DIVSI U25 Study: euphoria is a thing of the past

The 2018 study provides a profound insight into the digital lifeworlds of the young generation. Going far beyond mere usage statistics, it provides insights into the thinking and logic for action of young people, and reports on their attitudes toward the internet and the motives and barriers that guide their behavior in the digital world.

In contrast to the previous study in 2014, it’s clear that when it comes to all the technical options available, the days of  carefree use are a thing of the past. Instead, the results show that the hype is over and that pure euphoria is yesterday's news.

Off-liners completely disappeared from the U25 map between 2014 and 2018; at the same time, nearly 100 percent of teens and young adults own smartphones and are online every day as a matter of course.

In 2014, intensifying use also meant a more positive attitude toward the internet. In 2018, the attitudes of the so-called “internet generation” ranged from happiness through disillusionment down to mistrust and fear of dependency. For all their fundamentally opportunity-oriented attitudes toward the digital world, 14- to 24-year-olds increasingly see online risks and feel a latent insecurity when dealing with the internet.