Children’s Online Privacy: A Practical Guide
Online privacy is about more than hiding a profile. It includes what information services collect, how long they keep it, who can see it, how it is used and whether children can understand and control those choices.
What counts as personal information online?
Personal information can include obvious details such as a name or email address, but also location, device identifiers, photographs, voice recordings, browsing activity, contacts and patterns of behaviour. Some information can identify a child only when combined with other data.
Five privacy habits for young people
- Check who can see your account. Review audience settings rather than assuming an account is private.
- Limit live location sharing. Turn location access off when an app does not need it.
- Think before posting identifying details. School uniforms, timetables, addresses and travel plans can reveal more than expected.
- Review permissions. Camera, microphone, contacts and photo access should match what the app actually needs.
- Use deletion and account controls. If you stop using a service, check whether you can remove old content or delete the account.
Privacy by default
Children should not have to understand every technical setting before receiving meaningful protection. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office Children’s code is a useful example of this idea: services likely to be accessed by children are expected to apply high privacy by default, limit unnecessary location tracking and provide age-appropriate information and controls.
AI and privacy
AI services may process prompts, images, files, voice or behavioural information. Before sharing anything personal, consider whether the task can be completed without identifying details. Children should avoid uploading private information about themselves or others when it is unnecessary.
Frequently asked questions
What is online privacy for children?
It is the protection and appropriate use of a child’s personal information, identity, communications and digital activity.
Should location be turned on for every app?
No. Location access should be limited to services that genuinely need it and reviewed regularly.
What does privacy by default mean?
It means a service starts with protective privacy settings rather than requiring a child to discover and enable those protections manually.
Trusted sources and further reading
This guide uses and points readers to primary or established child-rights and online-safety sources.