New research shows that people around the world, especially in the US, are increasingly worried about their online privacy, and want more control over how much information is freely available about them on the internet. Many internet users are even stating that they would like their information, and overall presence, to be completely removed from the World Wide Web.
According to new research, more individuals around the world want their presence to be completely removed from the internet, especially in the US. This research came from NordVPN and personal data removal company Incogni, and showed that the global percentage of individuals worried about privacy and their personal data rose from 30% in 2022 to 35% this year.
Researchers with Consumer Insights and Market Research surveyed 6,800 individuals all 18-years or older from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Out of all those nations, Americans are the most worried about their online privacy followed by Canadians.
48% of respondents from the US feel “used by companies that collect, sell, or use their data to benefit third parties,” according to Chiara Castro for techradar. Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, stated that people are tired of just accepting that their personal information is living online indefinitely.
“The shift in people’s attitude and their increasing need to delete their presence from the internet highlights a trend: people are no longer passively accepting the idea that their data should live on the internet forever.”
The knowledge that companies have the ability to collect and sell our data to third parties and the fear of hacking are driving Americans’ desire to be erased from the internet.
40% of American respondents stated that they don’t think their names should be online while 41% spoke on the lack of trust they have in the internet. One-fifth of respondents spoke on their fear of manipulation by third parties who have access to their data.
64% of respondents said they want to ensure their financial information is protected, but more importantly, removed from the internet. “This is followed by a third of respondents seeking to remove their old dating/social media profiles and others (31%) eager to clean up embarrassing moments uploaded to social media. Medical history (38%) and dating/sex details (31%) also feature as data sets that Americans would prefer to keep offline,” Castro wrote.
Briedis said that Americans want to be able to feel fully in control over their online presence, but overall, the US lacks a lot of protection legislation on a federal level when it comes to the internet.
“There is a growing demand for control, empowerment, and the right to be forgotten.”
Briedis suggested “limiting what you share online as much as possible. You should be mindful of the posts you share on social media, for example, and ensure that you’re not giving away sensitive details by mistake. You should also consider adjusting your social media settings to make your account private.”
“You should also protect your account security at all times,” he said.
“Using strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. I also suggest checking out handy password manager solutions to help keep track of all your login details.”
Castro also wrote that worries Americans should “delete their info from data broker databases. These companies collect your data, use it to build personalized profiles, and inundate you with targeted ads – then, they’ll sell it all to anyone willing to pay. While you could remove your data yourself, I recommend subscribing to a data removal service like Incogni, where the team will handle all the required processes for you.”
“People want to browse the internet without leaving traces, free from tracking and profiling. Looking ahead, the internet will evolve to resolve these privacy concerns. The next generation of users will push both technology providers and policymakers to rethink how personal data is handled online,” Briedis said.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
