledge of the performance of online service providers, knowledge of technical aspects of online privacy, knowledge of information protection laws and awareness of necessary strategies for individual control). The validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by experts and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for Internet skills (0.816), online privacy efficiency (0.763), online monitoring awareness (0.810), online privacy concerns (0. 880) and awareness of the dangers of online privacy (0.856), online privacy literacy (0.873) was obtained, which indicates the validity of the questionnaires used. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the findings using the version 24 software.
 
Findings: The results show that the average variable of online privacy literacy is equal to 2.60 (from the average value of 3). Among the dimensions of online privacy literacy, the highest average of 3.5 (from the average value of 3) is related to the dimension of social skills and the lowest average of 2.21 (from the average value of 3) is related to the dimension of knowledge of information protection laws. In addition, the average concern about online privacy (3.38) and awareness of online monitoring (3.22) is higher than the average of 3 and the average Internet skills (2.80), online privacy efficiency (2.83) and awareness of risks online privacy (2.85) is lower than the average value of three. Based on data analysis, Internet skills with an impact factor of 0.57, online privacy efficiency with an impact factor of 0.56, awareness of online monitoring with an impact factor of 0.39, awareness of the dangers of online privacy with an impact factor of 53 / and concern Online privacy with an impact factor of 0.12 is effective on the overall scale of online privacy literacy.
Discussion: Given the growing concern about online privacy violations, the importance of increasing literacy to protect the privacy of individuals on the Internet is increasing. Online privacy literacy is one of the key factors that can prevent online privacy violations. Individuals who are concerned about their privacy and who wish to protect their personal information are effectively protected by their privacy by utilizing knowledge about privacy controls, relevant laws, technical aspects as well as the practices of online service providers. Various factors affect the level of online privacy literacy that can overshadow people's ability and motivation to increase that literacy. Various factors affect the level of online privacy literacy that can overshadow people's ability and motivation to increase that literacy. Given the effectiveness of factors (Internet skills, online privacy self-efficacy, awareness of online surveillance, awareness of the dangers of online privacy and concerns about online privacy) on increasing, the privacy of online privacy in order to protect privacy on the Internet, Training and necessary measures should be taken to pay attention to and promote these factors. Therefore, the results of this study can be effective in improving the educational programs of universities and schools, libraries, cultural institutions, government agencies, media and other centers that can play a role in this, as well as the public, and lay the groundwork for planning. Public awareness of the role of the factors of this research in increasing privacy literacy should be online.

Keywords

Online Privacy Literacy
Internet Skills
Online Privacy Effectiveness
Awareness of Online Monitoring
Awareness of the Dangers of Online Privacy
Subjects
Alizadeh, N. & Ansari, Z. (2011). Malware and cyber security challenges. Journal of Transplant Science, 2 (1), 76-80. [In Persian]
Azizi, Z.; Rahimi, S. & Ahmadi, V. (2020). Survey of online privacy literacy of Razi University students. Jundishapur Education Development Journal, 11 (3), 472-484. [In Persian]
Bartsch, M. & Dienlin, T. (2016). Control your Facebook: An analysis of online privacy literacy. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 147-154.
Boerman, S.C.; Kruikemeier, S. & Zuiderveen Borgesius, F.J. (2018). Exploring Motivations for Online Privacy Protection Behavior: Insights from Panel Data. Communication Research, manuscript accepted for publication, 1-25.
Chen, H.T. & Chen, W. (2015). Could n't or wouldn't? The influence of privacy concerns and selfefficacy in privacy management on privacy protection. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking, 18(1), 13–19.
Debatin, B. (2011). Ethics, privacy, and self-restraint in social networking. In S. Trepte & L. Reinecke (Eds.), Privacy online (pp. 47–60). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Habibi, H. (2016). The right to privacy in social networks. Journal of Legal Research, 19 (75), 39-64.
Kezer, M.; Sevi, B.; Cemalcilar, Z. & Baruh, L. (2016). Age differences in privacy attitudes, literacy and privacy management on Facebook. Cyberpsychology. Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 10(1), Article 2.
Khoshraftar, M. H. & Mohammadpour, S. (2017). The Role of Using Telegram and WhatsApp Social Networks on Users' Privacy. Social Research, 9 (36), 19-23. [In Persian]
Kiani Chelmardi, A.; Zardi Gigloo, B. & Khakdal, S. (2016). Investigating the Psychometric Properties of Internet Privacy Orientation Scale in Students. Social Psychology Research, 6 (24), 88-75. [In Persian]
Manafi, S. & Rezayatpour, Z. (2018). Privacy on social networks. Tehran: New Etrat. [In Persian]
Masur, P. K.; Teutsch, D. & Trepte, S. (2017). Entwicklung und Valdierung der Online-Privatheitskompetenzskala (OPLIS). Diagnostica, 1-52. http://www.oplis.de/docs/OPLIS_pre-print.pdf  
Mohseni, F, & Ghasemzadeh, F. (2006). Privacy in cyberspace, relying on Iranian law. Sharif Quarterly, (34), 30-21. [In Persian]
Moscardelli, D. M., & Divine, R. (2007). Adolescents’ concern for privacy when using the internet: An empirical analysis of predictors and relationships with privacy-protecting behaviors. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 35, 232-252.
Park, Y.J. (2013). Digital literacy and privacy behavior online. Communication Research, 40 (2), 215-236.
Rahimi, S.; Ahmadi, V. & Azizi, Z. (2020). The role and place of online privacy literacy in the protection of personal information. Security Research Quarterly, 19 (69), 81-98. [In Persian]
Rotman, D. (2009). Are you looking at me? Social media and privacy literacy. Poster presented at the iConference, Chapel Hill, NC. February 8–11.
Sedek, M. Ahmad, R. & Othman, N.F. (2018). Motivational Factors in Privacy Protection Behaviour Model for Social Networking. MATEC Web of Conferences, 150, 05014. 
Siasirad, F. & Bichranloo, A. (2016). Patterns of Using Online Privacy Literacy Strategies; a Case Study of Instagram Girl Users. Iranian Cultural Research Quarterly, 10(3), 151-12. [In Persian]
Tohidi, A.; Rezaei, G. & Mousavi Nasab, M. H. (1979). Social support and academic motivation: The mediating role of self-efficacy beliefs. Journal of Education and Learning Studies, 10 (2), 54-74. [In Persian]
Trepte, S.; Teutsch, D.; Masur, P.K.; Eicher, C.; Fischer, M.; Hennhöfer, A. & Lind, F. (2015). Do people know about privacy and data protection strategies? Towards the ‘online privacy literacy scale’ (OPLIS). In Gutwirth, S., Leenes, R.and de Hert, P. (Eds), Reforming European Data Protection Law, Springer, Dordrecht. 333-365.
Veghes, C.; Orzan, M.; Acatrinei, C. & Dugulan, D. (2012). Privacy literacy: what is and how it can be measured?  Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, 14(2), 704 – 712.
Weinberger, M. & Bouhnik, D. (2018). Place determinants for the personalization-privacy tradeoff among students. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 15, 79-95.
Weinberger, M.; Bouhnik, D., & Zhitomirsky-Geffet, M. (2017). Factors affecting students’ privacy paradox and privacy protection behavior. Open Information Science, 1(1), 1-18.
Weinberger, M.; Zhitomirsky-Geffet, M. & Bouhnik, D. (2017). Factors affecting users’ online privacy literacy among students in Israel. Online Information Review, 41(5), 655-671.
Youn, S. (2009). Determinants of Online Privacy Concern and Its Influence on Privacy Protection Behaviors among Young Adolescents. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 43(3), 389-418.
Journal of Studies in Library and Information Science
Volume 15, Issue 1
Winter 2023
Pages 94-110

Home

Submit Manuscript

Article Processing Charges

Contact Us

Journal Metrics

Edirotrial Staff