Some overall takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the sections that follow, we explore how privacy actions and feelings vary by six key groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first two concepts relate to digital literacy. This can be defined in many ways<\/a> but is widely agreed upon as critical in today\u2019s world<\/a> \u2013 including for technical, daunting topics like managing online privacy.[4. Researchers and practitioners have taken a number of approaches to defining digital literacy. While this analysis explores only a limited number of measures, we acknowledge the broader body of literature around these topics relevant to privacy and online life generally.] The third relates to an ongoing debate: Whether the \u201cprivacy paradox\u201d exists<\/a>. We walk through each of these below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, we included five questions that were part of a larger series of questions about tech knowledge<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three of these questions were related to cybersecurity and best practices for \u201cdigital hygiene\u201d: identifying the most secure password from a list, knowing that cookies track users\u2019 visits and activity on websites, and being able to identify an example of two-factor authentication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two were about privacy regulations: knowing that the U.S. does not have a comprehensive national privacy law and knowing that websites in the U.S. are prohibited from collecting data from children under age 13 without a parent\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In total:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Levels of knowledge vary notably by age and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from knowledge, we also explored how people feel about their tech skills.[6. Read Appendix C<\/a> for details on Americans\u2019 ability to independently set up and use digital devices, which was covered in the survey but is not a focus of the analysis presented here.] Specifically, we asked about people\u2019s confidence using computers, smartphones or other electronic devices to do the things they need to do online.[7. The measures of knowledge and confidence are related, but not completely interchangeable. For example, just 3% of the most knowledgeable have little to no confidence in their tech skills. But at the other end of the spectrum, 31% of the least knowledgeable about privacy have a high level of confidence in their tech skills generally.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n And like privacy knowledge, confidence in tech skills varies notably across demographic groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We further looked at people\u2019s concerns about how their data is being used. A large body of research has explored the possibility of a \u201cprivacy paradox\u201d:<\/a> Namely, worry about privacy doesn\u2019t always translate into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether and why this \u201cparadox\u201d exists<\/a> are up for debate. Some say convenience wins out<\/a> even if you have to give up data. Others say people\u2019s behaviors are more about being resigned to the realities of modern digital life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to concern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who know a great deal about privacy and cybersecurity are consistently more likely than those who know little to take actions to protect their data.[8. General conclusions presented in these sections largely remain unchanged when running analyses that control for demographic factors.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n This pattern shows up across a number of items we examined. Some of the largest differences are in adjusting social media privacy settings, avoiding cookies, using a private browser or search engine and using a password manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet knowledge breeds doubt as well. The most knowledgeable Americans are far more skeptical than the least knowledgeable that their actions will make a difference. And they are less confident that others who can access their data will do what is right with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even among the highly knowledgeable, some digital habits still vary by age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the most knowledgeable social media users:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also age differences among the most savvy in using password managers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like knowledge, confidence also relates to how people act and feel about their online privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Americans who are most confident in their tech skills are most likely to trust themselves with privacy decisions. Fully 83% of the most confident say so. Still, more than half \u2013 56% \u2013 of the least confident trust themselves with these kinds of calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most confident are also far more likely to ever take each of the actions we explored. For example, 41% of the most confident Americans use a password manager, versus just 17% of those least confident in their tech skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most confident are least <\/em>likely to be overwhelmed by the task of managing online privacy. Those with moderate or low levels of confidence are both more overwhelmed, by comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even so, those with little to no confidence take some steps to protect their data:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Skepticism also is widespread across confidence levels. A majority of the most confident say they\u2019re skeptical that anything they do will make much difference, and about half of the least confident say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Concern about what companies are doing with people\u2019s data is related to the actions people take to protect their information \u2013 but still, not all of these steps are widely adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several large differences between the most and the least concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, the most concerned are far more likely to have stopped using a digital device, website or app due to worry about how their personal information is being used. They\u2019re also more likely to decline cookies, use a private browser or change social media privacy settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet this doesn\u2019t mean everyone who is most concerned takes these steps. Half or fewer of the most concerned ever use a browser where they can\u2019t be tracked or use encrypted messaging. And while a majority of the most concerned have changed up the digital products they use because of this, another 34% of this group have not done so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be daunting to figure out how to address privacy concerns, and some of the emotional reactions we explored illustrate this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most concerned are far more overwhelmed managing their privacy, compared with those with little to no concern. About half of those who are highly concerned about companies\u2019 data collection say they feel overwhelmed figuring out what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Americans\u2019 approach to privacy policies illustrates these tensions between concern and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A notable share of Americans \u2013 45% \u2013 are very or somewhat concerned about how companies use data they collect about them and, at the same time, say they frequently agree to privacy policies without reading them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The survey was not designed to explore why people don\u2019t take the time to read these policies despite their concern about what\u2019s being done with their data. But majorities of Americans say they find them ineffective and just something to get past<\/a>, suggesting that companies\u2019 preferred method of communicating important details isn\u2019t working for many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How concerned people are is less of a factor here: About half of Americans or more skip privacy policies frequently, regardless of concern about data use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ignoring privacy policies is especially common among those who are most knowledgeable or confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, three-quarters of the most knowledgeable say they frequently click \u201cagree\u201d without reading privacy policies. Among the least knowledgeable, that share drops to 36%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Identifying the most and least knowledgeable, confident and concerned<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Knowledge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/10\/PI_2023.10.18_data-privacy_3-01.png\")
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Confidence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Concern<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Knowledge and privacy choices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Privacy](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/10\/PI_2023.10.18_data-privacy_3-02.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAge and knowledge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Confidence and privacy choices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Concern and privacy choices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe case of privacy policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Nearly](\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/10\/PI_2023.10.18_data-privacy_3-05.png\")
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