Digital privacy education: Customized interventions for U.S. older and younger adults in rural and urban settings

Abstract

Digital technology has become nearly ubiquitous as a social conduit, yet a digital divide persists between older and younger populations, particularly in privacy and security literacy. This challenge is amplified for rural older adults facing resource scarcity and isolation. Currently, most educational resources are tailored for younger generations, potentially overlooking older adults’ unique needs. Our study addresses this gap by developing and evaluating digital privacy education interventions tailored to older adults’ learning preferences and abilities.

The study aims to test the effectiveness and user experience of various educational modalities, including text instructions, interactive tutorials, videos, comics, chatbots, and infographics. We compare these modalities’ impact on privacy knowledge, perceived learning, and enjoyment. The study also examines how user characteristics like age, gender, rurality, motivation, trust, self-efficacy, and privacy concerns influence the effectiveness of different modalities.

Findings reveal distinct modality preferences between older and younger generations in the US population. Age and gender influence perceived learning and knowledge gain, while rurality and motivation impact enjoyment. Younger adults prefer videos, while older adults favor text, though both groups show preference for video and chatbot modalities. This study aims to ensure equitable digital privacy education for all, emphasizing older adults’ distinct needs and preferences. The findings contribute to reducing the ‘digital divide’ in digital privacy, fostering a more privacy-aware society, and informing the design of future educational interventions for diverse age groups.