Digital Consent & Boundaries

What digital consent & boundaries is, who it affects, and what a child should learn — a free entry from the Digital Guardians Threat Dictionary.

Target age range: 8–18 years. This module applies to children, tweens, and teens (with content tailored by age).

Learning objective: Children will understand that they have the right to control what is shared about them online, to assert their boundaries, and to respect others’ digital boundaries. They will learn to say “no” to unwanted contact or content and practice obtaining permission before sharing.

Threat definition

Violation of digital consent means someone shares your photos, videos, messages, or personal information without your clear agreement, or pressures you into online activities you don’t want. This can include unwanted tagging in photos, forwarding your private chat messages, or coercing you to click links or join chats. Digital consent is about mutual respect: you must ask before posting or sharing someone else’s content. Ignoring a “no” is a form of online harassment or abuse.

WHAT IT CAN LOOK LIKE

• Unwanted tagging Someone tags you in photos without your clear agreement.
• Forwarding private chats Someone forwards your private chat messages to others.
• Coercion Someone pressures you into clicking links or joining chats you don’t want.

The full chapter is in Pillar 1: Awareness & Foundations and the Complete Edition.