• by Wayne Friedman , September 6, 2013

Media consumers expect more opportunity and help as digital media/technology services and platforms grow in the next five years -- but also more confusion and probable invasions of privacy.

Almost three-quarters of those surveyed -- 72% --  expect media/technology to become more helpful over the next five years. But almost the same amount -- 69% -- believe that media and new technologies would also become more intrusive in terms of privacy, according to Internet software company AVG Technologies.

Concerning privacy specifically, nearly half of respondents -- 46% -- admitted to both increased concerns about their privacy and a greater distrust of companies and their ability to protect individuals' personal data. Almost 80% stopped an application or program download in the past because it asked for access to personal information.

"This is certainly not the original vision of those who created the Internet and with particular concerns being raised about data sharing, there is a clear question over just how long consumers will be willing to put up with the current status quo," stated Judith Bitterli, senior vice president of marketing, AVG Technologies.

The study surveyed 5,000 consumers across eight global markets -- the U.K., U.S., Brazil, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and Czech Republic -- using an online panel that took place in August 2013 .