AMCAP Journal of Media and Communication Studies - Lahore

Journal of Media and Communication Studies

Association of Media and Communication Academic Professionals (AMCAP)
ISSN (online): 2789-9756

Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan's E-commerce Landscape

  • Arooj Asim/
  • Dr. Muhammad Imran/
  • Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq/
  • January 10, 2026
Keywords
privacy paradox, generation Z, online shopping, cookies, sponsored ads, university students
Abstract

The proliferation of technology has made it easy for people to shop online using multiple platforms. Despite vulnerabilities related to privacy during online shopping, people still shop online which raises concern about inconsistency in their attitude towards privacy also known as the “Privacy paradox”. Drawing upon the theoretical perspectives of Privacy Calculus theory, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Privacy Protection Motivation, this study aims to analyse the privacy concerns among Generation Z in Pakistan and explore the privacy paradox they depict. The purposive sampling is used to collect data for this cross-sectional study from 720 university students in the Generation Z age group studying in six universities in Punjab. The main inclusion criteria is choosing students who often shop online and are in the age bracket of 18-28. Findings showed that the more privacy concerns a person has the more careful he would be while doing online shopping. The relationship between privacy literacy and online shopping is a negative correlation which means that more the privacy literate a person is, the fewer online purchases they will make. This research stresses that people need to be more vigilant while sharing their information on online ecosystems. The findings of this study expand the theoretical understanding of the privacy paradox establishing two very opposite and non-aligned attitudes of shoppers. It also offers an opportunity for sales managers in the fashion industry to look at their digital models to reconsider privacy standards and also helps them investigate the dichotomy of behaviour. 

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Asim, A., Imran, D. M., & Ashfaq, D. A. (2026). Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 6(1). https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page

Retrieved from https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page

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ACM SIG Proceedings
[1]Asim, A. et al. 2026. Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 6, 1 (June 2026).
ACS Nano
(1)Asim, A.; Imran, D. M.; Ashfaq, D. A. Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-Commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies 2026, 6 (1).
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ASIM, Arooj; IMRAN, Dr. Muhammad; ASHFAQ, Dr. Ayesha. Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, v. 6, n. 1, 23 June2026.
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Asim, A., Imran, D.M. and Ashfaq, D.A. (2026) “Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape”, Journal of Media and Communication Studies, 6(1). Available at: https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page (Accessed: 25 June 2026).
IEEE
[1]A. Asim, D. M. Imran, and D. A. Ashfaq, “Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape”, Journal of Media and Communication Studies, vol. 6, no. 1, June 2026, Accessed: June 25, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page
MLA
Asim, Arooj, et al. “Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-Commerce Landscape”. Journal of Media and Communication Studies, vols. 6, no. 1, June 2026, https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page.
Turabian (full note bibliography)
Asim, Arooj, Dr. Muhammad Imran, and Dr. Ayesha Ashfaq. “Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-Commerce Landscape”. Journal of Media and Communication Studies 6, no. 1 (June 23, 2026). Accessed June 25, 2026. https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page.
Vancouver
1.Asim A, Imran DM, Ashfaq DA. Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies [Internet]. 2026 June 23 [cited 2026 June 25];6(1). Available from: https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page
AMA
1.Asim A, Imran DM, Ashfaq DA. Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Understanding Privacy Behaviour of Generation Z in Pakistan’s E-commerce Landscape. Journal of Media and Communication Studies. 2026;6(1). Accessed June 25, 2026. https://jmcs.amcap.net/website/journal/article/6a3ac6c3ece19/page

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Author(s):

Lecturer, Queen Marry College

Pakistan

  • Aroojasimau9@gmail.com

Teaching Associate, Monash University

Pakistan

  • Imran.imran1@monash.edu

Chairperson/Associate Professor, Department of Development Communication School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

Pakistan

  • ayeshaashfaq.ics@pu.edu.pk

Details:

Type: Article
Volume: 6
Issue: 1
Language: English
Id: 6a3ac6c3ece19
Published January 10, 2026

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