Digital Lives of Australians
auDA’s Digital Lives of Australians research study provides unique insight into the online experiences of Australian consumers and small businesses. Now in its fifth year, it highlights key shifts 2021 to 2025, presenting a detailed picture of the digital lives of Australians.
auDA is pleased to present the 2025 Digital Lives of Australians research report. Since 2021, Australians have experienced a significant digital transformation. A global pandemic, heightened cyber threat environment and emergence of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) have reshaped the technology landscape. This year’s report offers insights into how Australian consumers and small businesses behaviours, views on and experiences with the internet have evolved against this backdrop of technological change. Despite many changes, the internet continues to be relied on and valued by the vast majority of Australians.
Fears of cybercrime continue to rise
Increased sophistication
The majority of Australians (83 per cent) believe cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated and staying ahead of cybercrime is a difficult, yet crucial task.
Behavioural change
Two thirds of Australians (67 per cent) are avoiding certain online activities to minimise their exposure to potential cyber security risks.
Lower business readiness
Fewer than a quarter of small businesses (20 per cent) have a cyber security policy or offer cyber security training to staff - a decrease since 2021.
Cost of living impact
The internet: vital to work and business
64 per cent of Australians say they can't do their job without the internet (up from 58 per cent in 2021), and 51 percent of small businesses say they can't operate without the internet (up from 44 per cent in 2021). The biggest increase in internet dependence is among workers and small businesses in regional Australia( workers: up from 49 per cent in 2021 to 60 per cent in 2025, small businesses from 47 per cent to 57 per cent).
Most Australians now use AI, yet caution remains
Digital ID in Australia
According to government data, some 13 million Australians – more than half the adult population – are registered with myID (the Digital ID platform operated by the Australian Government), however only 35 per cent of Australians report having a Digital ID, much lower than government estimates, suggesting there is confusion about Digital IDs.
Changing digital skills dynamics
Five years of change
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The 2025 Digital Lives of Australians report research comprised of an online survey completed by 2,000 Australian consumers and 400 small businesses, a 3-day online discussion forum with 14 consumers and 12 small businesses, and qualitative in-depth interviews with 8 consumers and 7 small businesses.