Studies Show Youth Exhibit Low Fear of Surveillance, Actively Share Data Despite Growing Geopolitical Tech Tensions

A recent social media post from user "cold 🥑" highlights a perceived shift in younger generations' attitudes toward digital surveillance, suggesting they "don't think that today's children really fear the surveillance state." The tweet, dated August 12, 2025, specifically points to practices like sharing physical locations on Snapchat and engaging with "Chinese data harvesting apps" because they offer desired content, concluding, "To be surveilled is to be known." This observation aligns with broader research indicating a complex relationship between youth and online privacy.

Studies from organizations like Pew Research Center and MediaSmarts consistently show that while many young people express concerns about online privacy, they frequently engage in extensive data sharing. This phenomenon, often termed the "privacy paradox," suggests that the perceived benefits of social connection, self-expression, and personalized content often outweigh privacy anxieties. For instance, a 2013 Pew study noted that 16% of teen social media users enabled automatic location sharing, appreciating the ability to signal their whereabouts to friends and parents.

Experts suggest that youth often differentiate between "social privacy" (controlling who among their peers sees their information) and "data privacy" (how corporations or governments collect and use their data). They tend to be more adept at managing social privacy through various settings and even creating multiple accounts, yet exhibit a more limited understanding of the broader implications of corporate data collection. Despite increasing awareness of privacy concerns, many youth report not knowing how to effectively use privacy settings, or feel compelled to accept broad terms of service to access popular platforms.

The "Chinese data harvesting app" referenced in the tweet strongly alludes to TikTok, a platform facing intense scrutiny over its data practices and ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Governments worldwide, including the U.S., have expressed concerns that Chinese law could compel ByteDance to share user data with Beijing, or that the app's algorithm could be manipulated for influence operations. As a result, numerous countries and entities have banned TikTok on government-issued devices, and the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld legislation that could force a sale or ban of the app.

TikTok's data collection, mirroring practices across many social media platforms, raises questions in its unique geopolitical context. Critics argue a ban could stifle expression, while proponents emphasize risks of foreign data access and algorithmic manipulation. This ongoing debate underscores evolving challenges of digital sovereignty and user data protection, where youth's comfort with online sharing intersects with complex global power dynamics.