Not based on scientific evidence, but we can infer this from several facts:
- The massive user bases of social media platforms. If most people cared, or were even aware of what's going on, they would choose not to consent to give up their personal data in exchange of using the service. Yet clearly they value the service over their privacy.
- Blind acceptance of cookie consent forms. Even with all the publicity around cookies and tracking on the web, if you've ever shoulder surfed a non-technical person, you'd notice that they blindly dismiss any consent forms by accepting the terms. There's a reason why most websites use dark design patterns on these: they work.
- Anecdata: if you've ever tried educating a social media user about privacy concerns, you'd be familiar with several dismissals: "I just log in occasionally for <minor use case>", the popular "I have nothing to hide", and flat out "I don't care". I've heard these both from non-technical and educated, smart and technically literate people. After many years of making an effort here, I've yet to convince a single person to change their habits, let alone abandon these services, and I'm still perceived as a radical technophobe.
So most people seem to "care", but apparently not enough to change their usage habits, or they feel powerless and lack the technical skills to protect themselves. So it could be a matter of education after all, but _most_ of the people I've talked about this, stop me much earlier than we get to the point of discussing what they can do about it.
Not based on scientific evidence, but we can infer this from several facts:
- The massive user bases of social media platforms. If most people cared, or were even aware of what's going on, they would choose not to consent to give up their personal data in exchange of using the service. Yet clearly they value the service over their privacy.
- Blind acceptance of cookie consent forms. Even with all the publicity around cookies and tracking on the web, if you've ever shoulder surfed a non-technical person, you'd notice that they blindly dismiss any consent forms by accepting the terms. There's a reason why most websites use dark design patterns on these: they work.
- Anecdata: if you've ever tried educating a social media user about privacy concerns, you'd be familiar with several dismissals: "I just log in occasionally for <minor use case>", the popular "I have nothing to hide", and flat out "I don't care". I've heard these both from non-technical and educated, smart and technically literate people. After many years of making an effort here, I've yet to convince a single person to change their habits, let alone abandon these services, and I'm still perceived as a radical technophobe.