Cybersecurity knowledge, social networking, and awareness among Gen Z university students

The Generation Z students have also become one of the most digitally active populations, and cybersecurity awareness is becoming very important to them. The aim of the current study is understanding the factors of cybersecurity awareness in Bangladesh and the mediating influence of risk perception. Data was collected among 398 university students in Dhaka, considering a stratified random sampling of both the public and the privately-owned institutions of higher learning, and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS 3.3.9). The findings suggest that cybersecurity knowledge is a strong factor that contributes to forming risk perception and awareness; social networking is also a contributing factor in the mentioned outcomes. Moreover, it is found that the relationship between cybersecurity knowledge and awareness works through risk perception but does not work through that of social networking and awareness. The results show that knowledge, social interaction, and personal perception together shape safe online behavior. This study gives practical advice for teachers and policymakers to improve youth cybersecurity. It adds new insights by focusing on Gen Z in a developing country during the post-pandemic period.