Nearly Half of Business Leaders Say Gen Z Would Leak Company Secrets for Likes

Many business leaders see Gen Z employees as a security risk. From recording TikToks that accidentally reveal client data to deliberately leaking company secrets for likes, concerns over Gen Z’s handling of confidential information are driving changes in the workplace.

In September, PasswordManager.com surveyed 1,000 U.S. business leaders about Gen Z’s handling of confidential information.

The results:

• 52% believe Gen Z employees pose a security risk
• 47% think Gen Z would intentionally leak company secrets for content
• 18% say a Gen Z employee has leaked confidential information
• Companies have suffered reputational damage, legal issues, and financial losses due to Gen Zs’ mishandling of information
• 58% have increased training due to concerns about Gen Z
• 30% of companies are avoiding hiring Gen Z employees

More than half of business leaders (52%) are very or somewhat concerned about Gen Z employees posing a security risk, and 19% admit they don’t trust Gen Z workers to handle confidential information.

Nearly 45% believe Gen Z employees are more likely than other generations to leak company information, and 47% think it’s likely they would intentionally share confidential details on social media for content or engagement.

“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. “If it’s only explained in broad compliance terms, it can feel abstract and irrelevant to daily work. Without concrete examples, such as avoiding posts with badges, photos of screens, or travel details on social media, employees may unintentionally overshare. So, while younger generations are often labeled as reckless, much of the problem stems from unclear guidance and training that hasn’t evolved to match their digital habits.”

Nearly one in five (18%) business leaders report that a Gen Z employee has leaked confidential information. Among those affected, the most common impact was reputational damage (54%), followed by client loss or damaged relationships (52%), legal issues (47%), and financial losses (42%). Only 10% say the leak resulted in no serious consequences.

Gen Zers shared screenshots and videos that contained sensitive information online

Many business leaders report seeing Gen Z employees inadvertently or deliberately expose sensitive information online. About 34% of business leaders say they’ve seen Gen Z employees record “day in the life” TikToks that revealed sensitive details, 29% report seeing Gen Z employees filming in front of whiteboards or strategy decks, and 28% say Gen Z employees shared Zoom clips or screenshots from confidential meetings. Another 24% have seen Gen Z employees post behind-the-scenes product demos before launches, and 23% report Gen Z employees using real customer data in skits.

Additionally, 41% say Gen Z employees have gossiped or shared private information with unauthorized people. A quarter of business leaders report seeing Gen Z employees use company logos, contracts, or pay stubs in videos, and another 25% say Gen Z employees posted screenshots of sensitive Slack or Teams chats online. About 23% have seen Gen Z employees share inbox screenshots as “corporate cringe,” and 21% report encountering “rage videos” where private details were deliberately exposed.

Respondents described examples including:

• “They’ve left work laptops unlocked and unattended with sensitive information open and on screen.”
• “They posted selfies on social media that had patient information in the picture.”
• “They leaked information on layoffs.”
• “They posted private meetings and agendas on TikTok.”
• “They have gone to journalists and leaked sensitive information about company practices and policies.”

“The most common mistakes I’ve seen employees make on social media that expose sensitive information include posting photos of ID badges, sharing images with visible computer screens, and, from my time in the military, disclosing OPSEC-related details such as travel plans or upcoming deployments,” says Kallstrom.

About 58% of companies have increased training and education on confidentiality in response to concerns about Gen Z employees, while 18% are considering it.

Additionally, one in three business leaders say they prefer to hire older employees to reduce the risk of confidential information being leaked.

“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. Companies also need to have a well-defined Acceptable Use Policy. Training should be engaging, practical, and reinforced regularly,” says Kallstrom.

Methodology

This survey was commissioned by PasswordManager.com and conducted online by the survey platform Pollfish from September 3 to 4, 2025. In total, 1,000 participants in the U.S. took the  survey. All participants had to pass through demographic filters to ensure they were age 25 or older, currently employed full-time, hold an associate’s degree or higher, have a household income of $75,000/year or more, work at a company of at least 11 people, and are in a manager-level position. Learn more about Pollfish’s survey methodology or contact [email protected] for more information.