Privacy & Consent

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

Target age range: Upper elementary to middle school (approximately ages 8–12). This is the stage when children begin using the internet and social apps more independently, making it crucial to instill privacy habits and understanding of consent early on.

Learning objective: Equip children with the knowledge and skills to protect their personal information online and to respect consent – meaning they understand the importance of asking permission before sharing someone else’s information or image. Children will learn how to recognize privacy risks, set boundaries on what they share, and seek adult help when needed. Parents will learn how to model good privacy practices and foster open communication about digital boundaries.

Threat definition

Privacy threats in the digital world involve the exposure of personal data or images without proper safeguards or permission. Children may overshare details like their full name, school, location, photos, or other identifying info on social media, not realizing this information can be used by bad actors. For example, online predators often gather personal tidbits a child posts (hobbies, school, friends) and use them to build trust during grooming. Even innocent posts (birthday messages, pet names, school events) can give away answers to security questions or reveal a child’s location. Virtually every app and website collects data about users through “persistent identifiers” that track a child’s device and online habits. Without privacy awareness, a child’s digital footprint can grow in ways they cannot control, potentially leading to identity theft, targeted advertising, or profiling.

UNDERSTANDING CONSENT ONLINE

• What Consent Means Consent online refers to seeking and giving permission for use of personal content or data. Respecting consent means understanding that personal information and images are private property, and permission is required before sharing.
• How It Breaks Down A child who isn’t taught about digital consent might share a friend’s photo or story publicly without asking, or feel pressured to agree when someone asks for their own picture or info. Lack of consent can violate trust and safety – for instance, a photo shared without permission can embarrass or endanger someone.
• Both Sides of the Skill Teaching kids to ask “Is it okay if I post this?” is as important as teaching them to say “no” if they’re uncomfortable.
• Why It Matters In essence, the threat is that without guidance, children may unknowingly compromise their privacy or someone else’s, leading to consequences ranging from embarrassment and bullying to contact by strangers or exploitation.

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