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Cited by 8Privacy, Security, and Data ProtectionImpact of Technology on AdolescentsInformation and Cyber Security

Calculating Connection vs. Risk: Understanding How Youth Negotiate Digital Privacy and Security with Peers Online

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Akter, Mamtaj, Park, Jinkyung Katie, Headrick, Campbell Robinson, Page, Xinru, Wisniewski, Pamela J.·2025·Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
DOI 10.1145/3757564
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Abstract

Youth, while tech-savvy and highly active on social media, are still vulnerable to online privacy and security risks. Therefore, it is critical to understand how they negotiate and manage social connections versus protecting themselves in online contexts. In this work, we conducted a thematic analysis of 1,318 private conversations on Instagram from 149 youth aged 13-21 to understand the digital privacy and security topics they discussed, if and how they engaged in risky privacy behaviors, and how they balanced the benefits and risks (i.e., privacy calculus) of making these decisions. Overall, youth were forthcoming when broaching a wide range of topics on digital privacy and security, ranging from password management and account access challenges to shared experiences of being victims of privacy risks. However, they also openly engaged in risky behaviors, such as sharing personal account information with peers and even perpetrating privacy and security risks against others. Nonetheless, we found many of these behaviors could be explained by the unique ''privacy calculus'' of youth, where they often prioritized social benefits over potential risks; for instance, youth often shared account credentials with peers to foster social connection and affirmation. As such, we provide a nuanced understanding of youth decision-making regarding digital security and privacy, highlighting both positive behaviors, tensions, and points of concern. We encourage future research to continue to challenge the potentially untrue narratives regarding youth and their digital privacy and security to unpack the nuance of their privacy calculus that may differ from that of adults.

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Research works printed but not linked: 24

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Authors
Akter, M., Park, J. K., Headrick, C. R., Page, X., & Wisniewski, P. J.
Affiliations
  • New York Institute of Technology (US)
  • Clemson University (US)
  • Vanderbilt University (US)
  • Brigham Young University (US)
  • Socio-Technical Interaction Research Lab, Orlando, Tennessee, USA
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
Publisher
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Published
2025-10-16
Volume
9
Issue
7
Pages
1-26
ISSN
2573-0142 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1145/3757564
OpenAlex
W4415250924
Cited by
8
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 1
FWCI
13.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (cc-by)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (IIP-2329976, IIS-2333207)
  • William T. Grant Foundation (187941)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information and Cyber Security
Keywords
youth, digital privacy, internet security, privacy calculus, social media, Instagram, peer negotiation, password sharing, social connectedness, adolescents

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