Generational divide opening up over what constitutes sensitive data
Life
Image: RDNE Stock project (cc)
The trust Gen Z places in social media platforms is almost as high as their trust in government institutions, according to research by the European privacy tech company Usercentrics.
A survey of 10,000 consumers in Europe and North America showed that 39% of Gen Z respondents trust social media platforms with their personal data, compared to just 12% of Baby Boomers and 22% of Generation X.
Trust in government also varied greatly by generation. Among Gen Z respondents, 40% said they would entrust their data to the government, whereas this figure rose to 66% among Boomers.
Nevertheless, this openness does have clear boundaries. Worldwide, transparency, strong security, and clear explanation of data usage remain the three most important conditions for digital trust – regardless of age.
It is also notable that the definition of ‘sensitive personal data’ is shifting. Boomers mainly valued the protection of concrete data such as phone numbers, login details, and medical records. Gen Z, on the other hand, regarded information about gender identity, shopping behaviour, and interactions with AI assistants as more sensitive.
Emerce