2025 Digital Trends: Glossary of Key Terms

Welcome to your go-to glossary for navigating the fast-evolving world of digital life in 2025. Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, or professional, understanding the language of digital safety, online wellbeing, and digital literacy is more important than ever. This A–Z guide breaks down the essential terms you need to know—backed by real-world data, trends, and stats—to help you stay informed, secure, and empowered in an increasingly connected world.

A

• AI-Generated Content: Synthetic media, including images, text, and videos, created using artificial intelligence, often difficult to distinguish from authentic content. 73% of individuals find it hard to spot AI-generated images.  

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): A branch of computer science focused on creating machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. 85% of cybersecurity professionals attribute increased cyberattacks to AI.  

C

• Computational Thinking: Higher-order competency involving problem-solving using computational tools and processes.  

• Cookie Banners: Notifications on websites that alert users about data-tracking practices.  

• Cyberattack: A malicious attempt to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or devices. Cyberattacks increased by 30% in Q2 2024 YoY.  

• Cybercrime: Illegal activities carried out using computers or the internet, such as fraud, theft, and hacking. Worldwide cybercrime costs are estimated at $10.5 trillion annually.  

• Cybersecurity: The practice of protecting computer systems, networks, and data from digital attacks. 15.1% of organizations plan to increase security spending in 2025.  

D

• Data Breach: A security incident where sensitive, confidential, or protected data is accessed or disclosed without authorization. The average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88M.  

• Data Literacy: The ability to understand, interpret, and use data effectively. Increasingly crucial in the 2025 business landscape.  

• Deepfake: AI-generated synthetic media, often videos, manipulated to convincingly misrepresent someone's words or actions. A significant public concern regarding the misuse of generative AI.  

• Digital Divide: The gap between individuals, households, businesses, and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard to their access to information and communication technologies, and to their use of the Internet. 627 million people globally are digitally excluded.  

• Digital Exclusion: The state of being left out of the digital world due to a lack of access, skills, or affordability. 33% of the global population, or 2.6 billion people, remain offline.  

• Digital Fitness: The use of digital technologies and online resources for health and wellness. The digital fitness and wellbeing market is projected to reach $83.43B by 2029.  

• Digital Health: The use of digital technologies, such as mobile devices and software, to improve health outcomes and healthcare services. Telehealth is seen as having the greatest growth potential by 50% of leaders.  

• Digital Literacy: The ability to use digital technology, tools, and resources effectively, responsibly, and safely. 42% of Europeans lack basic digital skills.  

• Digital Safety: Measures taken to protect individuals and their information from online risks and threats. 66% of people worldwide experienced at least one online risk in the past year.  

• Digital Skills Gap: The mismatch between the digital skills possessed by individuals and the digital skills demanded by employers. 37% of individuals in the European workforce lack basic digital skills.  

• Digital Wellbeing: The impact of digital technologies and internet use on individuals’ physical, mental, and social health. Excessive screen time correlates with higher stress and lower life satisfaction.  

G

• Generative AI (GenAI): A type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as text, images, and audio. Demand for GenAI skills has increased by 866% YoY.  

• Global Online Safety Regulators Network: International group promoting online safety standards.  

I

• Internet of Medical Things (IoMT): Connected devices and sensors used to monitor and track health data. 64% of patients report using at least one IoMT device.  

• ICT: Information and Communication Technology.  

M

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): An authentication method that requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to an online account. Consistently recommended as a crucial online safety measure for 2025.  

  
  

O

• Online Privacy: The right of individuals to control how their personal information is collected, used, and shared online. Barely a third (34.5%) of online adults report rejecting cookies on websites at least some of the time.  

• Online Safety Regulatory Index: A tool for comparing online safety standards across different regions.  

P

• Phishing: A cyberattack that uses deceptive emails, messages, or websites to trick individuals into revealing personal information. 37% of security experts are concerned about the emergence of phishing attacks that are virtually undetectable.  

• PISA: Programme for International Student Assessment. An international assessment that is increasingly focusing on evaluating students’ digital literacy skills.  

S

• Social Engineering: The psychological manipulation of people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. Remains a prevalent and significant threat in the digital landscape.  

• Screen Time: The amount of time spent using devices with screens such as smartphones, computers, and televisions. Studies show a correlation between excessive screen time and higher stress.  

• Skills Gap: See Digital Skills Gap.

• Synthetic Content: See AI-Generated Content.

T

• Telehealth: The delivery of healthcare services remotely using telecommunications technologies. Viewed as having the greatest growth potential in digital health.  

U

• Upskilling: The process of learning new skills to improve one's employability.  

V

• Vulnerable Children: Children at heightened risk of online harm due to factors like isolation or pre-existing conditions.  

W

• Workplace Mental Health: The state of mental and emotional wellbeing in the work environment. 

X

• XR (Extended Reality): A collective term encompassing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), all of which are increasingly used in education, mental health, and remote collaboration. XR applications in mental health therapy are expected to grow by 31% by 2027.

Y

• Youth Digital Literacy: The ability of young people to safely, critically, and creatively engage with digital technology and online content. Only 36% of teens feel “very confident” navigating privacy settings or identifying misinformation online.

Z

Zero Trust Security: A cybersecurity framework that assumes no device or user is automatically trustworthy, even within a network. Organizations adopting zero trust frameworks are 50% less likely to suffer major data breaches.

image credit: Michelangelo Buonarroti