Online privacy is a little like your weird Uncle Bob. He's hard to understand, and you really only miss him when he's gone. And just like Uncle Bob, online privacy can sound a little paranoid. Internet predators. Online safety. Data mining. These issues are far-ranging and murky, so they're easy to brush aside. But Uncle Bob might not be completely crazy. What you or your kid posts or fills out online can wind up in the wrong hands, affecting your kid's future, safety, and reputation. It may be hard to care about Uncle Bob, but here are six reasons why you really should care about online privacy.
- Your kid's identity could be stolen. Internet-enabled toys and kids' devices store information about your kid "in the cloud" (which is just a cool name for servers). As the 2015 data breach of Vtech's InnoTab Max uncovered, hackers specifically target kids because they offer clean credit histories and unused Social Security numbers.
Get practical tips and advice to protect your kids' privacy at Common Sense Media.
Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.