| dc.description.abstract | Mobile privacy and security can be a collaborative process where individuals seek advice and help from their trusted communities. To support such collective privacy and security management, we designed and developed a mobile app titled "CO-oPS," based on a Community Oversight model for Privacy and Security. The goal of our research was to assess the effectiveness of this community-based approach in enabling users to co-manage mobile online safety, privacy, and security with their trusted circles. Initially exploring its application within families, we conducted a lab-based study with 19 parent-teen dyads, which revealed both benefits in joint learning and improved communication, as well as challenges due to power and knowledge imbalances. Subsequently, a field study involving 22 communities with diverse relationships further demonstrated this approach’s efficacy in raising users’ awareness of one another's privacy behaviors and enhancing individuals' collective capacities to manage privacy and security. Further analysis differentiated between caregivers, who provided oversight to others, and caregivees, who did not, within communities, revealing increased self-efficacy and collective efficacy for mobile privacy and security among both groups, with a stronger increase for caregivees. Our research underscored the potential of community-based approaches in benefiting not just the entire community, but also the individuals who need additional help manage their mobile privacy and security. Based on the insights gained from our dissertation, we provided design recommendations to overcome the challenges such as privacy concerns, lack of trust, and community participation. | |
