Survey shows Australians don't trust social media with private data

AUSTRALIANS love using social media, but a national survey shows most don't trust that their private information will be protected.

Just three in 10 Australians trust websites such as Facebook or Twitter to protect their personal information, a survey has foun

AUSTRALIANS love their social media but they just don't trust it.

A national survey released today shows that just three in 10 Australians trust social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to protect their personal data.

The Newspoll national survey found that 50 per cent of people trust online retailers to protect their information.

The survey showed that people's willingness to trust organisations with their data depends on factors such as age, occupation and gender.

It found 76 per cent of people in white collar households trust the online security of government departments ahead of 66 per cent of blue collar households.

Seven per cent of males trust social network sites "a lot" compared with three per cent of females.

The survey, commissioned by Crossman Communications, involved more than 1200 people aged 18 to 64.

###