Thematic exploration of online privacy literacy and examination of its future agenda

Abstract

ABSTRACT In today’s digitized society of ever-increasing information sharing, Online Privacy Literacy (OPL) is not only important to feel safe but be safe as well. OPL refers to skills and knowledge of individuals that helps to protect their privacy online. OPL is crucial in the digital era, where extensive data collection poses privacy challenges. The lack of OPL is a major disadvantage as it may impair one’s privacy decision-making abilities such as whether and how much personal data to disclose online. Despite its importance, OPL research is in its early stages. To pave the way to bridge this gap, we conducted a systematic review of 57 articles, offering a theoretical connection to privacy research. Our synthesis highlights how OPL is defined, measured, and its primary knowledge domains. Seven themes emerged, emphasizing OPL across age groups and revealing unexplored areas like the interplay between OPL, technology acceptance, and technostress. This exploration provides a roadmap for researchers to understand OPL implications and its role in privacy domains, guiding future research directions. Experts can leverage this thematic exploration to develop knowledge, skills, and effective privacy protection measures for individuals and institutions in the dynamic landscape of online privacy.