AI and technology · 1 min read
Only a minority rejected risky permissions on their phones
Some 26% rejected at least one privacy permission and 33% at least one security permission. For privacy, people who deliberated more rejected more often.
The study, in plain language
Permission requests interrupt people using a website or app. In two exercises in a mobile browser, the team observed whether people rejected requests related to their privacy or device security.
Only a minority rejected at least one request of each type. For privacy, a greater tendency to think before deciding coincided with more rejections. For security, that tendency alone showed no clear link; a link appeared among those who also saw a warning about consequences.
The same willingness to pause and think had different associations depending on the permission and information accompanying the decision.
The key idea
For security permissions, more deliberation went along with more rejections only when the warning explained what could happen.
The original study
Engaging in cyber hygiene: the role of thoughtful decision-making and informational interventions
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.