Personal Privacy and Cyber Security: Student Attitudes, Awareness, and Perception on the Use of Social Media

Student Attitudes, Awareness, and Perception on the Use of Social Media

Abstract

Students now a days are described as the generation that cannot live without using social media. It is patent that using social media platforms are already part of our daily activities to help provide for our needs, interests, leisure, and other purposes. Descriptive design using mixed method approach was utilized to examine the attitude, perception, and awareness of students (N=384) focused on personal privacy and cybersecurity with use of social media. The data collected from the students of different grade level from elementary up to college were organized, analyzed, and interpreted to understand how students’ demographic profile and their experiences affect their attitude, perception, and awareness towards personal privacy and cybersecurity on the use of social media and to identify if there are differences between groups. The findings revealed that the students have a positive attitude towards the use of social media and perceive trust with social media providers. Students were expressed awareness on how to protect their personal privacy and utilize cybersecurity features available for their social media account. Further, this study found significant differences on students’ level of awareness concerning personal privacy and security between age group and educational level. Those who are on higher educational level and with older age express higher level of awareness when using social media when personal privacy and cybersecurity is concern.