Digital Literacy Linked to Greater Tech Concerns, European Study Finds

People with stronger digital skills express more concern about privacy issues, online misinformation, and work-life disruption associated with digital technologies, according to a comprehensive new study conducted by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of British Columbia.

The cross-national research, published in the academic journal Information, Communication & Society, analyzed data from nearly 50,000 respondents across 29 European countries and Israel, collected between 2020 and 2022. Researchers created a composite “digital concern scale” ranging from 0 to 1 to measure participants’ views on privacy infringement, misinformation, and workplace disruptions caused by digital technologies.

Contrary to what might be expected, those with higher digital literacy reported greater levels of concern about these issues rather than less. This trend was particularly pronounced among frequent internet users, suggesting that increased exposure to and understanding of digital environments may heighten awareness of potential problems rather than diminish concerns.

“The findings challenge the assumption that greater digital skills automatically lead to more comfort with technology,” said one of the lead researchers. “Instead, we’re seeing that those who best understand digital environments are often most cognizant of their pitfalls.”

The study revealed notable demographic and geographical patterns in digital concern levels. Millennials aged 25 to 44 reported significantly higher concern compared to both younger and older age groups. This may reflect this generation’s unique position as digital adopters who have witnessed the rapid evolution of technology and its impacts on society.

Interestingly, researchers found no significant differences in concern levels based on gender, income, or whether respondents lived in urban or rural areas. This suggests that digital concerns transcend these traditional demographic dividing lines.

Geographic variations were substantial, with Bulgaria recording the lowest levels of digital concern while the Netherlands and the United Kingdom showed the highest. These differences likely reflect varying digital adoption rates, regulatory environments, and cultural attitudes toward technology across European nations.

The study’s average concern score of 0.65 on the 0-1 scale indicates generally high levels of concern about digital issues across all surveyed populations, underscoring widespread unease about various aspects of our increasingly digital lives.

For policymakers and technology companies, these findings present both challenges and opportunities. The research suggests that simply improving digital literacy—while important for many reasons—may not alleviate public concerns about technology’s negative effects. Instead, meaningful efforts to address privacy protection, combat misinformation, and promote healthy digital work environments may be necessary to build public trust.

The higher concern levels among digitally proficient users also highlight the importance of engaging these informed stakeholders in shaping technology policies and practices. Their understanding of both the benefits and drawbacks of digital systems makes them valuable voices in discussions about responsible technology development.

As societies continue to navigate digital transformation, this research provides important insights into how digital literacy influences perceptions of technology. The findings suggest that education efforts should focus not only on building technical skills but also on developing critical awareness about technology’s broader societal impacts.

The study’s authors recommend further research to explore how these concerns translate into actual behavior changes and what interventions might effectively address the legitimate concerns of digitally literate citizens while continuing to promote the benefits of technological advancement.