Protecting children’s privacy online: 13 legal tips for parents

The most practical legal tip is to limit what data can be collected in the first place. Every time a child’s information is shared online (through school platforms, gaming accounts, or social media), data brokers can profile, store, and sometimes sell it. Those records can persist for 10 years or more, long after consent is forgotten. Parents should review privacy settings, disable unnecessary permissions, and use written consent forms for educational or medical data requests. Small steps like controlling digital identifiers and reviewing app terms can prevent exposure that might later affect insurance, employment, or credit decisions. In short, control the data before it controls the narrative.

A strong resource for parents is the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. It explains which types of data companies are prohibited from collecting and offers steps for filing complaints if that law is violated. Parents can also keep an offline record of where and how their child’s data is used, just a one-page list with accounts, emails, and permissions. That simple practice creates a legal trail that can be invaluable if issues ever arise.

Limiting the amount of personally identifiable information you share about your children, or the information they share about themselves, is a great way to protect their online privacy. Parents should avoid posting details such as full names, birthdates, school names, or locations on social media, as these can be used to track or identify children. If you’re co-parenting, include provisions in your parenting plan or custody agreement that establish clear boundaries regarding the posting or sharing of information about your children online. This helps prevent disputes and ensures both parents are aligned in protecting the child’s digital footprint.

For parents seeking to further educate themselves, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) “Protecting Kids Online” guide is a valuable resource. It offers clear explanations of privacy laws, such as COPPA (the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), and provides practical steps for safeguarding children’s data on apps, games, and social media platforms. Another excellent resource is Common Sense Media, which reviews apps and websites for privacy and safety concerns, helping parents make informed decisions about their children’s online activity.

One important legal tip for protecting your children’s privacy online is to regularly review the privacy settings and data-collection policies of every app and website they use. Many platforms quietly collect personal details such as location, browsing behavior, or even contact lists — often far more than parents realize. Take time to read each platform’s privacy policy and adjust the settings to limit what’s shared or stored. Beyond that, pair these steps with practical safeguards like a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on family devices. A VPN helps anonymize your child’s activity by masking their IP address and encrypting online data, making it harder for third parties to track or profile them. Together, these steps help ensure that your child’s online footprint stays as private as possible.

For parents seeking guidance and trustworthy resources, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an excellent place to start. FOSI offers practical tools like its “7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting” guide, customizable family online safety agreements, and device-specific privacy checklists. The organization also provides in-depth research on how children and teens interact with digital media, helping parents make informed decisions about technology use at home. Beyond tools for families, FOSI works with major tech companies and policymakers to advocate for safer, more transparent online environments for children.

Protecting your child’s privacy online requires both active oversight and proactive education. Understanding what data is being collected — and using tools like those from FOSI to set boundaries — empowers families to find the right balance and enjoy the benefits of technology while keeping children’s personal information safe.

Request verifiable parental consent before your child uses any digital platform or app. Carefully review what data gets collected before you approve it. As parents, make sure not to tick “agree” boxes without reading privacy policies. It is very important that you understand what type of data companies gather.

According to data protection laws, your informed consent matters and it gives you the right to delete your data later. For more information and a better parent-child understanding about internet usage, you can follow “Google’s Be Internet Awesome.” It offers free family guides and an interactive game called Interland that teaches kids digital safety in a fun, practical way!

One tip I always share with parents is to limit the personal information children post online. Canadian privacy laws provide frameworks for protecting minors, but enforcement depends on proactive steps by families. Even something as simple as an overshared photo can inadvertently expose your child to risks. Regularly reviewing your kids’ accounts is a small but impactful habit.

I also focus on controlling the apps my children can access. Legally, I’m responsible for consent when their data is collected, so I set up parental controls and review every app’s permissions. Discussing the reasons behind these rules with children helps them understand privacy rather than see restrictions as punishment.

When looking for resources, MediaSmarts stands out. Their guides help parents evaluate websites, games, and apps while teaching kids how to navigate online spaces safely. Canadian Parent also curates resources for families, from newsletters to how-to guides, making it easier to balance connectivity and privacy in everyday life.

Having parental locks on all social media platforms and exercising safety protocols to the fullest is not only important but of utmost necessity. Minors are often subjects of trafficking and individuals with malicious intent. Also, it is important to assess the maturity of your child to determine whether they are ready to have access to online platforms. As a child psychiatrist, I recommend no social media access prior to the age of 14 as adolescents are not yet fully mature enough to navigate the online world safely.

Also, another way to ensure adequate privacy for our children online is to limit their exposure on our own platforms. It is our duty to protect our children without exposing them to unnecessary online attention.

Parents tend to fixate on individual apps that their kids download and use. It’s not a bad step, but it’s pretty inconsequential if you take into account the bigger ecosystem these apps are a part of. What’s more worrying is the invisible data profile that Google or Meta builds, which tracks your child’s behavior across dozens of different websites and services.

That’s what you need to eliminate, and you can use your rights under laws like the CCPA or GDPR principles to do so. You can formally demand the Right to Delete from the central aggregator, and it forces the company to verifiably remove all the historical data they’ve collected and behavioral modeling they’ve built too.

I’d suggest consulting the compliance guides for laws like the Kids Online Safety Act or the FTC’s COPPA rules for parents looking for more information. You’ll see the legal minimum that tech companies are required to do for your kids.

As a parent and the person who started a digital marketplace, I look at online safety as both a tech thing and a personal worry. A legal tip I always use is to fix the default privacy settings on any app or platform my kids use. Many apps start with settings that are public, so taking the time to limit who can see what can really change what’s shared.

I often tell other parents to check out Common Sense Media. It’s a resource you can trust to keep up with privacy changes, app reviews, and the best ways to stay safe online. It’s also easy to read.

I’m happy to share more from my experience as a techie parent if that would help.