Why Gen Z Needs Privacy: Social Media Concerns and Essential Tips

If you’re a Gen Z reading this, then you know you get the vibes. Not only that, you’re tech-savvy, meme-literate, and always up-to-date in digital trends. But just like other generations, some Gen Zers are leaving their privacy on read.

Privacy is important for Gen Z because it protects their personal data, future, identity, and others. Gen Z should opt out of data brokers, regularly check app permissions, and use burner emails.

Privacy matters, regardless of whether you’ve got nothing to hide. Just as Edward Snowden said:

“Arguing that you don’t care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don’t care about free speech because you have nothing to say.”

Gen Z individuals are those born between 1997 and 2012. As a Gen Z, you grew up with smartphones and Wi-Fi in the air. That basically means you’re the most connected generation. You have that front seat, watching how tech shapes our society, identities, and culture.

Some Gen-Z don’t care less about ad tracking and do minimal effort in controlling how their personal information circulates online. It’s even worse on social media.

About 88% of Gen Z are willing to share their personal data with a social media platform. That’s more than compared to older adults. Remember when you made a TikTok account? From then on, you’ve already shared your information. What’s worse, it’s okay for many Gen Zers that social media companies sell user data to use for stuff like targeted advertising.

Despite all of that, other Gen Zers do care about their privacy. In Malwarebytes Labs' study, it was found that 62% of Gen Z are more worried about their private information (e.g, embarrassing content, details about their sexuality, and mental health condition) being exposed online than typical online threats like viruses and malware.

Overall, Gen Z people have different concerns about or attitudes toward their privacy.

These are the reasons why privacy should matter to you as a Gen Z.

You should care because the apps you use, your favorite brands, the websites you visit, your car—they all want your data. They want to know what you watch, what you like buying, how you feel about an issue, and so on. Why? So they can make money from your information by selling it to car companies, financial institutions, and even politicians.

It doesn't stop there.

Hackers also want your information. They can attack companies that have stored your data. Then, hackers will sell your data on the dark web for any cybercriminal to buy and use. This leads to scams and identity theft.

So, privacy should matter for Gen Z because you’re becoming a goldmine for everyone. Without strong privacy habits, your digital information is always up for auction.

Privacy is important for Gen Zers because what you post can affect your life.

You’re now building a future. You don’t want your digital footprint to ruin that. For example, that funny video you posted at 17? What if it might seem funny now, but what if it resurfaces, and then it gets brought up when you apply for a job?

Privacy is important because it gives you the space to grow while preventing mistakes from becoming a permanent record.

They say: “Be your own you.” That’s good. But if you don't care for your privacy, there can never be your unique self. That’s because of algorithms.

Every click or search you make, and information you share, all of it can affect the algorithms. They’ll think they know you a lot. This means you’ll be targeted with specific content, which can narrow your perspective or affect your opinions or insecurities.

For example, if you watched one video about pizzas, you’ll likely start getting more videos about what pizza to buy at 2 AM. You’ll crave, affecting your diet.

Another example is when you accidentally liked a video about a fitness supplement. The next day, you start getting ads about the supplement, convincing you to buy it (even though it doesn’t work).

Your privacy habits can unintentionally affect the people you love. For example, when you post a photo with a friend and you tag the location, you have no idea that you’re letting stalkers know who your friends are and where they are.

If you use weak passwords, hackers can easily break into your accounts, and when they do, scammers can use your accounts to trick your family and friends. Soon, they’ll receive messages like:

“Hey! Can I borrow $45? I forgot to bring my wallet. Just an emergency.”

Here are some privacy tips for Gen Z:

• 1. Opt Out of Data Brokers: NumlookUp, Spokeo, Equifax, Whitepages, and more. These are data broker companies that scrape and sell your personal data. So, you should opt out. Just find every site and look for its removal instructions. To make it easier, refer to our free DIY removal guide. Sure, it can take time (weeks or months), but removing your data is worth it. If you want, you can get a data removal service.

• 2. Use Private Browsers: There are a lot of search engines or browsers that love hoarding user data. Some examples are Google, Safari, Edge, and Yahoo. Ditch all of them. Switch to privacy-friendly alternatives like DuckDuckGo and Brave. Trust me. They won’t collect your data or track your every click.
  
• 3. Check App Permissions: Don’t just check the vibes of an app. Regularly check the permissions for anything sketchy, too. Is Facebook accessing your contacts? Is it normal for a weather app to access your camera?
  
• 4. Use Strong Passwords: Make sure your accounts are properly locked down. This means using strong passwords (at least 16 characters long, with a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters. Also, use two-factor authentication and a password manager (e.g., Bitwarden) for safer accounts and easier password management.
  
• 5. Use Burner Emails: Gen Z people tend to use the same email address to sign up for everything, from Netflix to online personality quizzes. This is not good for privacy as it makes you easier to track and puts you at risk of credential stuffing. So, use burner emails from tools like Firefox Relay, 10 Minute Mail, and ProtonMail.

All in all, while online activity is now part of Gen Z life, that doesn't mean that you disregard privacy.

Think of it this way: Caring for your privacy is as simple and effective as using the “Close Friends” feature on Instagram. It gives you control over who can see your story. Take that small step. Don’t ghost your privacy. Protect it, and help others do the same!

Do Gen Z individuals prioritize their safety?

According to a survey from the University of California, over 1,600 Gen Zers say they prioritize their safety. That’s because they grew up and experienced a lot of crises. That includes climate change, financial instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why is it important to have privacy?

Privacy is so important because it’s a human right. Not only that, it’s an enabling right that empowers our other human rights, including freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion, assembly, association, and freedom from discrimination.

What is the importance of privacy settings on social media?

Optimizing your privacy on social media is important because it protects your identity. Whenever you share information on social media, anyone can access it, including scammers, hackers, and identity thieves.