I always thought the 'average' person had a few hundred online accounts. I was way off.

I was reading a blog post from a security researcher last week, and they mentioned a study from a university. It said the average internet user has over 150 online accounts. That number blew my mind. I sat there and tried to count mine in my head, and I couldn't even get close to that. I thought maybe 50 or 60 at most. It made me realize how much digital clutter I've built up over the years without even noticing. Every random store login, every old forum profile from 2010, every app I signed up for once and forgot. It's all still out there. Has anyone else tried to actually count theirs and been shocked by the total?

3 comments

3 Comments

victorhill8d ago

That part about "every random store login" really hits home. I started a list last year after a data breach notice, and it wasn't just the number, it was how many I had zero memory of creating. The real worry for me is how many of those old sites are probably not securing my long-forgotten data very well. It feels like leaving a trail of old keys in locks all over town.

jordan_webb8d ago

Exactly, @victorhill, that "trail of old keys" feeling is so real. I found accounts for stores that closed a decade ago, just sitting out there. Makes you wonder who's still holding that data.

sethhernandez7d ago

The sheer number of forgotten locks out there is honestly a bit scary.