Internet Skills and Range of Activities: Influence of Internet Literacy on Resilience to Online Privacy Violation

Abstract

This research examines the impact of internet skills and a range of internet activities as the antecedent of resilience to online privacy violation. Previous research has found contradictory evidence that the perceived level of development of internet skills both increases and reduces resilience to online privacy violation; however, they do not analyze the factors that affect that relationship. Based on the survey data, an empirical analysis was conducted on a representative sample of internet users in Croatia. Empirical methodology is organized in the two steps. In the first step, the reliability, consistency, and dimensionality of latent constructs is tested. In the second step, the research model was estimated using regression techniques. This research fills the gap in existing literature by analyzing different perceptions of internet literacy development to make individual more resilient to online privacy violation in the context of socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, digital anxiety, as well as the intensity and variety of online activity of respondents. Initial results indicate that the range of internet activities is more important than development of internet skills to make an individual more resilient to online privacy violations. The results of this research could be useful to national policy and business strategy providers, particularly in the context of the new GDPR regulation introduced in 2018.