WILLINGNESS TO SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION

Lilly Elisabeth Both, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick (Canada)
2021 Psychological Applications and Trends 2021   unpublished
"The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence an individual's choice to share personal information online. Specifically, the role of age, gender, personality, overall media exposure, and perceived risks and benefits were examined in relation to a willingness to share personal information that differed in sensitivity (high school grades, medical records, income) and differed in target audience (social media, online store, general public). A total of 202 individuals
more » ... ated in this survey study. The majority were young (M age = 22.46 years, SD = 5.77), single (83.7%), women (80.7 %), with at least some post-secondary education (90.1%). A series of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. The results indicated that willingness to share personal information on social media was predicted by having higher scores on the personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and negative emotionality. Higher scores on perceived purchase benefits and total media exposure also predicted willingness to share personal information on social media. In terms of willingness to share personal information with an online store, total media exposure was a significant predictor along with higher extraversion and lower conscientiousness scores. Finally, willingness to share personal information with the general public was predicted by overall media exposure. Participants generally believed that there were risks involved in sharing personal information, but these risks were considered to be slight. As well, they only slightly disagreed when asked if the internet could be trusted, and were neutral on whether there were purchase benefits to providing personal information."
doi:10.36315/2021inpact096 fatcat:cssnqjjb4jh4xabdx53uzx3fjq