Kids & Family

Companies start building profiles on children earlier than you’d think.

Who collects what:

• Schools — Grades, behavior, health info, plus everything in educational apps
• Apps & games — Voice recordings, location, contacts, chat messages
• Social media — Everything, starting from their first account
• You — Photos you post create facial recognition data

Why it matters:

Data collected at age 8 could follow them forever. Academic struggles or embarrassing posts don’t expire.

What to do:

• Review app permissions before kids install anything
• Ask schools about their data policies
• Think before posting photos of your kids
• Use privacy-focused apps when possible

There’s no universal answer, but understand the trade-offs.

Privacy risks:

• Companies build detailed profiles from day one
• Posts reveal locations, routines, schools
• Embarrassing content becomes permanent
• Kids can’t fully understand consent

If you allow it:

• Start with private accounts only
• Review followers together
• Disable all location features
• No personal details (school name, address)
• Check privacy settings regularly

Consider alternatives:

• Family-only group chats
• Private photo sharing apps
• Waiting until they’re older

The conversation about WHY privacy matters is more important than strict rules.

“Sharenting” has real privacy implications most parents don’t consider.

The problems:

• Photos train facial recognition AI
• You create their digital footprint without consent
• Images get scraped, downloaded, indexed forever
• Cute toddler stories become embarrassing teen content
• Photos reveal locations, schools, routines

Before posting, ask:

• Would my child be embarrassed in 15 years?
• Does this reveal personal info?
• Would I be okay if strangers shared this?

Safer alternatives:

• Private family albums (not social media)
• Photos without faces
• Don’t post in real-time
• Skip names, birthdays, school names

Your kids can’t consent to public documentation of their lives.

Schools collect massive amounts of student data, much of which flows to third-party companies.

What schools collect:

• Academic records, test scores, behavioral notes
• Health info, special needs documentation
• Photos, videos, sometimes biometrics
• Everything typed into educational software

EdTech problems:

Educational apps often track every keystroke, answer, and mistake. This data gets shared with vendors, researchers, and sometimes advertisers.

What you can do:

• Ask about data collection policies
• Review consent forms carefully — you can often opt out
• Know your rights (FERPA gives access to records)
• Assume school devices monitor everything
• Advocate for better privacy policies at school board meetings

Start early, keep it simple, and make it part of regular conversations.

For young kids (5-8):

• “Some things are just for our family” — not everything goes online
• “Ask before sharing photos of others”
• “Don’t tell strangers your name, school, or where you live”
• Use the “underwear rule” — some info is private, like what’s under underwear

For tweens (9-12):

• Explain that apps collect data to make money
• “Would you want your teacher/grandma to see this?”
• Discuss why passwords shouldn’t be shared (even with friends)
• Show them privacy settings together

For teens:

• Discuss real consequences — jobs, college admissions check social media
• Explain how algorithms use their data
• Talk about digital footprints lasting forever
• Respect their privacy while teaching good habits

Key principles:

• Lead by example — show them you think before posting
• Make it ongoing, not a one-time lecture
• Praise good privacy decisions
• Don’t shame mistakes — use them as teaching moments