Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Gen Z believe reusing the same password across multiple accounts is risky, yet 72% admit to recycling credentials
Password Fatigue Hits Gen Z Hard
As concerns over digital security rise, new research reveals that password fatigue is particularly pronounced among Gen Z. Despite nearly eight in ten (79%) acknowledging the risks of reusing passwords, just under three-quarters (72%) of Gen Z still admit to recycling credentials. This is significantly higher than the 42% of Boomers who report doing the same. Alarmingly, 30% of Gen Z say they often or always forget passwords to important accounts, signaling a deep-rooted struggle with effective password management.
Risky Shortcuts and Sharing Habits Worsen the Problem
The data also shows troubling trends in how younger users approach password changes and sharing. About one third of Gen Z (38%) and Millennials (31%) report changing only a single character or reusing an existing password when prompted to update a credential. Additionally, one-quarter (25%) of Gen Z respondents share passwords directly in the body of a text, one in five (19%) send screenshots of passwords, and another one-fifth (19%) share credentials verbally. In sharp contrast, two-thirds (67%) of Boomers avoid sharing passwords altogether, with fewer than one in ten (7%) resorting to text-based sharing.
Stress and Abandonment Add to the Crisis
Managing passwords is not only a logistical challenge but also a source of anxiety for Gen Z. Two-thirds (62%) of Gen Z report some level of stress related to password management. The hassle has even driven behavior change, with half (55%) of all respondents admitting they have abandoned logging into an account entirely or created a new one just to avoid resetting a password. These findings highlight the growing need for simpler, more secure authentication methods, especially for younger users grappling with password fatigue.
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Bitwarden World Password Day Survey 2025
Research publisher
Bitwarden equips enterprises and individuals with the power to securely manage and share information online with trusted open source security solutions. With a password manager for everyone, users can easily manage their entire online identity anywhere. Bitwarden Secrets Manager and Passwordless.dev enhance developer secrets security and streamline passkey development for end users and workforce authentication. Founded in 2016, Bitwarden serves over 50,000 businesses and more than 10 million users worldwide across 180 countries in 50+ languages. The company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at bitwarden.com.
Methodology
This was an online survey of 2,391 employed adults fielded from March 14 to March 20, 2025. Respondents were from Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, ranging from being employed both full and part time. Responses by country: Australia (16%), France (16%), Germany (16%), Japan (15%), the United Kingdom (16%), and the United States (21%).
