Data and privacy
What is Context ?
How young people experience life online
Many details and bits of information can be considered personal data. Examples include:
- name
- age
- contact details, for example, phone number or email address
- ethnicity
- home address
- sexual orientation
- location data
- health and medical data
- search history
- religion
- beliefs, for example, political views
Young people share their personal data when they:
- post on social media
- make a purchase
- browse online
- apply for a job
Someone’s online activity and personal information is sometimes known as their digital footprint. Data protection laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are designed to protect privacy. For example, data protection laws make it illegal to:
- store data insecurely
- store data for longer than necessary
- sell data to third parties without permission
Once stored, personal data can be anonymised or encrypted. This means that someone can’t be identified by their information. Cookies are small bits of user information that are collected when using websites. Managing cookie settings is another way of limiting how much personal data is shared.
A child or young person can take steps to protect their personal data online. For example, by minimising the amount they share or by adjusting privacy settings on online platforms.
Motivations and risks
Risks
Personal data could be used to harass or intimidate someone online by:
Personal data can be used to scam or extort someone. It could also be used for fraudulent activity like:
Personal data could be used in a relationship to coerce, control or abuse someone through:
Motivations
A child or young person might have an interest in personal data and data privacy to:
- stay anonymous or more private online
- understand how their data is legally collected, stored or used
- learn more about cybersecurity or technology like VPNs
- protect themselves against data breaches
- access or use another’s data, for example for identity theft
Understanding personal data and knowing how to improve data privacy can have several benefits for a child or young person. It can help minimise:
- unwanted contact from others
- targeted ads
- identity theft and impersonation
- blackmail, like sextortion
- cybercrime that relies on social engineering tactics, like phishing
- personal attacks and harassment, like cyberbullying or doxxing
Knowing how to limit or delete personal data and information can also help a child and young person feel more in control of their online life and digital footprint.
Young people’s voice
Young people’s experience of the context
The risk that young people have that people are accessing their personal information and spreading it online and that people can create rumours to make you seem like someone that you're not and that they’re just spreading information to hurt you.
Backpack Youth Advisors: Data and privacy 22/11/23
So adults should talk to young people about data and privacy with sensitivity and understand that adults are adults and young people have different minds to adults. So just approach, approach them with sensitivity and an open mind.
Backpack Youth Advisors: Data and privacy 22/11/23
Where young people explore data and privacy online
Read more about data and privacy
Share your experience of data and privacy
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm