Generation Y Attitudes Towards E-ethics and Internet-related Misbehaviours

Journal of Business Ethics volume 54, pages121–128(2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Aberrant consumer behaviour costs firms millions of pounds a year, and the Internet has provided young techno-literate consumers with a new medium to exploit businesses. This paper addresses Internet related ethics and describes the ways in which young consumers misdemean on the Internet and their attitudes towards these. Using a sample of 219 generation Y consumers, the study identified 24 aberrant behaviours which grouped into five factors; illegal, questionable activities, hacking related, human Internet trade and downloading. Those perceived as least wrong were; "Downloading movie and music files from the Internet for free". The consequences of these behaviours have implications for educators, consumer policy and marketers.

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  1. Cass Business School, City University of London, 106 Bunhill Row, U.K

    O. Freestone & V. Mitchell

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  1. O. Freestone
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  2. V. Mitchell
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Freestone, O., Mitchell, V. Generation Y Attitudes Towards E-ethics and Internet-related Misbehaviours. Journal of Business Ethics 54, 121–128 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-1571-0

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  • Generation Y
  • Internet
  • Consumers
  • UK