Over the past few decades, the landscape of online safety and privacy has undergone a profound transformation, significantly impacting both consumers and workers. Each generation experiences these changes through unique lenses shaped by their historical context and technological upbringing. 

From Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, who witnessed the dawn of the internet age, to Millennials and Gen Zers who grew up immersed in a digital ecosystem, each generation brings distinct perspectives and expectations regarding the protection of their personal online data along with their privacy and safety. 

By examining these generational nuances, Checkr set out to reveal how attitudes toward online safety and privacy have shifted over time, influencing behaviors and policies in today's digital world, and how background checks can play a pivotal role in providing a safe online experience for both consumers and workers across America. 

To learn more, Checkr surveyed 3,000 employed Americans—an equal number of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers—to shed light on the current state of online safety and privacy.

The data gathered can be useful for organizations seeking to learn more about consumer and workplace privacy, what Americans and potential customers value most in the area of digital protection, and how background checks relieve many of their online concerns. 

Before we get into the summary of key findings, let’s take a look at the age groups of each generation surveyed:

• Baby Boomers: 60-69
• Gen X: 44-59
• Millennials: 28-43
• Gen Z: 18-27

Understanding Americans' views on online safety and privacy is crucial in today's digital age, where our lives are increasingly intertwined with technology. As more aspects of daily life—from personal communications to dating to transportation—migrate online, concerns about data security and privacy breaches have become paramount. 

By understanding these perspectives, stakeholders can better navigate the complexities of safeguarding personal information while promoting a trustworthy and secure online environment for both consumers and workers alike.

To gain a basic understanding of what Americans truly value in terms of online safety and privacy, we asked them to share their level of concern about the safety and privacy of the personal data they share online. When asked, 73% of respondents said they are either extremely or moderately concerned about the safety and privacy of their online data, and Gen Xers (77%) and Millennials (75%) showed the most concern. 

*Data from Checkr proprietary survey of 3,000 Americans

We then asked Americans to share more information about their day-to-day online activity and safety concerns. When asked how safe they feel online everyday, only 47% said they feel extremely or moderately safe, while the other 53% of respondents said they only feel somewhat, slightly, or not at all safe online on a day-to-day basis.

While general online safety is a pivotal issue for many Americans, it’s important to understand that those feelings might differ considerably when compared to in-person communities. To compare the safety concerns of online versus in-person communities, we asked Americans how safe they feel on a day-to-day basis in their in-person communities. Here we found that Americans clearly feel more safe in their in-person communities than they do online. 

As previously mentioned, just 47% said they feel extremely or moderately safe online, while 68% said they feel extremely or moderately safe in their in-person communities on a day-to-day basis.

Lastly, to understand the level of risk in the digital space, we asked respondents to share their thoughts related to online safety and/or privacy risks and if they’ve experienced a risk in the past 12 months.

When asked, 35% of all respondents said they had experienced a risk in that timeframe, while another 18% said they were unsure. Less than half (47%) said they had not experienced a risk in the past 12 months. Across all generations, Gen Zers and Millennials had experienced the most risk when compared to Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. 

Clearly, online safety and privacy is a major issue across America and one that seriously concerns consumers and workers. To learn more, Checkr took a deeper dive into one very hot-button sector—dating apps.

The proliferation of dating apps has revolutionized the way people connect and form relationships in the modern era. With platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge gaining widespread popularity, the convenience of meeting potential partners through a few swipes has transformed social dynamics. 

However, as the user base expands and interactions shift online, concerns over safety and privacy have emerged as significant issues. Instances of catfishing, data breaches, and harassment underscore the need for robust security measures and heightened awareness among users. To learn more, Checkr set out to highlight the critical importance of addressing safety and privacy concerns to ensure a positive and secure digital dating experience for all users.

To start, we asked Americans of all generations to share whether or not they think safety features are a top priority when choosing which dating apps or services they use. When asked, 68% said they agree that safety features are a top priority, with Millennials (77%)  feeling strongest about prioritizing safety features and Baby Boomers (59%) feeling the least strong.

Next, we asked respondents to share if they generally feel safe using dating apps or online dating services and only 30% of Americans say they feel truly safe using dating apps. Gen Zers (36%) feel the most safe and Baby Boomers (21%) feel the least safe when using dating apps. 

*Data from Checkr proprietary survey of 3,000 Americans

To follow up, we asked respondents if they’ve had an experience while using a dating app or online dating service that made them feel unsafe. Here we found that 29% of all Americans say they’ve had an unsafe experience, while Gen Zers (39%) and Millennials (38%) have most commonly had these unsafe experiences with dating apps or online dating services.

To gain a better understanding of whether both online and in-person dating experiences are deemed as unsafe, we asked respondents if they feel safer meeting potential partners organically through in-person events, mutual friends, or the workplace, among other in-person opportunities for social connection. When asked, 68% of Americans said they feel safer meeting people organically rather than through dating apps, with Millennials (70%) feeling strongest about this issue. The data shows that all generations appear to prefer meeting people in person versus online, if possible. 

As online platforms grow and progress, the need for enhanced safety features becomes more apparent. One way to ensure a safer online experience is the potential for screenings and background checks prior to using certain apps and services. 

To better understand Americans’ desire for screenings and background checks related to dating apps and services, we asked if they would feel more comfortable using a dating app or online dating service if every user had to be screened or have a background check completed before being able to join the app or service. 

When asked, 69% of Americans say they would feel safer using dating apps if every user had been screened or subjected to a background check in order to use the app, while Millennials (76%) would most prefer background checks and screenings for those using dating apps. 

Next, let’s take a look at privacy and safety concerns as they relate to the workplace.

In 2024, the modern workplace is increasingly defined by rapid technological advancements and evolving norms in digital collaboration. As organizations embrace cloud computing, remote work, and interconnected systems, the boundaries between personal and professional data continue to blur. 

Consequently, privacy and safety concerns have become paramount issues shaping the contemporary workplace landscape. From cybersecurity threats and data breaches to the ethical implications of employee monitoring and surveillance, both employers and employees are navigating a complex terrain where protecting sensitive information and ensuring digital safety are critical priorities.

With that in mind, Checkr set out to reveal more about the issue of privacy and safety concerns in the workplace, highlighting the challenges and strategies being employed to safeguard both organizational assets and individual rights in this digital age.

To start, we asked respondents to rank their level of concern about the safety and privacy of the data they provide online at their workplace. Much like concerns shown above regarding personal information provided as consumers, 84% of Americans say they have a level of concern about the safety and privacy of the data they provide online in the workplace. Across generations, Millennials (85%) and Baby Boomers (85%) show the most concern, while Gen Zers (82%)  are the least concerned.

*Data from Checkr proprietary survey of 3,000 Americans

Next, we asked Americans if their employer has policies and measures in place to monitor their online activity during working hours. When asked, 56% said their employer is indeed monitoring their online activity. 

To follow up, we asked if they felt as though monitoring online activity during working hours was an invasion of privacy, and 65% agreed or were on the fence about this issue. Across generations, 72% of Gen Zers, 67% of Millennials, 63% of Gen Xers, and 60% of Baby Boomers agreed or were on the fence about this being an invasion of privacy. 

Lastly, Checkr set out to reveal how big of an issue online activity monitoring really was for employees across the country. To find out, we asked Americans if they would take a pay cut to ensure that their employer would not be able to monitor their activity online. 

When asked, 48% of all Americans agree or are on the fence about taking a pay cut to enhance workplace privacy. Gen Zers feel stongest about this issue, as 54% of the youngest generation would consider taking a pay cut for enhanced privacy. Millennials (47%), Gen Xers (44%), and Baby Boomers (45%) shared similar sentiments on this issue.

Overall, when it comes to the workplace, employees showed real concern for privacy and safety, even showing a true willingness to earn less money in order to enhance privacy in the workplace. 

Digital privacy and safety have become important concerns for Americans in an increasingly interconnected world. 

As individuals continue to rely on digital platforms for work, communication, commerce, and entertainment, the importance of safeguarding personal information while providing a safe experience cannot be overstated. 

Moving forward, the pursuit of  enhanced online safety and privacy will likely drive significant advancements in technology and policy and tools, like background checks. Checkr Trust will lead the way in safety screenings for building trust communities.

Americans can expect to see more robust encryption methods, stricter data protection regulations, and greater transparency from tech companies regarding data usage. Additionally, there will be a growing emphasis on digital literacy, empowering users to take control of their online presence and protect themselves from emerging threats.

As these efforts evolve, the collaboration between government, industry, and individuals will be crucial in creating a safer and more private digital landscape for all in 2024 and beyond.

For more information on Check’s research or to request graphics or commentary about this study, please contact press@checkr.com. 

All data found within this report is derived from a survey by Checkr conducted online via survey platform Pollfish from June 21-24, 2024. In total, 3,000 employed adult Americans were surveyed — an equal number from each generation. The respondents were found via Pollfish’s age filtering features. This survey was conducted over a four-day span, and all respondents were asked to answer all questions as truthfully as possible and to the best of their knowledge and abilities.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.