in the world. Over the last decades, internet penetration rates have surged, and Americans' digital footprint has expanded rapidly. In this data-driven environment, however, a connection to the most extensive global information base comes at a price, as the much-debated issue of digital privacy and the growing number of
have repeatedly shown. While some see the loss of privacy as a necessary evil, around six in in 10 adult internet users in the U.S. were
Online privacy is the privacy and safety of an individual in the online space. Any action or circumstance violating internet users’ online privacy can lead to loss of sensitive data and other serious repercussions. In the United States, various
regulations protect the online privacy of individuals from companies and other parties and a violation of these regulations may lead to lawsuits and penalties.
Main concerns regarding online privacy
Prior to the implementation of online privacy regulations, the practice of
companies selling user information to third parties was common. Therefore, it is one of the biggest worries of internet users. Identity theft was the second-most common concern of online users. People also have
trouble identifying the fake content on the internet.
Seniors are more worried about data privacy
A May 2023 survey of U.S. adults showed that almost three in four internet users between 18 and 29 years almost always accepted privacy policies on websites without reading them. Older generations, on the other hand, were
less likely to do so. When it comes to law enforcement tracking user data, seniors more often than younger users found it
acceptable. Meanwhile, the least acceptable of the mentioned actions was breaking the passcode on a user’s phone and accessing their data.
Data tracking on mobile devices
Companies can collect valuable user data through mobile devices, such as location, movement history, and activity in other apps. Roughly 64 percent of American adults
have noticed apps requiring consent to track their activity on other apps. Around three in 10 U.S. adults say cookie preference pop-ups
disrupt their mobile web browsing experience. Actions such as
changing smartphone privacy settings were common mainly among younger users between 18 and 34 years.
What do people do to protect themselves online
Around seven in 10 U.S. social media users
changed their account’s privacy settings and a similar share of users turned off cookies or website tracking. For some internet users, it went as far as stopping to use a digital product due to data use concerns. Additionally, more than a third of respondents used encrypted messaging services.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.