Kids are spending more time online, which ups identity risks. If you’re a parent, consider reviewing the privacy policies of the sites your kids use frequently and talking with your kids about good online habits. If you have Allstate Identity Protection, you can add your children to your account and enable our family digital safety tools for additional protection.
As kids spend more time online, should parents be concerned about their digital privacy?
With 1.7 million U.S. children affected by data breaches in one year alone, it’s fair to wonder about how your children’s information is being stored, shared, and used.
Luckily, parents can do a lot to manage kids’ digital footprints. Here’s a look at the legal protections that exist today, plus some additional steps you can take to safeguard your children online.
Are there laws that protect kids’ online data?
In the internet age, children start accumulating digital footprints almost from birth.
To help parents control what information websites can collect from their kids, two congress-enacted rules impose requirements on child surveillance: COPPA and FERPA.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites and apps to gain parental consent before collecting personal information from kids younger than 13. The law allows schools to give consent on behalf of parents in educational environments, including when it comes to distance learning.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that governs the protection of student records and personally identifiable information (PII). FERPA gives parents the right to access and amend their child’s records, and also grants parents some control over how and when those records are disclosed. For example, under FERPA, a parent can ask for a correction of their child's education record if they think it's inaccurate or infringes on their privacy rights. Schools aren’t required to make the change, but they must consider the request.
Unfortunately, though, the existence of these laws doesn’t guarantee a reduced risk of harm or exposure.
COPPA has been criticized as ineffective. On some sites, for example, it’s possible to bypass age verification procedures.
Plus, with data breaches happening at such a rapid pace, there's always a chance that any gathered data could be compromised, even from trusted sites you've approved.
While it's not realistic or even ideal to keep kids offline, there are things you can do to help minimize their digital footprints.
Tips for protecting children's privacy online
Kids shouldn't have to sacrifice their privacy to use the internet. Here are five steps parents can take today to help keep kids’ data protected:
Review the privacy policies of the apps and sites frequently used by your children. Privacy policies can be lengthy and packed with complex terms, so check out our guide to deciphering them. Review your school’s online policies too, and don’t hesitate to raise concerns about the apps and websites being used in your district’s digital classroom.
Talk with your kids about good online privacy practices, and encourage them to think twice before sharing PII. Consider adopting this family mantra: unless you’re comfortable sharing something with the whole world, don’t share it online.
Cover or disable webcams and microphones when not in use. Be mindful of other devices that might be passively gathering data, such as internet browsers.
Keep the family computer in a common area. For example, your living room or family room, instead of your child’s bedroom.
Use parental controls to alert you of concerning content. Some Allstate Identity Protection plans, like our new Blue plan, include access to our family digital safety tools. Parents can use them to monitor popular apps and social media platforms for potential safety concerns.
If you’re an Allstate Identity Protection member and you have a family plan, you can help safeguard your kids online by adding them to your account. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, visit our Help Center.
From there, you can maximize their protection by switching on key features like social media and dark web monitoring.
With all of us spending more time online these days, we’re committed to protecting our members’ digital lives — and their kids’ digital lives, too.
