Optimising technological literacy acquirement to protect privacy and security. Issue 5 (4th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hirschprung, Ron S.; Tayro, Shay; Reznik, Eti
• Is Part Of: Behaviour & information technology. Volume 41:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 922
• Page End: 933
• Publication Date: 2022-04-04
• Subjects: Privacy -- information security -- technological literacy -- usability; Electronic data processing -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Periodicals; 303.4833
• DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2020.1842907
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-929X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the contemporary digital era, users may take actions which may affect their privacy and security without being aware of the consequences. Knowing the consequences, may be perceived as a higher level of usability, above the basic operational skills. This phenomenon is mainly a direct outcome of the gap between users' knowledge and the complexity of the digital systems. The ability to master those systems is known as technological literacy, which thus is a critical factor to protect privacy and security. However, the process of acquiring technological literacy is costly and not trivial. In this research, we address the problem with a qualitative approach, and introduce a methodology named OTLA (Optimising Technological Literacy Acquirement) to achieve optimality between the cost of the teaching process and its benefits. We conducted an empirical study with n = 320 participants on five technological literacy issues, and showed that optimal solutions to this problem can be found. Thus, OTLA has a significant contribution to protecting users' privacy and security in the digital world.