Privacy Matters: Protecting Your Personal Information Online
An assembly teaching children why personal information matters and how to protect it in a digital world.
Overview
Children share personal information online more readily than many adults realise — through social media profiles, gaming usernames, location tags, and casual conversations. This assembly explains in practical terms why privacy matters, what counts as personal information, and how to make safer choices about what to share.
Talking Points
Personal information includes your full name, school, address, phone number, birthday, and photos — but it also includes less obvious things like your daily routine, your location, and your family details.
Once something is shared online, you lose control of it. Even private messages can be screenshot and shared. Think of the internet as a permanent noticeboard, not a private conversation.
Check your privacy settings on every app and platform you use. Make sure your accounts are set to private and that only people you know in real life can see your content.
Be cautious about what is visible in photos and videos you share. A school uniform, a street sign, or a familiar landmark can reveal your location without you realising.
If a website, app, or person asks for personal information, stop and think: do they really need this? What will they do with it? If in doubt, do not share.
Key Message
Your personal information is valuable. Protect it the same way you would protect your house key — do not hand it out to just anyone.
Follow-Up Activity
Students review one of their own social media profiles (or a mock profile provided by the teacher) and identify three pieces of personal information that could be removed or hidden to improve their privacy.
This content is designed to support professionals in their safeguarding role. It does not replace your organisation's safeguarding policies or training requirements.
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-29