Think students don’t care about their online privacy? Think again.

The popular idea is that young adults aren’t as interested in their online privacy as their parents might be. But a new survey by the University of California Berkeley says otherwise.

The statistics show no significant difference between young adults and older age groups when it comes to privacy concerns. 54% of adults 18-24 say they’re more concerned about Internet privacy issues than they were five years ago, similar to 55% of adults aged 45-54.

The report’s conclusion: “Young-adult Americans have an aspiration for increased privacy even while they participate in an online reality that is optimized to increase their revelation of personal data.”

Other findings:

• 42% say the reason they’re more concerned is because they know more about of online privacy risks, while 32% say they have more to lose if their privacy were violated
• 84% believe anyone who uploads a photo or video of them should first get their permission, and
• 88% agree there should be a law requiring websites and advertisers to delete all stored information about individuals.

But that doesn’t mean young adults have all the privacy protection tools they need. The report suggests additional education could help. While current internet education warns against online predators and cyberbullying, information security and privacy should also be emphasized.

Read the complete report here.

How well do students at your school protect their online privacy? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Tags: Facebook privacy, Online safety, University of California-Berkeley