Understanding the relationship between personal data privacy literacy and data privacy information sharing by university students

Abstract

With constant threats to personal data privacy in the United States, data privacy literacy has become an increasingly important competency among university students, one that is tied intimately to the personal information-sharing behaviour of these students. This survey-based study examines how university students in the United States perceive personal data privacy and how their data privacy literacy influences their understanding and behaviours. Students’ responses to a privacy literacy and personal data privacy scale were categorised into high and low data privacy literacy groups, revealing that high literacy individuals demonstrate a broader range of privacy practices, including multi-factor authentication, VPN usage and phishing awareness, whereas low literacy individuals rely on more basic security measures. Statistical analyses suggest that high literacy respondents display greater diversity in privacy-related recommendations and engagement in data privacy discussions. These findings suggest the need for enhanced educational initiatives to improve personal data privacy awareness at the university level to create a more cyber-safe and privacy-aware population.