How Well Do Privacy-Protective Behaviours Age? The Prevalence of Privacy Heuristics Among Older Adults

Abstract

Digital technology adoption and engagement is increasing amongst older adults, prompting concerns regarding their privacy-related behaviour while engaging with these technologies. The use of cognitive biases and heuristics may help explain why older adults, and some younger people as well, make decisions that compromise their privacy in digital contexts. A literature review was carried out to assess the use of cognitive biases and heuristics by older adults when deciding whether to adopt, and while using, digital technologies. Tools are needed that guide users away from mental shortcuts such as hyperbolic discounting, anchoring, and shortcut decisions based on trust and that promote privacy protection. In addition to reviewing current literature on the use of privacy-related biases and heuristics amongst older adults, we also present possible future research directions on this topic.