A Longitudinal Study of Information Privacy on Mobile Devices

47th Hawaiian International Conference on Systems Sciences (HICSS 2014), Big Island, Hawaii, January 6–9, 3149-3158

11 Pages Posted: 11 Sep 2013 Last revised: 23 Nov 2014

See all articles by Mark J. Keith

Mark J. Keith

Brigham Young University - Marriott School

Jeffry Babb

West Texas A&M University

Paul Benjamin Lowry

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business

Date Written: August 17, 2013

Abstract

The real value of mobile applications is heavily dependent on consumers’ trust in the privacy of their personal information and location data. However, research has generated few results based on actual information disclosure and even less that is based on longitudinal behavior. The purpose of this study is to execute a unique and authentic field experiment involving real risks and consumer behaviors regarding information disclosure over mobile devices. We compare two theoretical explanations of disclosure decisions: privacy calculus and prospect theory. Our results indicate that consumers are best modeled as "bounded" rational actors concerning their disclosure behavior. Also, actual information disclosure behavior over mobile applications is a more multifaceted issue than research has treated it thus far. For practice, mobile application providers should be aware that increasing the benefits of information disclosure via the app may have the counterintuitive effect of increasing perceived risk and reducing consumer disclosure.

Keywords: mobile computing, mobile commerce, self-disclosure, privacy, privacy calculus

Suggested Citation

Keith, Mark J. and Babb, Jeffry and Lowry, Paul Benjamin, A Longitudinal Study of Information Privacy on Mobile Devices (August 17, 2013). 47th Hawaiian International Conference on Systems Sciences (HICSS 2014), Big Island, Hawaii, January 6–9, 3149-3158, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2322882

Mark J. Keith

Brigham Young University - Marriott School ( email )

Provo, UT 84602
United States

Jeffry Babb

West Texas A&M University ( email )

Canyon, TX 79016
United States

Paul Benjamin Lowry (Contact Author)

Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business ( email )

1016 Pamplin Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

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