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Open Access 04-04-2024 | Original Article

The concept of privacy in the digital world according to teenagers

Authors: Giovanni Vespoli, Benedetta Taddei, Enrico Imbimbo, Lisa De Luca, Annalaura Nocentini

Abstract

Aim

This study aims first to explore how adolescents define the idea of online privacy and how well they understand all the implications of using their data online, using emergent themes modeling. A co-occurrence analysis comparing narratives was performed to better understand how the concept of online privacy differed according to participants’ age.

Subject and methods

Five hundred eighty-eight adolescents (64.8% female) completed a narrative task about their definition of online privacy. “Reflection of self-online,” “digital safe,” “human right,” and “ability to surf the web and emotional consequences” are the four emergent themes closely related to the adolescents’ definition and meaning of online privacy.

Results

The results did not show differences between the two age groups in the interpretation of the construct, except for the concept of safety. Adolescents older than 15 years used more emotional content.

Conclusion

The findings are discussed in terms of how understanding young people’s online privacy can help to design a safer Internet.

Specifically, 6 (1%) students were 11 years old, 27 (4.6%) students were 12 years old, 95 (16.2%) students were 13 years old, 93 (15.8%) students were 14 years old, 93 (15.8%) students were 15 years old, 88 (15%) students were 16 years old, 89 (15.1%) students were 17 years old, and 72 (12.2%) students were 18 years old.

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Title: The concept of privacy in the digital world according to teenagers
Authors: Giovanni Vespoli
Benedetta Taddei
Enrico Imbimbo
Lisa De Luca
Annalaura Nocentini
Publication date: 04-04-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Public Health
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-024-02242-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on adolescent vaping

Springer Medicine

The concept of privacy in the digital world according to teenagers

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on adolescent vaping

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

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