Call for parents to teach online privacy like road safety
Call for parents to teach online privacy like road safety
The UK’s data watchdog is urging parents to instill online privacy awareness in children as a fundamental life skill, akin to how they teach about stranger danger or road safety. This recommendation follows a study by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which revealed that 75% of parents expressed concern their child might struggle to make safe decisions regarding personal data online.
Privacy overlooked in family discussions
The ICO’s campaign emphasizes that privacy should be a regular topic in family conversations, much like crossing the road safely. While 90% of parents discussed screen time with their children in the past month, only 21% had ever addressed online privacy, and 38% touched on it less than once a month.
Concerns over data sharing by young users
Research highlighted that 35% of parents believed their child would exchange personal information for game rewards. Additionally, 22% of children aged four to 11 shared health details with AI tools, while 24% revealed their real name or address online. Children between eight and nine years old were identified as the most vulnerable group.
“Many families have never been shown how to talk to their children about online privacy,” said Emily Keaney, ICO deputy commissioner. “It requires a whole society approach.”
“As concerns grow about how children’s data is used online, families are seeking clear, practical guidance to start these conversations with confidence,” added Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet. “Privacy often gets overlooked despite the increasing risks.”
Broader implications for digital safety
The campaign comes amid rising worries about social media and technology’s effects on children’s wellbeing and development. Dame Rachel de Souza, children’s commissioner for England, stressed the importance of early discussions: “Too often we are playing catch up. It is vital that parents feel equipped to address the risks of being online and how to respond if something makes their child uncomfortable.”
Online privacy encompasses a range of data, including names, ages, addresses, photos, browsing history, voice notes, and activities on social media and gaming platforms. The ICO aims to make this topic as routine as teaching children to navigate the digital world safely.
