Purpose

During 2020, governments around the world introduced contact-tracing apps to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for contact-tracing apps to be efficient tools in combatting pandemics, a significant proportion of the population has to install it. However, in many countries, the success of apps introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited due to lack of public support. This paper aims to better understand why consumers seem unwilling to install and use a contact-tracing app.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors test a number of determinants hypothesized to influence acceptance of contact-tracing apps based on the theory of privacy calculus (Dinev and Hart, 2006). Both perceived privacy concerns, as well as perceived hedonic, utilitarian and pro-social benefits are included. The hypotheses are tested through SEM analysis on a representative sample of 1,007 Swedish citizens.

Findings

The results indicate significant privacy concerns with using contact-tracing apps. However, this is to some extent offset by perceived hedonic and pro-social positive consequences of using the app. This study further shows that a general positive attitude towards innovation increases acceptance of the app.

Originality/value

The study contributes to research on consumer privacy, both in general in its application of the calculus model but also specifically in the context of contact-tracing apps. Moreover, as the results highlight which aspects that are important for consumers to accept and install an app of this kind, they also represent an important contribution to policymakers in countries around the world.

中文翻译：

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个人成本和社会效益：接触者追踪应用程序的隐私计算

目的

2020 年期间，世界各国政府推出了接触者追踪应用程序来抗击 COVID-19 大流行。为了使接触者追踪应用程序成为抗击流行病的有效工具，相当一部分人必须安装它。但是，在许多国家/地区，由于缺乏公众支持，在 COVID-19 大流行期间推出的应用程序的成功受到限制。本文旨在更好地理解为什么消费者似乎不愿意安装和使用接触者追踪应用程序。

设计/方法/途径

在这项研究中，作者根据隐私演算理论测试了一些假设影响接触者追踪应用程序接受度的决定因素（Dinev 和 Hart，2006 年）。既包括感知到的隐私问题，也包括感知到的享乐、功利和亲社会利益。这些假设通过 SEM 分析对 1,007 名瑞典公民的代表性样本进行了检验。

发现

结果表明，使用接触者追踪应用程序存在严重的隐私问题。然而，这在一定程度上被使用该应用程序所带来的享乐和亲社会积极后果所抵消。这项研究进一步表明，对创新的普遍积极态度会增加应用程序的接受度。

原创性/价值

该研究有助于研究消费者隐私，无论是在微积分模型的一般应用中，还是在接触者追踪应用程序的背景下。此外，由于结果突出了哪些方面对消费者接受和安装此类应用程序很重要，因此它们也代表了对世界各国政策制定者的重要贡献。