Affiliations: [a] Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Society (TILT), Tilburg University, The Netherlands | [b] KU Leuven Centre for IP and IT Law, Belgium
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Anton Vedder, Maria Theresia College, St. Augustine wing, 4rth fl, room 04.21, KU Leuven Centre for IT and IP Law, Sint-Michielsstraat 6, box 3443, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Tel.: +32 16 3 26923; E-mail:anton.vedder@law.kuleuven.be
Abstract: The concept of `privacy' has become an important topic for academics and
policy-makers. Ubiquitous computing and internet access raise new questions
in relation to privacy in the virtual world, including individuals'
appreciation of privacy and how this can be safeguarded. This article
contributes to the debate by reporting survey data relating to the attitudes
of adolescents, young adults and adults in the Netherlands in relation to
privacy, freedom and security. This data aims at determining the
appreciation of privacy amongst young and old. Data was collected through an
online survey of 1,002 12 to 83 year-olds in 2012. The results show that
adolescents are less concerned about their privacy than young adults and
adults. However, all three age categories reported that privacy was a lesser
concern than both freedom and security. The article presents important
insights into the different attitudes towards privacy amongst the noted age
groups, and therefore offers a commentary on their online behaviour. As
such, the analysis is relevant for those with responsibility for the
governance of individual privacy on the Internet.
Keywords: Online privacy, online policies, social network sites
