For our project we set out to discover just how much people know about their privacy and how their data is used on Facebook. To do this, we created a survey that asks people how much time they spend on Facebook and who their settings allow to see their data, followed by seven questions asking if people are aware of various privacy and data use concerns about Facebook, and a concluding question that asks if any of these issues would cause people to question how they use or think about Facebook. This survey was distributed through various University of Oregon Facebook pages in order to ensure that all participants were Facebook users, around generally the same age.
The results provide evidence of a fundamental shift in people's attitudes toward privacy in a socially connected world.
How much do people know and care about their privacy and data use on Facebook? A survey of people's knowledge provides insight.