Online security knowledge appears to be more prevalent among baby boomers compared to millennials, according to a recent study.
In the digital age, internet users are well-aware that their personal information is being sold to advertisers and fraudsters by data brokers. Yet, according to privacy experts, this awareness has not translated into significant action to protect themselves from online threats.
This apathy towards online security is changing, however, with the implementation of a new law in the United States. The law, which affects any U.S. company or entity that collects information and monitors consumer behaviour, is a response to the European Union's May 2018 regulation on data collection. Known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), this regulation is altering data-collecting rules in the United States.
One of the key benefits of this new law is that it allows consumers to view and correct inaccurate information. It also empowers them to opt out of data collection and sale. This is a significant step towards giving internet users more control over their personal data.
Interestingly, this shift in online privacy habits is not uniform across all age groups. A survey by Axios found that baby boomers are more diligent in guarding their online security compared to millennials. Approximately 70% of consumers favor more biometric authentication in the workplace, a preference that is particularly high among boomers.
Biometrics, which can include retina scans, iris recognition, finger scanning, finger vein ID, facial and voice recognition, are seen as a more secure and convenient method of authentication. Millennials prefer the speed of biometrics, Gen Xers appreciate the convenience of not remembering passwords, and boomers value the enhanced security.
The Millennials Panel and Gen-X Panel set up for a discussion about online private life habits were named accordingly. The privacy expert who was virtually included in the event was Dr. Albert Fuchs from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
It's worth noting that most boomers (91%) believe it's important to understand privacy policies, compared with 75% of younger users. In contrast, approximately 25% of employees don't change their passwords, according to a 2018 study by OpenVPN. This is in contrast to nearly three times the number of millennials who do the same.
Most internet users aged 65 and older are more skeptical about reading privacy policies, with only 15% skipping the information and automatically hitting the "I agree" button. This contrasts with the behaviour of younger users, who are more likely to click "I agree" without reading the details.
The consumer desire for more workplace security is good news, according to OpenVPN. As more and more data breaches make headlines, it's clear that internet users are becoming more conscious of the importance of protecting their personal information.
So, are your readers taking advantage of this new law? It's time to find out and take control of your online privacy.
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