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 has urged parents to treat online privacy as a critical life skill, comparable to teaching children about stranger danger or road safety. This recommendation follows new research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which revealed that 75% of parents expressed concern their children could not make safe choices regarding personal information online.
The ICO has launched a campaign to encourage families to engage in straightforward discussions about safeguarding data, citing privacy as one of the least addressed areas of online safety. This initiative comes amid growing worries about the effects of social media and digital tools on children’s mental health, security, and growth.
“Many families lack the guidance on how to discuss online privacy with their children,” said Emily Keaney, deputy commissioner at the ICO. “It requires a ‘whole society approach’ to ensure children understand the importance of protecting their data.”
According to a February survey of 1,000 UK parents with children aged four to 11, 35% believed their child would exchange personal details for game rewards or tokens. The study also found that 22% of children had shared health-related information with AI tools, while 24% had posted their real name or address online. Children aged eight and nine were identified as being at the highest risk.
The research highlighted that 21% of parents had never spoken to their children about online privacy, and 38% discussed it less than once a month. In contrast, 90% of parents had engaged in conversations about screen time within the past month.
“As awareness of children’s data usage increases, families seek straightforward guidance to initiate these discussions confidently,” said Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet. “Privacy often gets overlooked, even though it’s vital for their online safety.”
The ICO explained that online privacy involves protecting details like names, ages, addresses, photos, browsing history, and digital activity on social media platforms. Dame Rachel de Souza, children’s commissioner for England, added: “We frequently find ourselves reacting after the fact, which underscores the need for early, routine conversations between parents and children about online risks.”