Generational Differences in Online Behavior - Exploring Attitudes Towards Privacy, Trust, and Social Interaction

The advent of the internet has revolutionized the way individuals seek and receive social support, ushering in a new era of digital connectivity that transcends geographical boundaries. This essay critically evaluates the differences between online social support and traditional forms of social support, also examining how the internet has reshaped social ties. Drawing upon prominent theories in the field, including Saranson's [1] Social Support Theory and the Granovetter's [2] Strength of Weak Ties Theory, present article explores the unique characteristics of online social support and its implications for interpersonal relationships, concentrating on the differences in online social support between different generations with the help of relevant international literature, as well as primary data collected through an online questionnaire. The results highlight that there is a significant difference between Generation X, Y, and Z, bringing the existence of digital divide in regard to online behaviour to light.