|
Raising Kids in a Digital World
Simple tips to help families raise safe, smart, and responsible digital citizens.
Vivienne Cameron, M.Ed.
Think Before You Share—Protecting Personal Information
Children share information online without always realizing how much it can reveal. A photo in front of their school, a post announcing a vacation, or a game profile displaying their full name can expose details they may not intend to share. Help children distinguish between information that is generally safe to share, such as a favorite color, and private information, such as their home address, phone number, passwords, or daily location. Even a free game or fun online quiz may request more information than necessary. Children should learn to pause and ask a trusted adult before sharing personal details or granting an app access to their camera, microphone, or location. Protecting privacy is a skill that grows with practice.
Action Step: Play a quick game of “Share It or Keep It Private?” Read these examples and ask your child to decide: favorite animal, home address, school name, password, favorite sport, and a photo showing your house number. Discuss why some information needs extra protection.
Family Resource: K–5 Family Tips: Privacy & Security — Common Sense Education — practical advice designed for elementary-age children.
| 
