Research Conducted By: Teen Identity Theft: Fraud, Security, and Steps Teens are Taking to Protect Themselves Online [ photo here The Online Generation Gap | November 2012 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 0 Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 0
Overview of Key Findings Between October 1 and 7, 2013, Hart Research Associates conducted a nationwide online survey among 558 teens ages 13 to 17 who access the Internet. This report presents the key findings from the survey. 1. Many teen Internet users express concerns about maintaining the privacy of their personal information and about identity theft, and their degree of concern has increased over the past year. 2. The large majority of teens feel it is reasonable to think that teens could be victims of identity theft, but comparatively few teens feel that they are personally at risk of having their identity stolen and used for someone else’s financial gain. 3. While most teens are using privacy settings for at least some of their online accounts and many are taking other precautions, teens could be doing more to protect the privacy of their information online. 4. Teens indicate that more “traditional” forms of outreach have greater potential to get their attention about the risks of online identity theft than do those communicated through social media. Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 1
Teens’ access to mobile Internet technology has increased over the past year. Own Have access to 2012 own/have access to Desktop or laptop 99% 98% 83% Cell phone or 92% 90% 74% smart phone 64% Own or have access to a smart phone 43% +21 90% Gaming console 90% 75% MP3 player 76% 59% 72% 67% Tablet 45% 40% +22 Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 2
There have been slight shifts in the landscape of teens’ use of online and mobile platforms. Proportions Saying They Have Done Each Activity in the Past 30 Days 2013 2012 87% 86% Sent/received a text message Used online social networking site 81% 88% 82% N/A Played mobile/online games Used online instant messenger 71% 78% Sent an e-mail 81% 90% Posted photo or posted/received comments on Instagram 42% 30% Sent/received messages on Twitter 35% 42% 32% N/A Sent/received messages on Snapchat Post/blog on Tumblr 28% 23% Posted video on YouTube 27% 29% Posted/received/answered questions on Ask.fm 25% N/A Posted video or posted/received comments on Vine 23% N/A 16% 17% Used location service to “check in” or share location Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 3
Privacy remains teens’ greatest concern about their online activity. Proportions Saying They Are Very Concerned about the Following Areas Being Harmed by Their Online Activity Selected as top concern All teens 2013 All teens 2012 2013 43% 68% The privacy of my personal information 35% 31% 17% My image or reputation 26% 15% 29% My physical safety 23% Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 4
Identity theft tops teens’ list of specific concerns about potential consequences of online activity, and concern has increased. Proportions Saying They Are Very Concerned about the Following Things Happening as a Result of Their Online Activity 2012 very concerned All Teens 2013 Identity theft +8 51% 43% Stranger learning +6 32% 38% something about me Problems if colleges/ N/A 38% potential employers find 31% Get in trouble w/parents 34% Online behavior being 27% 31% tracked for marketing Get in trouble with +7 24% 31% teacher/coach/school 23% Being bullied 28% Ugly/unflattering 23% 27% picture posted Friends making 19% 24% fun of me Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 5
More than half of teens are highly concerned about identity theft and credit card fraud. Proportions Saying They Are Very Concerned about the Following Things Happening as a Result of Their Online Activity Someone accessing my personal information, such as my name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number, and using that information for their own financial gain by obtaining NEW credit cards, car loans, government benefits, or home mortgages in my name 57% Someone accessing my personal information, such as my name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number, and using that information to pretend they are me online 56% Someone obtaining my credit or debit card number and using it to charge items to my account 51% Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 6
More than seven in 10 teens feel it is reasonable to think teens could be victims of identity theft. Which statement comes closer to your view about identity theft? It is REASONABLE to think that teens could be victims of identity theft because they tend to have clean credit records and are unlikely to notice that their credit has been compromised. 73% It is NOT REASONABLE to think that teens could be victims of identity theft because they do not have any credit cards or credit for someone to steal. 27% Attitudes Differ Somewhat by Age: Age 13 to 15 Age 16 to 17 Boys Girls Boys Girls Reasonable to think teens can 60% 72% 80% 84% be victims of identity theft Not reasonable to think teens 40% 28% 20% 16% can be victims of identity theft Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 7
Fewer than three in 10 teens feel that they are vulnerable to having their identity stolen. How vulnerable or at risk do you think you or your parents are to having your/their identity stolen by someone accessing personal information?* Very vulnerable/at risk Somewhat vulnerable/at risk Vulnerability of my 44% 16% parents/guardians My personal 29% 11% vulnerability I Feel Very/Somewhat Vulnerable to Having My Identity Stolen: Boys age 13 to 15 17% Girls tend to feel Girls age 13 to 15 38% more vulnerable to Boys age 16 to 17 25% identity theft than boys do. Girls age 16 to 17 39% * Description prior to question: “. . . specific type of identity theft that involves someone accessing your personal information, such as your name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number, and using that information for their own financial gain by obtaining NEW credit cards, car loans, government benefits, or home mortgages in your name. To be clear, we are NOT talking about someone stealing your credit or debit card number and using it to charge items to your existing account.” Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 8
Teens’ concern about the amount of personal information about them available on the Internet is muted. To what degree, if at all, are you concerned about the amount of personal information about you that is available on the Internet for others to see? However: Not at all Very concerned concerned Very concerned about the amount of personal information about me available on the Internet 27% 8% for others to see 27% 26% Very concerned about someone accessing my personal information, such as my name, address, Not very date of birth, or Social Security number, and using that information to obtain NEW credit cards, car concerned loans, government benefits, or home mortgages in my name 39% 57% Somewhat concerned Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 9
Yet many say that personal information about them is available on the Internet for others to see. For each type of information about them, proportions saying it is available on the Internet for others to see: My first and last name 75% 19% of teens say that all five of A photo of me 69% these types of information about them are available online. Especially likely are: My date of birth 54% • daily Instagram users 32% • daily Twitter users 31% 48% • daily Snapchat users 29% The name of my school • daily users of social 26% networking sites My e-mail address 47% My cell phone number 14% My home phone number 6% 5% of teens say that NONE of My home address 6% these nine types of information about them is available online. My Social Security 2% Number Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 10
Teens with more personal information avail- able online are only slightly more concerned or feel more vulnerable. Teens who have Teens who don’t all five types of have all five info* available types of info* online available online (19% of all teens) (81% of all teens) How concerned are you about the amount of your personal information available online? Very concerned 29% 27% Somewhat concerned 44% 37% Less/not concerned 27% 36% How vulnerable are you to having your identity stolen? Very vulnerable 23% 8% Somewhat vulnerable 19% 18% Slightly vulnerable 33% 39% Not vulnerable 25% 35% * Name, photo, DOB, school, email Teen Identity Theft| November 2013 | Hart Research Associates | #fosi 11
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