According to a May 2023 survey of internet users in the United States, younger generations understand online data privacy and cybersecurity better than more senior respondents. The survey found that around three in 10 respondents between 18 and 29 were the most knowledgeable in the mentioned topics, whereas 35 percent of those 65 years and older had the slightest knowledge of data privacy.
Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group
U.S. adults; internet users; nationally representative
Method of interview
Online panel
Supplementary notes
The source adds the following information specifying the data: "Percentage of U.S. adults who fall into each of the following groups."
"Knowledge is based on five-question series. Least knowledgeable group answered 0 or 1 correctly; most knowledgeable group answered 4 or 5 correctly. Least confident includes those who say they are not at all or only a little confident using digital devices to do the things they need to do online."
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Pew Research Center. (October 18, 2023). Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. "Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group." Chart. October 18, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. (2023). Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center. "Comprehension of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Topics among Adults in The United States as of May 2023, by Age Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Oct 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/
Pew Research Center, Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Comprehension of data privacy and cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of May 2023, by age group [Graph], Pew Research Center, October 18, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424438/data-privacy-knowledge-us-by-age/
