Help children understand what personal information is, why it has value, and how to protect it in an age of constant data collection.
Online privacy is the ability to control what personal information is collected, stored, and shared when using digital services. For children, who may not fully grasp the permanence and reach of the internet, privacy education is essential. Our curriculum teaches students to identify personal data, understand how companies and individuals collect it, and adopt habits that safeguard their identity and their family's information.
Children's personal data is 50 times more likely to be stolen than an adult's because minors rarely monitor their credit and identity theft can go undetected for years. The average child has over 1,500 photos posted online by a parent before the age of five, creating a digital footprint before the child can consent. Data broker companies collect and sell information on minors from apps, school platforms, and social media, making proactive privacy education a critical defense.
Your Cyber Safe Family breaks online privacy into age-appropriate concepts that build over time. Young learners start by identifying what counts as personal information and practicing the rule of asking a trusted adult before sharing anything online. Older students explore topics like data broker opt-outs, encrypted messaging, app permissions, and their rights under laws like COPPA and state privacy statutes. Parent workshops ensure families reinforce these practices consistently at home.
Children often think personal information is limited to their name and address. Teach them that photos, location data, school name, pet names, and even favorite sports teams can be used to identify or manipulate them. The broader their understanding, the better their defenses.
Before installing any app, review the permissions it requests with your child. Does a flashlight app really need access to contacts and location? This exercise builds a habit of scrutiny that will serve them well into adulthood.
Teach children to create passwords that are at least 12 characters long, using a passphrase method that combines random words. Use a family password manager to store credentials securely. Never reuse passwords across different accounts.
Location data is one of the most sensitive categories of personal information. Show children how to disable location services for individual apps and explain that sharing their real-time location with apps and social media can reveal their home, school, and daily routine to strangers.
Before entering personal information into any website, form, or app, teach children to pause and ask three questions: Who is asking? Why do they need it? What will happen to it? If they cannot answer all three, they should not share the information without consulting a trusted adult.
Learn how children's personal information can be exposed online and discover practical strategies to minimize data collection and protect your family's privacy.
Help your child understand the importance of strong passwords and learn practical strategies for creating and managing secure accounts online.
Help children understand what personal information is, why it has value, and how to protect it in an age of constant data collection.
