International E-Waste Day: Gen-Z most digitally immersed generation

ISLAMABAD: On International E-Waste Day, a leading cyber security company Wednesday released a survey on “Gen Z’s behaviour” concluding that the Gen-Z is the most digitally immersed generation, which also leads in awareness of technology’s environmental impact.

Kaspersky explores an emerging paradox in Gen Z’s behaviour: One in five Gen Z respondents identify environmental damage caused by digital infrastructure as a risk for future generations, shows new research by Kaspersky’s internal market research center.

For Gen Z, digital technology is an integral part of everyday life: almost six in ten Gen Z respondents (59 percent) say they feel confident in the digital environment. At the same time, Gen Z appears particularly aware that a digital lifestyle has an environmental cost from the resources required to manufacture and replace devices to the infrastructure needed to store, process and transmit increasing amounts of data.

According to Kaspersky research, 20 percent of Gen Z respondents identify environmental damage caused by digital infrastructure as a risk for future generations, the highest proportion among all generations surveyed globally. Similarly, 22 percent of Gen Z point to overconsumption and increasing waste as a concern, compared with 19 percent overall on the global level.

Some representatives of Gen Z are also aware of green data centers and identify them as a promising trend for the future, with 11 percent of respondents selecting this option.

The survey findings raise an interesting question about how Gen Z’s expectations could influence the future of the technology industry. As this generation becomes an increasingly important group of consumers, employees and, eventually, decision-makers, its awareness of the environmental impact of digital technologies could potentially contribute to greater demand for more sustainable solutions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026