Influence of Referrals on the Adoption of Unsecured Mobile Applications Among Youth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrijm.2026.CI.v11.n06.006Keywords:
Referrals, Unsecured Mobile Applications, Security Fear, Peer-TrustAbstract
This study looks at how young people in Kerala balance the trust they have in their friends against the security risks of downloading "unsecured" mobile apps. Even though we hear about mobile scams and data leaks every day, this research uses a perception-based approach to figure out why these high-risk apps still spread so fast through referral links. By analysing data from 116 young users through IBM SPSS, I found that while people say they are worried about security, it doesn't actually stop them from installing an app. The analysis shows that Peer Trust and Financial Rewards are the real reasons people join, essentially making the perceived risk feel unimportant. Most importantly, the results prove that users rely on "Trust Transfer"—basically trusting an app just because a friend sent the link. According to this research, we need to address this "Privacy Paradox" through better digital awareness, as it is vital for protecting young users in today’s referral-heavy digital market.
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