Trust Us, This Is For Your Own Good: Rethinking Americans' Attitudes Towards Privacy, Big Tech, and the Exchange Model

Authors

• Katie Krumbholz, You.Gov and Penn State University
• Kyle J. Morgan, Francis Marion University
• Milton Heumann, Rutgers University
• Lance Cassak, Indepdenent Scholar
• Alice Militaru, New York University
• Lauren Johnson, University of Virginia

Volume Number

54

Issue Number

1

Abstract

In an era of TikTok trends, algorithms, and omnipresent technology, traditional expectations of privacy may seem as outdated as 8-track tapes or CDs. This paper explores that assumption by investigating the modern perceptions of privacy among Americans, particularly in relation to big tech and the prevailing data-for-services exchange model. We present original survey data about attitudes toward privacy, including analysis of open-ended questions and a survey experiment which uncovers nuanced views of privacy. The data shows a deep-seated value for privacy, a pervasive distrust of tech companies, dissatisfaction with the exchange model - yet also a feeling of powerlessness which, taken together, present a complex picture of privacy in the digital age. We conclude privacy is an evolving concept, existing in dynamic relation to the world around it, highlighting the complexity of understanding privacy in the digital age and beyond.

Recommended Citation

Krumbholz, Katie; Morgan, Kyle J.; Heumann, Milton; Cassak, Lance; Militaru, Alice; and Johnson, Lauren (2026) "Trust Us, This Is For Your Own Good: Rethinking Americans' Attitudes Towards Privacy, Big Tech, and the Exchange Model," Journal of Political Science: Vol. 54: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/jops/vol54/iss1/3