Sanctity of Digital Privacy and Personal Data during COVID-19 - Are Youths Enough Digitally Literate to Deal with it?

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital applications and intensified reliance on internet-based services for communication, work, and learning. As usage grew, concerns emerged around civil liberties, privacy, and data protection, particularly for youth. This study examines youths’ internet habits in West Bengal during COVID-19, focusing on digital literacy, experiences with digital applications, and data-protection practices. An online survey of 215 participants found that increased app use does not match youth demand for digital privacy literacy, with limited protective mechanisms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Digital privacy needs during COVID-19

Social media, tracking, and privacy concerns

Government rules and youth awareness

Sanctity of Digital Privacy and Personal during COVID-19: Are Youths Enough Digitally Literate to Deal with it? Sanctity of Digital Privacy and Personal Data during COVID-19: Are Youths Enough Digitally Literate to Deal with it? Swagata Ghosh [p20200461@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in](p20200461@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in) [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4796-0482](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4796-0482) Birla Institute of Technology and Science–Pilani, Pilani, India Gajendra Singh Chauhan [gsc@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in](gsc@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in) [https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3259-9532](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3259-9532) Birla Institute of Technology and Science–Pilani, Pilani, India Renu Kotwal [p20200467@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in](p20200467@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in) [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7913-329X](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7913-329X) Birla Institute of Technology and Science–Pilani, Pilani, India Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked the development of digital applications and inspired everyone to adapt to the technologies to curb the spread of outbreak. As this crisis intensifies, the rapid usage of digital devices and apps has echoed the serious concerns about civil liberties, privacy, and data protection . Considering the situation, this research aimed to explore the internet using habits of the youths of West Bengal, a state in eastern India, during COVID-19 . Besides, the paper explored their experiences of using various digital applications, the fundamental digital literacy and how safely they protect data from breaches. Thus, the paper presents the results by conducting an online survey among the youths in West Bengal. The result, from 215 participants, highlighted that the increased use of these digital applications has not matched the demand for digital privacy literacy among the young generation of the state. While this pandemic has raised their concerns over digital privacy and data protection, yet they do not undertake any strong protection mechanisms to safeguard them digitally. Besides, this paper suggests suitable plans to raise awareness among this generation and form a healthy digital citizenship with a proper regulatory framework as it is the need of the hour. Keywords COVID-19, Digital Privacy, Personal Data Protection, Media Literacy, Youths, West Bengal. Digital Education Review ⎮ ISSN 2013-9144 ⎮ [http://revistes.ub.edu/der](http://revistes.ub.edu/der) Number 43, June 2023 ⎮ [http://doi/10.1344/der.2023.43.1-17](http://doi/10.1344/der.2023.43.1-17) 131 I. Introduction COVID 19, the global pandemic, has made a profound difference in our lives. The World Health Organization suggested avoiding crowded areas and encouraging close contact in order to stop the spread of the disease during the pandemic. Due to this, people were confined to their houses and were managing all activities from home. From communicating with dear ones to fulfilling job responsibilities and taking classes, the use of internet-based services became obvious for almost everything. Therefore, due to the constant use and mandatory presence of a digital medium in our daily lives, it becomes important to ensure digital privacy and protect the data we share on the internet. Because on most occasions, we leave our digital footprints on the internet (Setyowati, 2016) by sharing our minute personal details, i.e., IP address, email id, date of birth, name, address, etc., as directed by the applications or websites. Consequently, the internet records all those details and tracks our online behavior through the applications and devices we use (Trninic & Vukelic, 2021) . From the keywords we typed on search engines and the websites we visited, to cookies collecting browser history of the users, to online transaction details- every online activity of ours can now be analyzed to know personal information about ourselves (The Centre for Internet & Society, n.d.) . Even the personalized suggestion

FAQs

What was the main aim of the research during COVID-19?

To explore youths’ internet usage habits in West Bengal and assess their digital literacy, experiences with digital applications, and ability to protect personal data from breaches.

How was the study conducted and how many participants were involved?

Through an online survey among youths in West Bengal, with results based on 215 participants.

What key finding does the paper report about youth digital privacy literacy?

Despite increased use of digital applications, the demand for digital privacy literacy among young people was not matched, and strong data-protection mechanisms were not widely undertaken.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk