Role of Social Media Literacy in Improving the Cybersecurity Measures: A Case Study in India

In the modern world social media literacy plays a significant role in enhancing cybersecurity measures specifically in India. Background information regarding the research topic has been discussed effectively along with highlighting the aim, objectives along with research questions that reflect as a foundation of the research. Besides this, lack of digital literacy in rural and urban areas of India has been discussed as an issue. In-depth literature review along with thematic implications such as “Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)” and “Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)” has also been illustrated in this research. Furthermore, the selection of “secondary data collection method” along with expected outcome has also been discussed in this report.

Social Media, Literacy, Cybersecurity, Phishing, Cyberbullying, India Scams, Privacy, Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)

1. Afzal, A., Khan, S., Daud, S., Ahmad, Z. and Butt, A., 2023. Addressing the digital divide: Access and use of technology in education. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 3(2), pp.883-895. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Agbaka, J., 2024. Integrated approaches to combat cyber-crime on social media: legislative, educational, and technological solutions. PERSPEKTIF, 13(4), pp.1213-1222. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Almousa, M. and Anwar, M., 2023. A URL-based social semantic attacks detection with character-aware language model. IEEE Access, 11, pp.10654-10663. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Alzghaibi, H. and Hutchings, H.A., 2025. Barriers to the implementation of large-scale electronic health record systems in primary healthcare centers: a mixed-methods study in Saudi Arabia. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, p.1516714. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Braun, V. and Clarke, V., 2021. Thematic analysis: A practical guide. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Braun, V. and Clarke, V., 2023. Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and be (com) ing a knowing researcher. International journal of transgender health, 24(1), pp.1-6. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Chandrasekar, A., Clark, S.E., Martin, S., Vanderslott, S., Flores, E.C., Aceituno, D., Barnett, P., Vindrola-Padros, C. and Vera San Juan, N., 2024. Making the most of big qualitative datasets: a living systematic review of analysis methods. Frontiers in big Data, 7, p.1455399. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Collier, B., Thomas, D.R., Clayton, R., Hutchings, A. and Chua, Y.T., 2022. Influence, infrastructure, and recentering cybercrime policing: Evaluating emerging approaches to online law enforcement through a market for cybercrime services. Policing and Society, 32(1), pp.103-124. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Currie, D.H. and Kelly, D.M., 2022. Critical Media Literacy for Uncertain Times: Promoting Student Reflexivity. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 14(2), pp.15-26. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Estebsari, F., Khalifehkandi, Z.R., Latifi, M., Farhadinasab, A., Vasli, P. and Mostafaie, D., 2023. Protection motivation theory and prevention of breast cancer: a systematic review. Clinical Breast Cancer, 23(4), pp.e239-e246. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ezati Rad, R., Mohseni, S., Kamalzadeh Takhti, H., Hassani Azad, M., Shahabi, N., Aghamolaei, T. and Norozian, F., 2021. Application of the protection motivation theory for predicting COVID-19 preventive behaviors in Hormozgan, Iran: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), p.466. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. gov.uk, (2025). “Data protection”. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/data-protection [Accessed on: 23rd November 2025] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Hall, J.R., Savas-Hall, S. and Shaw, E.H., 2023. A deductive approach to a systematic review of entrepreneurship literature. Management Review Quarterly, 73(3), pp.987-1016. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Jiang, M.M., Xiao, Y.W. and Liao, Z.L., 2024. Pathways of media contact to health literacy in middle-aged and older people: the chain mediation effect of perceived social support and self-efficacy. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, pp.111-121. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Junjie, M. and Yingxin, M., 2022. The Discussions of Positivism and Interpretivism. Online Submission, 4(1), pp.10-14. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Kachkar, O. and Djafri, F., 2022. Exploring the intentional behaviour of refugees in participating in micro-enterprise support programmes (MESP): is theory of planned behaviour (TPB) still relevant?. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 14(4), pp.549-576. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kumar, A., Joshi, A., Pandey, R.K. and Sharma, A.K., 2024. Navigating the Digital Era: Social Media’s Influence, Issues, and Cybercrime. The Indian Police, p.12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Lähdesmäki, S. and Maunula, M., 2023. Empowering media literacy skills: enhancing student teachers’ awareness of new literacy competencies in teacher education. International Journal of Technology and Inclusive Education, 12(2), pp.1910-1919. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. legislation.gov.uk, (2025). “Copyright Act 1956”. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/74/enacted [Accessed on: 23rd November 2025] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Mazhar, S.A., Anjum, R., Anwar, A.I. and Khan, A.A., 2021. Methods of data collection: A fundamental tool of research. Journal of Integrated Community Health, 10(1), pp.6-10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. medium.com, (2025). “Where India Stands on Digital Literacy ft. Social Media”. Available at: https://medium.com/@AbdulWahab./where-india-stands-on-digital-literacy-ft-social-media-f64076feed10 [Accessed on: 23rd November 2025] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Michelen, M., Phan, M., Zimmer, A., Coury, N., Morey, B., Montiel Hernandez, G., Cantero, P., Zarate, S., Foo, M.A., Tanjasiri, S. and Billimek, J., 2024. Practical qualitative data analysis for public health research: A guide to a Team-Based approach with flexible coding. International journal of qualitative methods, 23, p.16094069241289279. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Pervin, N. and Mokhtar, M., 2022. The interpretivist research paradigm: A subjective notion of a social context. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 11(2), pp.419-428. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. pib.gov.in, (2025). “Curbing Cyber Frauds in Digital India”. Available at: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2176146 [Accessed on: 23rd November 2025] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Salleh, A.S.S., Latif, A., Anis, W., Zambri, A.M., Latiff, D.I.A. and Kamal, S., 2023. Media literacy and digital citizenship in the era of social media. International Journal of Academic Research in Business & Social Sciences, 13(11), pp.918-929. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. statista.com, (2025). “Social media usage in India - statistics & facts”. Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/5113/social-media-usage-in-india/?srsltid=AfmBOoqvbAQZieweBhQgEsyK-leVOs37Iyv09TrTcOzRzinni25KSc0A#topicOverview [Accessed on: 23rd November 2025] [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Sugeng, S., Fitria, A. and Bastomi, S., 2024. Epistemic Injustice and Digital Disinformation: Addressing Knowledge Inequities in the Digital Age. DISKURSUS-JURNAL FILSAFAT DAN TEOLOGI STF DRIYARKARA, 20(1), pp.135-169. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Sugeng, S., Fitria, A. and Rohman, A.N.R.A.N., 2022. Promoting digital literacy for the prevention of risk behavior in social media for adolescents. Jurnal Keamanan Nasional, 8(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Syafitri, W., Shukur, Z., Asma’Mokhtar, U., Sulaiman, R. and Ibrahim, M.A., 2022. Social engineering attacks prevention: A systematic literature review. IEEE access, 10, pp.39325-39343. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Van Quaquebeke, N., Salem, M., van Dijke, M. and Wenzel, R., 2022. Conducting organizational survey and experimental research online: From convenient to ambitious in study designs, recruiting, and data quality. Organizational Psychology Review, 12(3), pp.268-305. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Yu, J., Bekerian, D.A. and Osback, C., 2024. Navigating the digital landscape: challenges and barriers to effective information use on the internet. Encyclopedia, 4(4), pp.1665-1680. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Investigating the Performance of Colour Oxide on the PS/CNSO Oil Paint Production
• Real-Time Fabric Defect Detection Using a Lightweight Deformable YOLO Network
• Recent Trends in the Stock Market: An Analytical Study of Market Dynamics, Investor Behaviour, and Technological Influence
• Evaluation of Structural Dynamics and Equilibrium State, with Case Study of Large Cantilever Projection for a 10- Storey Reinforced Concrete Building in Lagos, Nigeria.
• Multi-Criteria Evaluation of AI-Based Adaptive Learning Platforms in Global Higher Education: A Fuzzy AHP Perspective