Millennials are slowly becoming the strongest generation in the workforce worldwide and in the Czech Republic, and there is no turning back. They are the largest participants in the sharing economy and also the most technologically connected generation in history. Much has already been written about their need to be constantly online, but few texts focus on how they truly perceive their relationship with data and devices.
To fill this gap, Acronis conducted a survey among millennials seeking to answer what relationship they have with two technologies they interact with very frequently: smartphones and social media.
The development of digital identity…
Millennials are the first and, so far, the only adult generation that can be described as digitally native and that is therefore more successful at adapting to the changes new technologies bring to the world. With the development of the sharing economy and social media, digital connectivity is naturally becoming more important for their personal, professional and civic lives.
Acronis research shows that 37 percent of millennials value their online identity “very much,” while 14 percent said it is “the most important thing” to them. As many as 75 percent of those who lost a device and data felt devastated (19 percent) or upset (56 percent).
Most millennials therefore realize that part of creating and preserving memories, part of their identity, is moving into the digital world, and that losing a device or, more broadly, access to this data can now be more psychologically challenging for them than a similar loss was just ten years ago.
And the resulting dependence on access to data?
Given that a greater or lesser part of their identity has moved into the digital world, it makes sense that some millennials appear to be dependent on their devices—23 percent of respondents admitted they feel nervous whenever they do not have their mobile phone with them, while another 26 percent feel this way sometimes.
On the other hand, 51 percent do not experience or do not admit to these feelings. In addition, 68 percent said they look at their mobile phone no more than one to three times an hour, which does not seem like a high number. We can therefore assume that smartphones have not become an object of serious addiction for most of them.
And how do they protect their data?
Even more interesting are the figures on how millennials protect mobile data: 18 percent said they use neither a password nor facial recognition technology to access their phone. Nineteen percent use both methods simultaneously, and the remaining 64 percent use password protection only.
While these figures support the previous finding that millennials are not dependent on their smartphones, they also suggest that millennials do not pay sufficient attention to protecting data that is becoming increasingly important for their personal and professional lives.
A final thought
Compared to previous generations, millennials spend more time staring at screens, are more attached to their digital identities and depend more on mobile devices, all as a result of the rapid technological transformation of society. However, they are not keeping pace with these changes in protecting their digital “homes” from potential intruders and from nearly inevitable losses. One of the best solutions for protecting against a wide range of risks is backup technology. With Acronis True Image, users can cast a safety net around their data on smartphones and computers, protecting all their photos, documents, music, operating system settings and social media accounts. Backup is fast and recovery is even faster; in addition, True Image enables data synchronization across all devices in use and the cloud, while also effectively protecting data from ransomware.
Do not leave your data unprotected. Start using Acronis True Image today with a 30-day free trial.
Based on Acronis English-language sources
Article author: ZEBR.ai editorial team
