Hong Kong youngsters not minding web privacy, survey finds
City’s youth falling prey to and helping spread falsehoods, and sharing other users’ data without consent
Half of local youngsters have had their online information shared by peers without their consent, according to a survey, sparking concerns about privacy intrusion.
The city’s younger generation are also easily falling prey to falsehoods and rumours circulating in the cyber world, and often share inaccurate information themselves, the study by the Federation of Youth Groups found.
Of 1,855 respondents aged between 11 and 22 at 18 secondary schools, 46 per cent said they had been tagged in pictures or messages on social media without their approval, and more than a quarter admitted doing the same to friends.
Another 21 per cent confessed they had taken screen grabs of other people’s conversations and uploaded them online without asking permission. Nearly 12 per cent had posted personal data, such as phone numbers and addresses, belonging to others.
The survey organiser said the findings showed the lax attitude of young internet users and a lack of integrity and concern for legal consequences in the virtual world. Nearly 30 per cent thought they could do whatever they wanted online while another 13 per cent thought the cyber world was not bound by law.
“While some youngsters protected their privacy on the internet well, they overlooked the privacy of others when handling information from a third party,” said Ng Kam-kuen, who heads the federation’s media counselling centre.
“Information will be circulated and then cannot be erased. Cyber bullying could happen from there,” Ng said.
Last December the city’s privacy watchdog began stepping up efforts to raise awareness of privacy rights online, calling on the public to mind their digital footprint and respect other users’ personal data.
Information will be circulated and then cannot be erased. Cyber bullying could happen from there
“Many incidents concerning telephone deception, direct marketing and cyberbullying, notably, one way or another, stemmed from digital footprints left by people unintentionally,” Stephen Wong Kai-yi, the privacy commissioner of personal data, said then.
The survey organiser said the younger generation tended to believe unfounded rumours, including news of the deaths of celebrities or closure of companies, with more than a quarter of respondents saying they “liked” and shared online articles, pictures and videos regardless of whether they had proven to be true. One-third said it was more important to share “interesting” news than “accurate” news, and another one-third said they never reported or removed users who sent out incorrect information.
“They actually help spread or further exaggerate the rumours online inadvertently if they share an unclaimed report or information,” Ng said.
The social worker urged schools to step up moral and civic education to foster better judgment and a sense of responsibility regarding internet usage.
