Internet Safety Statistics 2026: Startling Facts and Trends Every Online User Should Know

Think your online life is safe? Think again.

Every click, scroll, and “agree to terms” hides a deeper story about how our personal data is tracked, shared, and sometimes stolen. As technology evolves faster than ever, so do the risks that come with it. 

Threats like AI-powered scams, deepfakes, and data breaches expose millions of users, making the digital world both more connected and more dangerous than we might realize.

What’s truly eye-opening, though, is how these dangers affect everyone, not just big corporations or careless users. Children are facing harmful content at very early ages, seniors are losing billions to scams, and even everyday employees are unknowingly putting sensitive data at risk. 

Yet, despite all this, most people still believe the benefits of being online outweigh the dangers.

In this article, we’ve gathered the most important, up-to-date internet safety statistics of 2026, which reveal how people really behave online, what’s putting them at risk, and what trends are shaping the future of cybersecurity. 

Key Internet Safety Statistics & Facts (Editor’s Pick)

• 72% of internet users believe the benefits of being online outweigh the risks, while 20% are unsure and 8% disagree.
• Almost 60% of UK adults use antivirus software — the most common online safety tool — followed by 36% who use pop-up or ad blockers.
• Nearly 60% of UK adults say their top online concerns are scams, fraud, or phishing, followed by unauthorized use of personal data.
• 81% of people say online safety is a top priority, though confidence drops among younger generations (68% of Gen Z).
• 69% of US adults avoid suspicious links and emails to stay safe online — the most common privacy protection behavior.
• 67% of people have little to no understanding of how companies use their data, and 77% don’t know what governments do with it.
• 72% of Americans believe the government should increase regulation on internet safety.
• Over 50% of employees and students have not received AI safety training, and 38% of employees admit to sharing sensitive work info with AI tools.
• 65% of participants worry about AI-related cybercrime; older generations are the most concerned.
• 78% of CISOs say AI is already affecting cyber threats, but 45% admit they aren’t fully prepared for AI-driven risks.
• 81% of US adults are concerned about how companies use their personal data online.
• Nearly 90% of UK respondents are concerned about data privacy, and over half want more control over their online identity.
• 70% of young people (16–21) feel worse about themselves after using social media; 46% wish they’d grown up before the internet era.
• Online romance scams cost Santander UK customers £7 million in one year, a 27% rise over six months.
• 76% of teenagers and 67% of kids (10–12) have been exposed to bullying online.
• 75% of teens and 58% of younger kids have encountered sexual content online.
• 38% of teens and 26% of younger kids have felt depressed due to online content, and 57% of teens have attempted suicide linked to it.
• 8–10% of children report encountering online predators.
• 88% of teens learned online safety from parents, and 79% from teachers — showing family and education as key safeguards.
• In the US, 859,532 cybercrimes were reported in 2024, causing $16.6 billion in losses — up 30% from the previous year.
• The Ticketmaster 2024 data breach affected 560 million individuals — the largest US case that year.
• Investment fraud was the most costly cybercrime in 2024, totaling $6.5 billion in losses.
• Crypto investment scams caused $6.6 billion in losses globally in 2024, up $2 billion from 2023. Seniors were heavily targeted, losing $4.8 billion.
• 86% of identity fraud cases in the UK occur through online channels, underscoring the digital nature of modern fraud.
• People aged 60+ are now the most common cybercrime victims in the US, with over 147,000 reported cases in 2024. 

General Internet Safety Statistics

1. In a 2024 UK survey, 72% of internet users believed online benefits outweigh risks, 20% were unsure, and 8% disagreed. (source) 

2. In the UK, around half of internet users download the latest software updates when prompted, while 53% use fingerprint or facial recognition for device access or online purchases, and 25% use a virtual private network (VPN) when online. (source) 

3. A UK survey found that 15% of respondents aged 55+ cleared their browsing history daily, while younger groups were less diligent. Only 11% of 16-24-year-olds deleted their digital footprint daily. Interestingly, 15% of 35-44 year-olds admitted to never clearing their browsing history. (source) 

4. 27% of UK citizens spend up to 20% of their time online using virtual private networks (VPN). 11% of UK citizens also started browsing the internet exclusively via VPN. (source) 

5. A 2024 survey of UK adults revealed that antivirus software was the most popular online safety tool, used by almost 60% of respondents. Pop-up/ad-blockers came second, utilized by 36% of those surveyed. (source) 

6. A 2024 UK survey revealed that almost 60% of adults were most concerned about scams, fraud, or phishing when online. The second-biggest concern was the unauthorized collection or use of personal data, highlighting the importance of online security and data protection. (source) 

7. In the UK, 87% of male internet users felt confident in spotting scam emails, while 82% of female users shared the same level of confidence. (source) 

8. 86% of 16-24-year-olds in the UK and 90% of 35-44-year-olds were confident in identifying scam emails, showing a high level of self-assurance across these age groups in recognizing online email scams. (source) 

9. A 2024 UK survey showed that nearly 72% of internet users believed the benefits of being online outweighed the risks, while 20% were unsure and 8% disagreed, indicating a generally positive outlook on the online experience. (source) 

10. In a recent online survey, 54% of UK respondents emphasized the importance of having mobile internet access everywhere, indicating a strong reliance on staying connected on the go. (source) 

11. Online safety is still a top priority for 81% of people, but there’s been a slight drop of 3%. Interestingly, older generations like the Silent Generation (91%) and Baby Boomers (89%) value online security more than Gen Z (68%). (source) 

12. Older folks like Baby Boomers (79%) and the Silent Generation (77%) are more gung-ho about staying secure online, whereas Gen Z (42%) and Millennials (47%) are less vibing with that idea. It’s like they’re saying, “Is it even worth it?” And when it comes to thinking online safety is even possible, Gen Z (41%) and Millennials (45%) are pretty skeptical. Maybe they’re just more realistic about the online world? (source) 

13. 70% of people think staying safe online is achievable, which is a slight uptick from last year. And 55% feel like they have control over their online security, with Millennials (60%) being more confident than the Silent Generation (42%). It’s interesting to see how different age groups perceive their online safety. (source) 

14. Media coverage is really motivating people to take action on online security, with 59% of survey participants saying it’s prompted them to be more proactive. The Silent Generation (64%) is particularly influenced by media coverage, while Gen X is at 57%. And overall, 54% of respondents think media and news sources are key to keeping them informed about online security issues. (source) 

15. A recent survey in the US revealed that about 34% of respondents were fortunate enough to avoid financial fraud or scams over the past year. Encouragingly, 20% of respondents reported attempted breaches of their personal and financial info, but thankfully, these attempts were unsuccessful. (source) 

16. A January 2025 survey in the US reveals that people are taking steps to protect their online privacy. The top action? Avoiding suspicious links and emails, with 69% of respondents doing so. Monitoring financial accounts regularly came in second, with 53% of respondents checking their accounts at least every few months. (source) 

Cybersecurity Awareness and Behavior Statistics

17. 67% of people have little to no understanding of what companies do with the data they collect about them. Also, 77% of people have little to no knowledge about what the government does with their data. (source) 

18. 72% of Americans say that there should be more regulation from the government concerning internet safety, and 7% of Americans say there should be less. (source) 

19. 65% of victims of online abuse were unhappy with the response they received from companies on the internet, while 16% of victims of online abuse claimed to be happy with the response they got. (source) 

20. 30% of citizens in the UK feel skeptical whenever they notice a website is tracking their personal information, and 22% feel nervous about this. (source) 

21. A UK survey revealed that younger adults (16-34 years) were more likely to encounter online ads promoting illegal activities like fraud or cybercrime, with 13% reporting such encounters, compared to 6% of those aged 55 and above. (source) 

22. A UK survey revealed that about 10% of adults had definitely encountered online ads promoting potentially illegal activities like fraud or cybercrime, while almost 30% thought they might have seen such ads. (source) 

23. In a 2025 survey spanning Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK, 50% of participants expressed trust in smart device brands to protect their private data. Notably, nearly a third of respondents acknowledged accepting default app parameters without fully understanding their implications. (source) 

24. 84% of UK adults would remove their personal data from an old device, while 8% said they wouldn’t, and another 8% were unsure about what to do. (source) 

25. More than half of employees (52%) and students (58%) haven’t received training on how to use AI safely. Shockingly, 38% of employees admitted to sharing sensitive work info with AI without their employer’s knowledge – this is especially true for younger folks (46% of Gen Z, 43% of Millennials). (source) 

26. 65% of participants are worried about AI-related cybercrime, with older generations being more concerned (73% of the Silent Generation and 70% of Baby Boomers). Interestingly, younger generations like Millennials (53%) and Gen Z (50%) are more likely to trust companies to implement AI responsibly. (source) 

27. Most people believe AI will make scam detection and online security more challenging. Millennials are especially skeptical, with 58% thinking AI will hinder scam detection and 59% believing it’ll compromise online security. (source) 

28. Phishing crimes remain the most common, affecting 60% of over 2,425 victims, with Millennials being the most likely to be victimized across all three types of crimes. Gen Z reports the second-highest rate of online dating scams at 27%, while Gen X experiences the second-highest rates of phishing and identity theft crimes at 25% and 28%, respectively. (source) 

29. Nearly a quarter of consumers (24%) admit that loneliness drives them to make riskier decisions when online dating. This vulnerability can be exploited by scammers, leading to potential financial or emotional harm. (source) 

30. AI’s impact on cyber threats is a pressing concern for CISOs, with 78% believing it’s already having an effect. Cyber pros are feeling more prepared than they were last year, but there’s still a significant gap – 45% aren’t ready for the AI-driven threats they’re facing. (source)

31. A recent survey in the US reveals that Gen X and Baby Boomers are more concerned about AI-powered phishing scams, with 82% expressing worry, compared to 68% of Gen Z and Millennials. It’s surprising that 12% of respondents are neutral about the issue, highlighting the need for awareness and education. (source) 

32. A 2025 survey in the US revealed that over half of adults are very concerned about AI’s impact on personal privacy, while only 6% said they’re not very concerned. This highlights a significant worry about how AI might affect our personal info. (source) 

33. 60% of US adults are worried about AI-generated deepfakes, highlighting the growing unease about their potential impact. Only 2% said they’re not concerned at all, which is a pretty small number considering the potential risks. (source) 

Social Media and Online Privacy Statistics

34. 81% of US adults are concerned about how companies use the data they get about them on the internet. (source) 

35. A UK survey found that social media was the primary platform where adults encountered online ads promoting potentially illegal activities like scams or cybercrime, with almost 60% of respondents reporting such encounters. Search engines (14%) and online shopping platforms (12%) were the next most common sources. (source) 

36. Santander UK customers lost almost £7 million to online romance scams between August 2023 and August 2024. Losses between March and August 2024 were 27% higher than the previous six months, highlighting a growing concern around these types of scams. (source) 

37. Between February and May 2024, a UK survey found that data privacy was a significant concern for almost 90% of respondents. Moreover, over half of them strongly desired more control over their online identity, underscoring the importance of data protection and online autonomy. (source) 

38. Nearly 70% of young people aged 16-21 feel worse about themselves after using social media. 50% would support restrictions on their access to certain apps and sites after 10 pm, and 46% would rather have been young before the internet existed. (source) 

39. Dating scam attacks in the US have seen a 64% rise compared to the previous year. This alarming trend highlights the growing threat of online scams, particularly those targeting vulnerable individuals through dating platforms. (source) 

40. A recent survey in the US shows that 59% of adult women and 57% of men are concerned about AI-generated deepfakes, highlighting the widespread worry about their potential impact. Only 2% of women and 1% of men reported being unconcerned, which is a pretty small number considering the risks. (source) 

41. It looks like younger adults in the US are more willing to pay extra for products or services from companies that prioritize data protection. Specifically, 21% of 18-24 year olds are very willing to pay a premium, and another 42% are somewhat willing. On the other hand, only 12% of respondents aged 55 and older are very willing to pay extra for enhanced data protection. (source) 

Children and Teen Internet Safety Statistics

42. 67% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 76% of teenagers have been exposed to bullying, whether as the bully, witness, or victim. (source) 

43. 58% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 75% of teenagers have encountered content that has sexual information on the internet. (source) 

44. 58% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 77% of teenagers have been exposed to information concerning drugs and alcohol. (source) 

45. 68% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 82% of teenagers have been exposed to violence. (source) 

46. 8% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 10% of teenagers have encountered predatory behaviors from someone online. (source) 

47. 26% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 38% of teenagers have been exposed to depression because of the information on the internet. (source) 

48. 33% of kids between the ages of 10-12 and 57% of teenagers have attempted suicide due to the information on the internet. (source) 

49. One in six people was a victim of online sexual abuse before the age of 18. (source) 

50. In the UK, a survey found that most teens learned about online safety from parents and teachers, with 88% of 16-17-year-olds educated by parents and 79% by teachers. Parents were also the primary source of online safety education for younger children aged 8-15, followed by teachers. (source) 

51. 70% of parents believe that parenting is now more complicated than it was 20 years ago due to the influence that the internet has on kids through social media and various unsafe content. (source) 

52. 71% of tweens and 77% of teens have experienced online bullying, which can range from mean teasing to hateful threats. (source) 

53. 35% of tweens and 43% of teens have been exposed to content or conversations that raise concerns about mental health, ranging from negative thoughts to serious discussions about suicide. (source) 

54. 63% of tweens and 78% of teens have encountered content or messages related to drugs and alcohol, ranging from discussions about prescriptions to disturbing videos showing substance use. (source) 

55. 63% of tweens and 77% of teens have been exposed to sexual content or inappropriate messages, including explicit searches and receipt of nude photos. (source) 

56. A significant number of young people are being exposed to violent content or threats online, with 72% of tweens and 82% of teens experiencing everything from graphic video game scenes to direct threats against themselves. (source) 

Corporate and Workplace Cybersecurity Statistics

57. In the US, 859,532 cybercrimes were reported in 2024, with financial losses reaching $16.6 billion, marking a 30% increase from $12.5 billion in 2023, despite a slight decrease in reported cyberattacks. (source) 

58. As of February 2025, British Airways holds the record for the largest GDPR fine in the UK, receiving over 22 million euros in October 2020. Marriott International Inc. followed closely, receiving the second-highest fine of over 20 million euros in the same month. (source) 

59. As of January 2025, the UK’s largest data breach was the 2017-2018 Dixons Carphone incident, affecting 14 million users and exposing 5.6 million payment cards. The Equifax breach (2011-2016) impacted over 15 million UK customers. (source) 

60. The Yahoo data breach from 2013-2016 is still the largest data breach in US history, affecting a staggering 3 billion online users worldwide. This massive breach remains one of the most significant globally. The Microsoft breach in January 2021 is the second-largest, impacting 30,000 companies in the US and 60,000 worldwide. (source) 

61. In 2024, Ticketmaster Entertainment’s data breach was the largest registered case of data compromise in the US, affecting a massive 560 million individuals. This breach was a result of a cyberattack in May that year. Change Healthcare’s incident was the second-largest, impacting around 190 million people. (source) 

62. The US saw a significant drop in data breach records between Q3 2024 and Q2 2025, with exposed records decreasing from 494.17 million in Q3 2024 to 16.9 million in the most recent period. This sharp decline is notable, indicating a potential shift in data security trends. (source) 

63. In 2024, investment fraud was the costliest cybercrime in the US, with victims losing over $6.5 billion. Business email compromise (BEC) was second, with losses of around $2.8 billion, followed by tech support fraud, which racked up $1.5 billion in losses. (source) 

Global Internet Safety Overview

64. In 2024, crypto investment scams led to $6.6 billion in losses, a $2 billion increase from 2023. Seniors (60+) were heavily targeted, losing $4.8 billion to cybercrimes, including tech support and romance scams. (source) 

65. In 2024, 86% of identity fraud cases in the UK were committed through online channels, highlighting the growing threat of digital fraud. (source) 

66. In the UK, romance scam reports were highest among 50-59 year olds in 2024, followed closely by 20-29 year olds. (source) 

67. In 2024, elderly victims accounted for nearly 20% of European fraud cases, with the UK seeing a lower share of 8%. Seniors across Europe lost approximately $20 billion, with UK seniors losing around $2.6 billion. (source) 

68. In 2024, account takeovers accounted for 22% of scams targeting seniors worldwide, while tech support scams made up 10%. However, the majority of these scams remained unidentified. (source) 

69. In 2024, people over 60 were the most common victims of cybercrime in the US, with over 147,000 reported cases. The next most targeted group was those aged 40-49, with more than 112,000 complaints. This data highlights the growing threat of cybercrime across different age groups. (source) 

70. Baby Boomers were hit hardest by financial scams in the US, with 39% experiencing fraud in the past year, according to a January 2025 survey. Gen X followed closely, with 34% reporting financial fraud encounters. (source) 

71. A January 2025 US survey found that 53% of Gen Z respondents lost money to financial scams or fraud, followed by 45% of Millennials who reported similar losses. (source) 

72. In 2024, phishing and its variant, spoofing, topped the list of cybercrimes reported to the US Internet Crime Complaint Center, impacting around 193,000 people. Extortion followed closely, with over 86,000 cases filed with the IC3 that year. (source) 

Final Thoughts

In general, internet safety is about being aware of the risks associated with using the internet and taking steps to protect yourself. 

While the internet can be a valuable and enjoyable tool, it’s important to remember that there are risks associated with using it.

This means that people have to be super cautious about the information they share online. They should also be conscious of the potential dangers of using social media, online banking, and other activities. 

It is fundamental to be mindful of the devices you use to access the internet and to take steps to keep them secure. 

Overall, internet safety is about being vigilant and proactive rather than taking a chance and hoping for the best.

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