AI-Strong

The project investigates how teenagers and young adults handle personal data online and how this behaviour can be improved. Today’s ‘first AI generation’ uses applications such as chatbots, image generators and social media on a daily basis, leaving a continuous digital trail in the process. Although many young people generally regard data protection as important and are aware of the risks, they often act inconsistently in their daily lives by sharing personal information or images carelessly. This phenomenon is known as the privacy paradox. The key research questions were: (1) Can the experience of personal involvement change data protection behaviour? and (2) Which forms of learning and education are suitable for strengthening self-protection in the digital space? The starting point is the assumption that, whilst risks are known, they are often not perceived as personally relevant and therefore do not trigger protective behaviour. To test this hypothesis, short videos tailored to the target group were developed, illustrating real-life dangerous situations involving the handling of personal data. The videos differed in the extent to which personal involvement was addressed. In a quasi-experimental design, these videos were used in 26 secondary school classes. A total of 440 pupils took part, each of whom was randomly assigned to watch one of three videos. Their willingness to share personal data was then assessed using a questionnaire. This was supplemented by a short workshop on data protection in the age of AI. The data analysis is not yet complete. However, initial feedback from the lessons suggests that direct exposure to their own data risks raises awareness and is more likely to motivate young people to take protective measures. The project thus shows potential for mitigating the privacy paradox and fostering digital resilience in a school setting.