A measurement model of online privacy cognitions in a sample of U.S. adolescents

Media and technology are omnipresent in adolescent lives, with implications for digital privacy. Extant literature has yet to quantitatively explore adolescent cognitions about digital privacy in interpersonal, commercial, and institutional settings, precluding a comprehensive understanding of their motivation to engage in certain online behaviours (e.g. using privacy settings, sharing personal data). Compromised privacy may result in adverse outcomes (e.g. identity theft, cyberbullying, sexual solicitation, stalking), thus, the present study aims to fill this gap through the development and validation of a theoretically grounded measurement model of adolescent privacy-related cognitions (Adolescent Cognitions about Online Privacy; ACOP), utilising confirmatory factor analysis within a structural equation framework. Study participants (n = 960, 10–14 years old) completed a digital survey on technology use and attitudes, including items on digital privacy-related attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. A three-factor model of adolescent privacy-related cognitions demonstrated adequate model fit. Invariance was established between all groups tested and latent mean differences emerged based on gender, race, and online risk level. This study is an important first step in quantitative understanding of adolescent privacy-related cognitions based on strong theoretical rationale. Further validation of this model is needed to inform on digital literacy interventions or apply in predictive analyses.