Resource
Key topic: Privacy
The key topic children's data and privacy in the digital age addresses the following:
Why pay attention to children's data and privacy?
What is privacy & what types of data are there?
How does the collection of children's data affect privacy?
What are the challenges in protecting children's privacy & what useful tips are there for educators and policy-makers?
Select one of the sub-sections of this key topic in the drop-down or scroll through them below.
This resource is is based on the CO:RE short report Children’s data and privacy in the digital age by Siibak and Mascheroni (2021) [1]. It aims to provide educators, schools, and policy-makers with essential information about children's data and privacy online and practical ideas to support children and young people in better protecting their privacy online.
Why pay attention to children’s data and privacy?
Topics such as privacy online, data protection or the digital economy are popular these days. Indeed, we share so much information about ourselves and others online that it is important to understand how these sharing practices can affect us. Whenever we post or share pictures, videos, or locations, we like or dislike something or tag someone on a photo, we share information, i.e., ‘data’, that is collected by the apps and devices we use [2]. The more information we share, the more detailed and the more ‘valuable’ our data becomes for companies and advertisers because they can use it for commercial or other purposes, such as targeted advertising. Although some of these practices may be helpful sometimes (e.g. getting content recommendations that match our personal interests), they also may be unfair or harmful, for instance, when data that we did not intend to share is collected and used in ways that could have a negative impact on us or others [2], This can be especially problematic for children who often inadvertently accept terms and Conditions or privacy policies without being fully aware of their present or future implications.
References
[1] Siibak, A. & Mascheroni, G. (2021). Children's data and privacy in the digital age. (CO:RE Short Report Series on Key Topics). Hamburg: Leibniz-Institut für Medienforschung | Hans-Bredow-Institut (HBI); CO:RE - Children Online: Research and Evidence. https://doi.org/10.21241/ssoar.76251
[2] Livingstone, S., Stoilova, M. & Nandagiri, R. (2019). My Data and Privacy Online. A toolkit for young people. https://www.lse.ac.uk/my-privacy-uk/for-educators
Some helpful resources on privacy
Key topic: Privacy
Key topic: Privacy-
Resource
What is privacy & what types of data are there? Education Toolkit : What is privacy & what types of data are there?
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ResourceHow does the collection of children's data affect privacy? Education Toolkit : How does the collection of children's data affect privacy?
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ResourceWhat are the challenges in protecting children's privacy & what useful tips are there for educators? Education Toolkit : What are the challenges in protecting children's privacy & what useful tips are there for educators?