Digital Lives of Australians 2024: opportunities and challenges in the online world

auDA’s annual Digital Lives research explores the online experiences of Australians. Underlying the report is a robust research methodology, and surveys of 1,500 consumers and 400 small businesses, weighted to reflect the Australian population.   

We undertake this research to help unlock positive economic and social value for Australians from the internet. By pinpointing challenges and opportunities facing Australians online, we seek to encourage industry, government, businesses, and educators to leverage these findings and support Australians to harness the full potential of the internet. 

auDA’s 2024 Digital Lives research found that the internet is universally valued by Australians, with 99 per cent of consumers and 97 per cent small businesses (97 per cent) gaining value from the internet.  

However, cyber security is the biggest challenge Australians face online – and it’s causing an alarming number of Australians to restrict how they use the internet. Specifically, almost two-thirds (64 per cent) of consumers and half of small businesses (55 per cent) say they limit their internet use due to cyber security fears.  

With the rise in widely reported cyber incidents and the increase of online scams, it’s not surprising that the majority of consumers (77 per cent) recall experiencing a cyber security threat or attack in the past year.  

As a result, many would like to do more to stay secure online, but are unsure how (43 per cent consumers and 40 per cent small businesses). The majority of consumers and small businesses also consider cyber security skills the most important digital skill for their future – yet only 13 per cent of consumers and 24 per cent of small businesses feel they have high capability. 

When it comes to emerging technology, consumers and small businesses alike recognise the potential Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds. Two of five (39 per cent) working Australians believe being able to use AI tools will increase their employment prospects, and 48 per cent of small businesses believe AI tools will increase business efficiency. However, more than 60 per cent would feel more comfortable if there were stronger regulatory safeguards around AI.  

This paints a clear picture that there is a need for additional support to help Australians feel confident and secure online and enable them to benefit from emerging technologies.  

To launch our 2024 report, we partnered with the Australian Communications and Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and the Council for Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) to host a roundtable discussion of the research findings.  

We were pleased to be joined by a diverse cross section of members from our multi-stakeholder community, including civil society, academia, government and industry. Participants engaged generously in a rich discussion about ways in which the research can help inform initiatives and policymaking, and how together we can support the digital lives of Australians.  

Tackling cyber security was a dominant theme of the discussion, including through trusted, easy to access resources, such as the Cyber Wardens program for small businesses. Regulation of AI was also top of mind – with a view to support the benefits of innovation while protecting users from potential harms. The importance of inclusive, accessible resources and policies that consider all Australians was also reinforced through the discussion.    

We look forward to continuing the conversation with a broad array of auDA stakeholders to unlock social and economic value for Australians through the internet, now and into the future.