Millenials say online privacy not top priority


A USC co-sponsored study released Monday found that there is a significant difference in how younger and older generations think about online privacy and security.

The study, sponsored by the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future and the independent company Bovitz Inc, concluded that millennials, individuals aged 18-34 years old, are more willing to share personal information as long as they receive something in return.

“Online privacy is dead — millennials understand that,” said Jeffrey I. Cole, the director of the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future. “Older users have not adapted. Millennials recognize that giving up some of their privacy online can provide benefits to them.”

As a whole, the survey revealed that those who are 35 years and older were more hesitant in their interactions online. In addition, 77 percent of those aged 35 years and older agreed that “no one should ever be allowed to have access to my personal data or web behavior,” but 70 percent of millennials agreed. Fifty-one percent of millennials were willing to share information with companies as long as they got something in return, compared to 41 percent of those over the age of 35 years and older.

For many, including Morley Winograd, a senior fellow at the Annenberg Center on Communication, Leadership and Policy, these results were not surprising.

“We’ve known the milliennials have the least concerns with privacy,” Winograd said.

Many students agree that online privacy is not one of their priorities.

“In general, I don’t really feel like I need to hide information from third- party companies or basic tracking,” said Troy Kozuma, a senior majoring in business administration. “If they send spam mail it’s a problem, but otherwise I’ve never noticed trouble.”

Other students said the lack of concern for online privacy is a sign of the times.

“Our generation is oblivious,“ said Sanford Reed, a freshman majoring in theatre. “All they care about is social media, myself included.”

Though the study has prompted some to wonder if such tracking is a violation of privacy, Winograd said the benefits outweigh the costs, noting how surveillance helped authorities catch the suspects of the Boston Marathon bombing as an example.

“People would rather be exposed and find the bomber,” Winograd said.

Erica Arnold, a freshman majoring in environmental engineering, said though she agrees that surveillance is useful for protection, it should not be abused.

“If I’m in public it’s all right, as long as they don’t abuse it,” Arnold said. “It’s OK for finding terrorists, but not for smaller crimes.”

Cole said this shift is extremely telling for the future of online privacy and security.

Susan Metros, associate CIO of technology-enhanced learning, said that protecting one’s privacy online requires common sense.

“If you put it online, you can’t assume it won’t be seen more broadly,” Metros said.

Other students said they are appalled by the millenials’ obsession with online behavior but also understand that it is unavoidable.

Bahar Rohani, a junior majoring in health promotion and disease prevention, said privacy is still necessary when it concerns friends and coworkers.

“Obviously, the stuff I put on social networks is for me and my friends,” Rohani said. “I wouldn’t want anyone I work with in a professional setting to see it.”