How children can accidentally reveal too much personal information online, and practical steps to help them protect their privacy.
Privacy is the practice of a child posting too much personal information online, such as their location, school, or routines, which strangers can use to identify or target them.
Children often share personal details online without realising the potential consequences. Information such as their full name, school, location, daily routines, and family details can be pieced together by anyone viewing their profiles. Oversharing creates opportunities for identity theft, grooming, and real-world safety risks.
Children may reveal personal information through social media bios, public posts, geotagged photos, or casual conversations in games and group chats. Even seemingly harmless details — a school uniform in a selfie, a check-in at a local venue — can help someone build a detailed picture of a child's life and whereabouts.
In your child's behaviour
On their device
Review privacy settings together
Sit with your child and go through the privacy settings on every app and platform they use. Set profiles to private and disable location tagging on photos.
Teach the 'billboard test'
Ask your child: 'Would you be happy if this was displayed on a billboard outside your school?' If not, it probably should not be posted online.
Agree on what is never shared online
Create a simple list of information that is always kept private: home address, phone number, school name, daily routines, and holiday plans.
In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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