Μake us preferred on Google Gen Z is the generation most immersed in the online world, but that does not necessarily mean it is taking stronger steps to protect itself. A new Kaspersky cybersecurity survey found that young users are less likely than older generations to use mobile antivirus tools or routinely update their passwords.
The findings point to a growing disconnect between how heavily young people depend on their devices and how seriously they approach digital security.
Gen Z is highly connected but not fully prepared
According to the survey, 57% of Gen Z participants said they spend more time online than offline, the highest proportion recorded across the generations surveyed. Smartphones are particularly important to the group, with 67% naming them as their main way of accessing the internet.
Despite that level of exposure, cybersecurity awareness appears less widespread.
About 59% said they feel confident navigating the digital world, yet only 28% described themselves as having advanced digital skills. The figures suggest that being comfortable with technology does not necessarily correspond to knowing how to protect against online threats.
That is reflected in everyday security practices. Only 27% of Gen Z respondents said they use antivirus software on their smartphones, while regular password changes are also less common among the group than among older generations.
More than half report being targeted
The security gap is not merely theoretical. Fifty-two percent of Gen Z respondents said they had already experienced a cyberattack affecting a device, online account or personal information.
Social media was one of the most common targets: 17% said one of their social media accounts had been compromised. Another 12% reported losing access to a gaming account.
The findings indicate that the generation’s extensive digital presence also creates more opportunities for personal accounts and information to become targets.
What Gen Z keeps on its smartphones
Smartphones are not simply communication and entertainment tools for Gen Z. They also hold information that users consider highly valuable.
Thirty-eight percent of respondents said their photos and personal documents were extremely important to them. Gen Z also placed more importance on personal documents stored on smartphones than the other generations surveyed.
Passwords and account credentials were considered extremely important by 30% of respondents.
Yet many users are not taking basic steps to secure or preserve that information. Only 28% said they regularly back up important data stored on their mobile devices.
A lost or compromised phone can therefore expose far more than the device itself, potentially putting photos, identification documents, email accounts, social media profiles, financial services and other personal information at risk.
