Information safety assurances affect intentions to use COVID-19 contact tracing applications, regardless of autonomy-supportive or controlling message framing

Promoting the use of contact tracing technology will be an important step in global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Across two studies, we assess two messaging strategies as motivators of intended contact tracing uptake. In one sample of 1117 Australian adults (Mage=50.17, SDage=17.46) and one sample of 888 American adults (Mage=46.09, SDage=17.00), we examined autonomy-supportive and controlling message framing and the presence or absence of information safety as predictors of intended contact tracing application uptake. Using an online randomized 2 x 2 experimental design, we found that message framing had no effect on intended uptake in Study 1. However, in Study 2, and counter to expectations, we found that participants in the controlling message framing conditions had higher intentions to download and use the application. Across both studies, we also found main effects for information safety. Those in high information safety conditions consistently reported higher intended uptake and more positive perceptions of the application, than those in low information safety conditions, regardless of message framing. In Study 2, we also found that perceptions of the government as legitimate related positively to intended application uptake, as did political affiliation. In sum, individuals appeared more willing to assent to authority regarding contact tracing insofar as their data safety can be assured. Yet, public messaging strategies alone may be insufficient to initiate intentions to change behavior, even in these unprecedented circumstances.