Half of Australian parents feel they are not in control of their child's data privacy

From educational platforms to social media, children in Australia are navigating the virtual world at an unprecedented pace. However, with this digital freedom comes a valid concern for parents: their child's online privacy.

The Australian Scam Culture Report by financial services firm BDO shows that protecting their child's personal information is a major concern for 79% of parents. However, only half (50%) feel they are in control of their child's data privacy.

The older the child, the less likely parents are to feel in control of their child's privacy. Fifty-nine percent of parents of children aged 2 to 5 feel in control of their child's privacy, compared to 58% of parents of children aged 6 to 9, 48% of parents of children aged 10 to 13, and 37% of parents of children aged 14 to 17.

Parents are concerned about businesses:

· tracking the location of a child without permission (79%)

· obtaining personal information about a child and selling it to third parties (79%)

· targeting ads to children based on information they have obtained by tracking a child online (74%)

· being able to obtain information about a child and infer sensitive information about them (74%)

Measures to increase children's online privacy

Here are some measures that parents can take to help protect their children's online privacy:

1.      Educate About Online Safety: Teach children the importance of not sharing personal information online. This includes full names, addresses, phone numbers, and school names. Make sure they understand that once something is posted online, it can be difficult to remove.

1. Set Privacy settings to high privacy: Social media platforms and other online services often have privacy settings determining who can see your child's profile and posts. Regularly review and adjust these settings to limit the exposure of your child's personal information.

1. Switch off geo-location tracking. Many apps and websites track location for various purposes, from localized content to targeted advertising. However, this can pose a risk to children's privacy. Turn off geo-location settings on their devices and in individual apps.

1. Encourage use of strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for each online account. A password manager can make this process easier and more secure.

1. Use parental controls: These controls can restrict access to certain content, limit online time, and monitor activity. They're a great way to help ensure your child's online experience is safe and age-appropriate.

1. Consider a VPN for safe browsing outside the home. Bitdefender VPN offers unlimited secure connections, stops unwanted ads while browsing, hides real locations, and disables trackers.

1. Monitor their digital identity: Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection can help parents monitor their child's digital identity. It scans the web, including the dark web, for any unauthorized leaks of a child's personal information and alerts you in real-time in case of a data breach.

Read more about our identity protection and privacy solutions here.