How to Keep Your Personal Information Private Online: A Guide for Children

When their children visit websites that request sensitive information like their name, address, email, and phone number, parents frequently warn them against providing this data.

The ambition of children and the cunning of certain websites, however, frequently overwhelm parents. Unfortunately, many parents don't instruct their children on how to respond discreetly, which might lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

I am here to help if you are one of those people. Here's how to instruct your children in a way that will allow them to use the site while still protecting their privacy when asked for personal information by various websites.

If the website requests the full name...

Make use of a pseudonym or handle.

When asked for the address on the site...

You can be sure the site is secure if all it asks for is your city and state. However, make sure your children ask you before filling out this space if the website requests a full address, including the home number.

Should the website request an email address...

If this field is mandatory, then instruct your children to open a new email account specifically for this task. This will prevent spam from unknown senders from reaching their main email.

When asked for the number on the website...

The number is superfluous if the primary purpose of filling out the form is to have access to online games. However, an unregistered cell phone number can be the most secure option if the website requires the number to transmit a verification code or access code by text message. You should nevertheless remind your children that they should consult you before approaching you about this matter.

Unless your children provide a credit card number, websites cannot verify the accuracy of the information they have provided. If your children wish to use a certain service on a website, but the site requests personal information, you should instruct them to either check with you beforehand or, better yet, to simply click the back button and disregard the site.

Please be sure to complete all of the mandatory fields on the form.

In the end, the website has no way of knowing if the user's information is accurate or not. What little information they have is all they can depend on. Plus, if the sites are as smart as they seem, you may educate your children to plan ahead so that their anonymity remains intact.

Therefore, instilling common sense in your children is the key to protecting their privacy online. Teach them to recognize when a website is trying to trick them and to refrain from disclosing information that could compromise their privacy.