Following a series of high-profile cyberattacks on retailers, online shopping behaviour in the UK is beginning to shift, particularly among younger consumers. Research by GlobalData shows that a third (33.5%) of 16–34 year-olds are considering reducing or stopping online purchases, creating added pressure on retailers to reinforce digital trust.
Similar levels of concern were seen among 25–34 year-olds, with 35% of 35–44 year-olds also expressing hesitation. The trend is less pronounced among older groups, with 15% of 45–54 year-olds, 10.8% of 55–64 year-olds, and 10.6% of those aged 65+ indicating a possible reduction in online shopping. The findings suggest heightened challenges for online-only retailers, which cannot redirect sceptical customers to physical stores.
Concerns around personal data security are widespread, with 79.3% of 25–34 year-olds reporting unease, compared with 66.6% among shoppers over 65, with other age brackets falling in between.
Despite this, GlobalData lead retail analyst Emily Salter noted that convenience and product choice continue to outweigh security worries for many consumers. She pointed out that these factors are particularly significant for older shoppers with family responsibilities, time constraints, or limited mobility. However, she highlighted that younger demographics value experiential shopping more strongly, and security concerns may encourage them to favour physical stores.
The report also warned that cyberattacks pose both short-term risks—such as sales losses from stock issues or website shutdowns—and long-term challenges related to consumer trust in digital platforms. Salter observed that younger shoppers are especially wary about retailers storing their payment information and feel companies are not doing enough to safeguard private data. She added that mobile wallets and third-party payment options like Apple Pay and PayPal are increasingly popular among under-35s, providing a way to avoid sharing payment details directly with retailers. To meet these expectations, retailers must ensure their websites and apps are compatible with such payment systems.
