Smart phone activity: risk-taking behaviours and perceptions on data security among young people in England

This article reports on a study of mobile phone usage by young people in the UK tertiary education sector. Responses from 397 respondents were analysed to explore the attitudes of young people towards data security issues for mobile devices. Results from the comparative analysis found that there were significant differences in data security risk concerns across ethnic groups. Those who reported extrovert personalities tend to take more risk in data security issues. In addition, young people who were 'technology savvy' were less likely to expose themselves to risk to data security issues through the use of free wifi and access of installed applications. It is argued that there is an urgent need for greater education and awareness of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to reduce risk of cybercrime. The research reported here is part of a wider study looking at the overall communications and mobile phone usage of young people and taken as a whole, the paper contributes to this increasingly important area of Information Technology.