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Research Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026 | Pages: 884 - 887 | India
A Study of Cybersecurity Awareness among University Students in the Age of Social Media
Abstract: This study examined cybersecurity awareness among university students in the context of rapidly increasing social media usage. Social media platforms have become integral to students? academic, social, and personal lives, offering opportunities for communication and learning while simultaneously exposing users to risks such as hacking, phishing, cyberbullying, and identity theft. Using a descriptive research design, the study employed convenience sampling with a final sample of 102 college students aged 18-29 in Kannur City. Data were collected through a self-structured online questionnaire assessing social media usage patterns, awareness of security measures, exposure to cyber risks, and perceived academic and health impact. Overall, respondents were more security-aware than the literature review anticipated: 64.7% reported understanding privacy settings and 81.4% correctly identified a phishing scenario. However, 25.5% had experienced an adverse cyber event, and among respondents who had faced online harassment, more than half did not report it. Statistical testing found no significant relationship between usage level and security awareness (p = 0.749) or between usage level and academic grades (p = 0.874). A significant relationship was found between age at first profile creation and phishing identification (p = 0.015), with earlier joiners showing higher accuracy. The study concludes that usage alone does not guarantee protective behaviour and recommends integrating digital safety education into academic curricula, supported by targeted awareness campaigns and clearer reporting channels.
Keywords: Social media usage, cybersecurity awareness, college students, privacy settings, phishing, digital safety education
How to Cite?: Harsha Mohan, Dr. R. Hemanth Babu, "A Study of Cybersecurity Awareness among University Students in the Age of Social Media", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 884-887, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26913015707, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26913015707