Step by step guides to online privacy
Guides from Internet Matters for setting up parental controls on broadband, devices, apps, and games to help keep children safer online.
Privacy settings
What are privacy settings?
Privacy settings can help you manage what personal information is collected, shared, or visible to others when your child is online.
This includes choosing whether your child’s profile is private or public, who can ask to be their friend or to follow them, and who can send them a message or comment on their posts.
Why are privacy settings useful?
Privacy settings offer your child greater protection by limiting who can view their content and interact with them. This can help prevent bullying, emotional harm, and unwanted contact from strangers.
Can I manage privacy settings?
Most devices, apps and mobile games have privacy settings in their ‘Settings’ or ‘Account’ menu.
It’s a good idea to regularly review privacy settings since companies sometimes update their policies or add new features that may affect your child’s online privacy. It can help to use a memorable date, like a birthday, as a handy reminder that it’s time to check the settings.
How to manage privacy settings
Improve your online privacy
Tips, advice, guides and resources from the UK Safer Internet Centre to help parents and carers keep children safe online.
Where to go next
Location settings
Location data can reveal where your child lives, studies, travels, and spends time.
Advertising settings
Your child’s information is used to shape adverts on social media, video sharing, or gaming apps.
Parental controls
Parental controls can offer you some control over location, privacy and advert settings.