PasswordManager.com Survey Finds Nearly Half of Business Leaders Believe Gen Z Would Leak Company Secrets for Likes

Survey reveals widespread concerns over Gen Z's handling of sensitive company information, with some leaders avoiding hiring Gen Z employees altogether

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PasswordManager.com, a dedicated resource for password security and internet safety, has published a new survey report examining business leaders' concerns about Gen Z employees and confidential information. The study highlights both unintentional oversharing and deliberate leaking of sensitive company details, often for social media engagement. The survey collected responses from 1,000 U.S. business leaders.

Gen Z Seen as a Security Risk
More than half of business leaders (52 percent) say they are very or somewhat concerned about Gen Z employees posing a security risk. Nineteen percent admit they don't trust Gen Z workers to handle confidential information, and 45 percent believe they are more likely than other generations to leak company details. Nearly half (47 percent) think Gen Z workers would intentionally leak company secrets for likes or content.

"The issue is that younger employees don't always fully understand what counts as sensitive information, because companies often fail to clearly define and contextualize it," says information systems and cybersecurity expert Gunnar Kallstrom. "While younger generations are often labeled as reckless, much of the problem stems from unclear guidance and outdated training that hasn't evolved to match their digital habits."

1 in 5 Companies Say Gen Z Employees Have Leaked Information
Eighteen percent of business leaders report a Gen Z employee has leaked confidential information. Business leaders describe seeing employees record "day in the life" TikToks that exposed client data, film in front of strategy decks, share confidential Zoom screenshots, or post product demos before launch. Others cited instances of Gen Z employees using customer data in skits, posting screenshots of Slack or Teams chats, or even leaking information on layoffs to journalists. The consequences include reputational damage (54 percent), client loss or strained relationships (52 percent), legal issues (47 percent), and financial losses (42 percent).

Security Concerns Affect Hiring Decisions
In response, 58 percent of companies have increased training and education around confidentiality, while another 18 percent are considering doing so. Still, 30 percent of business leaders say they avoid hiring Gen Z employees altogether due to security concerns.

"Companies should effectively train younger employees about security and confidentiality. This can be done by bridging the gap with tailored security training, modernized and clearly written policies, and open dialogue," says Kallstrom.

To view the full report, please visit: https://www.passwordmanager.com/nearly-half-of-business-leaders-say-gen-z-would-leak-company-secrets-for-likes/

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SOURCE Password Manager