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Online Privacy Fatigue: A Scoping Review and Research Agenda

Author

Listed:
  • Karl van der Schyff

    (School of Design and Informatics, Abertay University, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK)

  • Greg Foster

    (Department of Information Systems, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6139, South Africa)

  • Karen Renaud

    (School of Design and Informatics, Abertay University, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK
    Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK
    School of Computer Science, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa)

  • Stephen Flowerday

    (School of Cyber Studies, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104, USA)

Abstract

Online users are responsible for protecting their online privacy themselves: the mantra is custodiat te (protect yourself). Even so, there is a great deal of evidence pointing to the fact that online users generally do not act to preserve the privacy of their personal information, consequently disclosing more than they ought to and unwisely divulging sensitive information. Such self-disclosure has many negative consequences, including the invasion of privacy and identity theft. This often points to a need for more knowledge and awareness but does not explain why even knowledgeable users fail to preserve their privacy. One explanation for this phenomenon may be attributed to online privacy fatigue . Given the importance of online privacy and the lack of integrative online privacy fatigue research, this scoping review aims to provide researchers with an understanding of online privacy fatigue, its antecedents and outcomes, as well as a critical analysis of the methodological approaches used. A scoping review based on the PRISMA-ScR checklist was conducted. Only empirical studies focusing on online privacy were included, with nontechnological studies being excluded. All studies had to be written in English. A search strategy encompassing six electronic databases resulted in eighteen eligible studies, and a backward search of the references resulted in an additional five publications. Of the 23 studies, the majority were quantitative (74%), with fewer than half being theory driven (48%). Privacy fatigue was mainly conceptualized as a loss of control (74% of studies). Five categories of privacy fatigue antecedents were identified: privacy risk, privacy control and management, knowledge and information, individual differences, and privacy policy characteristics. This study highlights the need for greater attention to be paid to the methodological design and theoretical underpinning of future research. Quantitative studies should carefully consider the use of CB-SEM or PLS-SEM, should aim to increase the sample size, and should improve on analytical rigor. In addition, to ensure that the field matures, future studies should be underpinned by established theoretical frameworks. This review reveals a notable absence of privacy fatigue research when modeling the influence of privacy threats and invasions and their relationship with privacy burnout, privacy resignation, and increased self-disclosure. In addition, this review provides insight into theoretical and practical research recommendations that future privacy fatigue researchers should consider going forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl van der Schyff & Greg Foster & Karen Renaud & Stephen Flowerday, 2023. "Online Privacy Fatigue: A Scoping Review and Research Agenda," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-31, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:164-:d:1135344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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