Exploring the privacy concerns of smartphone app users: a qualitative approach

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore and identify the privacy concerns of smartphone app users pertinent to app usage.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a qualitative phenomenological approach, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with app users to explore the app users' privacy concerns.FindingsCredibility concerns, unauthorised secondary use and vulnerability concerns are the three major privacy concerns of app users, under which these concerns have sub-concerns, i.e. popularity, privacy policy, stalking, data sharing, hacking and personal harm.Practical implicationsThe findings are useful to app marketers, app developers and app stores. App marketers, app developers and app stores can use the findings to understand and properly address app users' privacy concerns, thereby increasing the apps usage.Originality/valueBy exploring the privacy concerns of app users, the authors' study extends the literature and provides a theoretical development of individuals' privacy concerns in the context of a widely used technology, i.e. smartphone applications. Accordingly, this study contributes to the consumer privacy literature.

The role of online retail website experience on brand happiness and willingness to share personal information: an SOR perspective

“…The literature has discussed and evaluated many drivers of consumers’ WSPI, many of which relate to the technological platforms of the websites or apps (e.g. Maseeh et al. , 2023).…”

“…The literature has discussed and evaluated many drivers of consumers' WSPI, many of which relate to the technological platforms of the websites or apps (e.g. Maseeh et al, 2023). This study evaluates e-commerce websites as both technological platforms and brands.…”

“…WSPI is further facilitated through consumer trust in the retailer’s systems or privacy regulations (Urbonavicius, 2023). Other factors driving consumers’ WSPI include the credibility of the app itself (Maseeh et al. , 2023), dependability of the technological (especially AI) platform, perceived trust, and ease of use of the technology (Song and Kim, 2021, 2022; Grosso et al.…”

“…Additionally, the ease of use of websites (Evens and Van Damme, 2016), site-specific privacy concerns (Li and Atkinson, 2020), service quality, enjoyment, and trust in the technology (Song and Kim, 2021) drive consumers' WSPI. The information shared may be contingent upon consumers' use of privacy control (Prince, 2018) or their privacy concerns (Maseeh et al, 2023). A recurring focus of most studies conducted in the domain of WSPI has been related to the technology and the robustness of the technological platform on which the information is shared (Song and Kim, 2021).…”

“…Additionally, the ease of use of websites (Evens and Van Damme, 2016), site-specific privacy concerns (Li and Atkinson, 2020), service quality, enjoyment, and trust in the technology (Song and Kim, 2021) drive consumers’ WSPI. The information shared may be contingent upon consumers’ use of privacy control (Prince, 2018) or their privacy concerns (Maseeh et al. , 2023).…”