Online Privacy Concerns, Impacts and Coping Strategies among College Students in Digos City, Philippines: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

The widespread use of online platforms has heightened privacy concerns among university students, reflecting the well-documented Privacy Paradox. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of 15 college students in Digos City, Philippines, through semi-structured interviews. The analysis identified three focal areas: privacy concerns encountered, their impacts, and coping strategies. Students reported threats such as account breaches, data exposure, and identity theft, which resulted in psychological distress, academic difficulties and social withdrawal. Coping strategies included emotional adjustment, moderated platform use, and strengthened privacy practices. The findings highlight the urgent need for universities to embed digital literacy and mental health support within student programs. The study mechanisms include emotional control, deliberate downgrading of social media activities, and enhancing countermeasures toward privacy with activities such as digital security enhancement and increased caution when online.