The Relationship Between Users’ Perception of Artificial Intelligence Threats on Social Networks and Their Withdrawal Behavior: A Survey Study Based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

Document Type : Original Article

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Digital Media Lecturer - Stadrum University. Turkei

Abstract

 
 
 The integration of artificial intelligence into social networks has introduced various threats, including data collection, privacy violations, algorithmic manipulation, and misinformation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between users’ perception of AI-related threats in social media and their withdrawal behaviour, within the framework of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), A survey study was conducted on Egyptian social media users (N = 400). The findings indicate that self-efficacy and response efficacy are the strongest predictors of withdrawal intention, while perceived severity had no significant effect. Response costs were a major barrier to actual withdrawal. Additionally, education and income moderated the relationship between threat appraisal and withdrawal, with higher-educated and high-income users being more likely to take protective actions. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing users’ awareness of digital self-protection mechanisms in response to the growing threats posed by artificial intelligence on social media.
 
 
 

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