Nudging the User with Privacy Indicator: A Study on the App Selection Behavior of the User

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical study on user behavior, decision making, and perception about privacy concern while selecting apps. An app store demo was presented to the user with a minor modification-a privacy indicator for each app. After carrying out several tasks using this modified mobile interface, participants were interviewed to document reasons behind their decisions, thought process, and perception regarding individual privacy. A total of 82 adults volunteered under the pretext of a usability study. A significant influence of the privacy indicator on their app selection behavior was observed, although this influence decreased in case of familiar apps. Furthermore, responses from questionnaires, data from eye-tracking device and documented interviews, with video confrontation showed coherence with respect to the corresponding app selection behavior.CCS Concepts: • Security and privacy → Privacy protections; Usability in security and privacy; • Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in ubiquitous and mobile computing.