Internet & Identity · lesson 16 of 17 · 15 min
What is online privacy?
Privacy means having control over your own information — who sees it, who uses it, and where it goes. Online privacy means keeping your personal details safe so that strangers cannot find out where you live, what you look like, how to contact you, or what your daily routine is.
Every time you use an app, website, or game, you may be sharing information without even realizing it. You might share your name when you create a profile, your location when you post a photo, or your interests when you click on things. Protecting your privacy means thinking carefully before you share — and understanding what information is safe to share and what should stay private.
Privacy is not about hiding things or being secretive. It is about being smart and intentional about who has access to information about you. Just like you would not hand your home address to a stranger on the street, you should not share it with strangers online.
Personal information to always keep private: Your full name, home address, school name, phone number, photos of yourself, your daily schedule, and your passwords. These are the details that could help a stranger find you or access your accounts.
What is safe to share vs. what to keep private
✅ Generally safe to share
- Your first name only
- Your favorite color or hobby
- A drawing or creative work you made
- Your opinion on a book or movie
- A username that does not reveal personal info
❌ Keep private
- Your full name
- Your home address
- Your school name and location
- Your phone number
- Photos that show your face or location
- Your daily schedule
- Your passwords
Privacy settings
Most apps and websites have privacy settings — controls that let you decide who can see your information and posts. Always ask a trusted adult to help you check your privacy settings on any app you use.
Setting your profile to private means only people you approve can see your posts and information. A public profile can be seen by anyone in the world — including strangers you have never met. For most kids, a private profile is much safer.
Privacy settings are not set once and forgotten — apps update their settings regularly, and defaults can change. It is a good habit to review your privacy settings with a trusted adult every few months.
Key words to remember
- Privacy
- Personal information
- Privacy settings
- Private profile
- Public profile
Match each privacy concept to its description
Online privacy — quiz
What does online privacy mean?
- Sharing everything about yourself online
- Keeping your personal information safe from strangers
- Using the internet without a password
- Posting photos every day
Answer: Keeping your personal information safe from strangers
Online privacy means controlling who can see your personal information.
Which of these should you keep private online?
- Your favorite color
- Your home address
- Your favorite movie
- Your favorite sport
Answer: Your home address
Your home address is personal information that strangers could use to find you.
A public profile on a social app can be seen by anyone in the world.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Public profiles are visible to everyone online, which is why private settings are safer.
What are privacy settings?
- A type of password
- Controls that let you decide who can see your information
- A way to block ads
- A type of antivirus software
Answer: Controls that let you decide who can see your information
Privacy settings let you control who can see your posts and personal information on apps and websites.
Which of these is generally safe to share online?
- Your home address
- Your school name
- Your favorite hobby
- Your phone number
Answer: Your favorite hobby
Sharing a hobby does not reveal personal information that could help a stranger find you.
Privacy is about hiding things and being secretive.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Privacy is about being smart and intentional about who has access to information about you — not about hiding things.
How often should you review your privacy settings?
- Never — once is enough
- Every few months with a trusted adult
- Only when something goes wrong
- Every day
Answer: Every few months with a trusted adult
Apps update their settings regularly, so it is good practice to review privacy settings every few months.
Why is a private profile safer than a public profile?
- It loads faster
- Only people you approve can see your information
- It has better features
- It uses less data
Answer: Only people you approve can see your information
A private profile limits who can see your posts and information — much safer than a public profile.
What should you do before sharing personal information on a new app?
- Share it immediately
- Think carefully and ask a trusted adult
- Share only if the app looks official
- Share only your first name
Answer: Think carefully and ask a trusted adult
Always think before sharing personal information and check with a trusted adult if you are unsure.
Your school name is personal information that should be kept private online.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Your school name tells strangers where you are during the day — it is personal information that should stay private.
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