The Associated Press news services reported the results of a new survey by the University of Southern California's Center for the Digital Future:
"Privacy concerns stemming from online shopping rose in 2007, a new study finds, as the loss or theft of credit card information and other personal data soared to unprecedented levels. Sixty-one percent of adult Americans said they were very or extremely concerned about the privacy of personal information when buying online, an increase from 47 percent in 2006. Before last year, that figure had largely been dropping since 2001. People who do not shop online tend to be more worried, as are newer Internet users, regardless of whether they buy things on the Internet..."
In 2007, about 57% of survey respondents were very or extremely concerned about credit card security. In 2006, the same number was 53 percent. In 2007, about two-thirds of adult Internet users shop online, compared with just 50 percent in 2006. Most spend $100 or less a month, and two-thirds of online shoppers have reduced buying at brick-and-mortar stores. The survey included a random selection of 2,021 Americans contacted from Feb. 28 to Aug. 6, 2007.
More survey results about online usage:
"... online parents are more likely than ever to withhold Internet use as punishment — 62 percent in 2007, compared with 47 percent a year earlier and 32 percent in 2000... Nearly two-thirds of parents, meanwhile, worry about kids participating in online communities and about half believe online predators to be a threat..."
Online privacy concerns have indeed increased because of a high increase in the stealing of data and personal information of person who are online.
Posted by: Mike | Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 03:41 PM