Designing An Algorithm That Can Influence Children’s Behaviour Online And Raise Their Cyber Security Awareness

Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1. Background of the study .................................................................................................................... 1

1.2. Problem statement ............................................................................................................................ 4

1.3. Objectives of the study ...................................................................................................................... 4

1.4. Research questions ............................................................................................................................ 5

1.5. Significance of the research ............................................................................................................... 5

1.6. Research limitations ........................................................................................................................... 5

1.7. Research ethical considerations ........................................................................................................ 5

1.8. Thesis layout ...................................................................................................................................... 6

1.9. Chapter summary............................................................................................................................... 6

Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 7

2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 7

2.2. Human Computer Interaction (HCI) .............................................................................................. 9

2.3. Children’s online behaviour ........................................................................................................ 12

2.4. Online activities of children that motivates them to interact with strangers ............................ 15

2.5. The extent of Internet behaviour and activities by children ...................................................... 16

2.6. Online behaviour analysing tools ................................................................................................ 29

2.7. Cyber security awareness strategies........................................................................................... 38

2.8. Approaches used to constitute online behaviour influencing algorithms .................................. 40

2.9. Chapter summary........................................................................................................................ 41

Chapter 3: Research Methodology ............................................................................................................. 43

3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 43

3.2. Human-Computer Interaction research paradigms .................................................................... 43

Motivation for design science ............................................................................................................. 45 3.3. The research philosophy ............................................................................................................. 45

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3.3.1. Research paradigm ............................................................................................................. 47

3.3.2. Research process ................................................................................................................ 48

3.4. Participants and sampling ................................................................................................................ 50

3.5. Data collection ................................................................................................................................. 50

3.6. Data analysis .................................................................................................................................... 51

3.7. Evaluation of the finished behaviour influencing algorithm ........................................................... 51

3.7.1. Informed argument of using relevant literature ....................................................................... 52

3.7.2. Persuasion theory ..................................................................................................................... 52

3.7.3. Expert reviews ..................................................................................................................... 54

3.8. Research ethical considerations ...................................................................................................... 54

3.9. Chapter summary............................................................................................................................. 55

Chapter 4: Research Findings ...................................................................................................................... 56

4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 56

4.2. Platforms mostly visited by children on the Internet ................................................................. 57

4.3. Extent of Internet activities usage by children ........................................................................... 59

4.3.1. Social networking sites actively used .................................................................................. 61

4.4. Things children know how to do on the Internet ....................................................................... 62

4.4.1. How true is this of you? ...................................................................................................... 64

4.5. Devices used to access the Internet and time spent on the device per day .............................. 65

4.6. Where you access the Internet from .......................................................................................... 66

4.7. Types of information shared online with strangers .................................................................... 67

4.7.1. Would you share the following while online? .................................................................... 70

4.7.2. Do you feel compelled to the following? ............................................................................ 70

4.8. Negative online experience ........................................................................................................ 72

4.8.1. Other Internet use related risks .......................................................................................... 76

4.8.2. Gender ................................................................................................................................ 77

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4.9. Chapter summary........................................................................................................................ 78

Chapter 5: Algorithm Design ....................................................................................................................... 81

5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 81

5.2. Algorithm design ......................................................................................................................... 82

5.2.1. COSBIA design methodology ............................................................................................... 82

5.2.2. STAGE 1: Identify problem and motive ............................................................................... 83

5.2.3. STAGE 2: Define the objective of a solution ....................................................................... 84

5.2.4. STAGE 3: Design and development ..................................................................................... 85

5.2.5. STAGE 4: Demonstration of COSBIA ................................................................................... 98

5.2.6. STAGE 5: Algorithm evaluation ......................................................................................... 115

5.2.7. STAGE 6: Communication ................................................................................................. 135

5.3. Chapter summary...................................................................................................................... 135

Chapter 6: Recommendations and Conclusion................................................................................... 136

6.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 136

6.2. Research contributions ............................................................................................................. 138

6.3. Lessons learnt ........................................................................................................................... 139

6.4. Research limitations .................................................................................................................. 140

6.5. Future considerations ............................................................................................................... 140

6.5.1. Study summary ..................................................................................................................... 140

References ................................................................................................................................................ 142

List of Appendices ..................................................................................................................................... 158

Appendix A: Faculty Postgraduate Committee Ethical Approval Letter ............................................... 159

Appendix B: Ministry of Education Permission Letter .......................................................................... 160

Appendix C: Ministry of Education Approval Letter ............................................................................. 162

Appendix D: Schools Permission Letter ................................................................................................ 163

Appendix E: Parental Consent Letters .................................................................................................. 165

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Appendix F: Questionnaires .................................................................................................................. 167

Appendix G: Expert Review Evaluation Form ....................................................................................... 174

Appendix H: COSBIA Game Concept ..................................................................................................... 188

Appendix I: COSBIA Game Evaluation Criteria ...................................................................................... 201

Appendix J: Publications ....................................................................................................................... 202

Appendix K: Children’s COSBIA Evaluation ........................................................................................... 212

Appendix L: Editor’s Report ..................................................................................................................