This section of the "Parent's Guide to Children's Digital Privacy" program focuses on the digital landscape children navigate today. Understanding and implementing these practices is essential for anyone serious about protecting their digital privacy in today's increasingly surveilled world.
Children are among the most vulnerable populations in the digital privacy landscape. They lack the life experience to recognize privacy threats, they are targeted by platforms designed to maximize engagement and data collection, and the digital footprint created during childhood can follow them for decades. COPPA provides some federal protection by requiring parental consent before collecting data from children under 13, but enforcement is inconsistent.
Start by understanding what your children are actually doing online. This does not mean invasive surveillance but rather maintaining open communication about their online activities and periodically reviewing the apps and services they use. Sit down together and review the apps installed on their devices, the permissions those apps have, and the accounts they have created.
Configure age-appropriate privacy settings on all devices and platforms your children use. On iOS, use Screen Time to restrict app installations, limit specific apps, control privacy settings, and filter web content. On Android, use Family Link for similar controls. Enable SafeSearch on search engines. Disable location sharing on their devices. Turn off ad tracking and cross-app tracking.
Be especially vigilant about EdTech platforms and school-issued devices. During the shift to remote learning, schools adopted hundreds of EdTech tools with little privacy vetting. Review your school's technology policies, ask what EdTech platforms are used and what data they collect, and exercise opt-out rights where available.
Create a family privacy plan that evolves as your children grow. For young children, focus on supervised device use. For tweens, introduce privacy concepts and allow limited independence with monitoring. For teenagers, shift from direct control to education and empowerment. The goal is to raise digitally literate adults who can protect their own privacy independently.