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 fundamental life skill, comparable to teaching children about stranger danger or road safety. This recommendation stems from recent findings by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which revealed that 75% of parents worried their child might struggle to make secure online privacy decisions.
The ICO has initiated a campaign to encourage families to engage in straightforward dialogues with their children regarding the protection of personal information. This initiative follows a study indicating that privacy discussions are among the least frequent topics in online safety conversations. Concerns about social media and digital technology’s influence on children’s wellbeing, safety, and development have intensified, prompting the need for clearer guidance.
According to a survey of 1,000 UK parents with children aged four to eleven, 35% believed their child would trade personal details for game tokens or rewards. The research also found that 22% of children had shared health-related information with AI tools, and 24% had disclosed their real name or address online. The study highlighted that children aged eight and nine are particularly vulnerable to these risks.
Parents Seek Practical Advice for Privacy Talks
Emily Keaney, deputy commissioner at the ICO, noted that many families lack clear instruction on how to discuss online privacy with their children. She emphasized the need for a “whole society approach” to address this gap. Meanwhile, Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, pointed out that while parents often address harmful content or screen time, privacy is frequently neglected.
“Many parents are already talking to their children about harmful content or screen time, but privacy often gets overlooked,” Justine Roberts said.
The ICO’s February survey revealed 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. The ICO clarified that online privacy encompasses details such as names, ages, addresses, photos, browsing history, voice notes, and activities on social media or gaming platforms.
“Too often we are playing catch up, this is why it is important that parents feel confident having early, everyday conversations with children about the risks of being online and how to respond if something makes them uncomfortable,” said Dame Rachel de Souza, children’s commissioner for England.
