75% of Parents Worry Their Kids Aren't Making Safe Choices Online
- Parent the Internet
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
Every day, children tap "accept" on apps, games and websites — usually without realising how much personal information they may be sharing as a result. A single click can reveal far more than a name: it can unveil friendships, interests, moods and even sleep patterns, creating a digital footprint that can last forever — or be exploited by people with harmful intentions.
New research paints a striking picture of just how exposed children already are, and how underprepared many families feel to address it.
75% of parents fear their child can't make safe online privacy choices
24% of primary-age children have shared their real name or address online
71% of parents worry information shared today could affect their child's future
What are children sharing?
The findings reveal the breadth of personal information children are sharing, often unknowingly:
24% have shared their real name or address online — with eight and nine-year-olds most at risk.
22% have shared personal information such as health details with AI tools.
35% of parents believe their child would share personal information in exchange for game tokens or rewards.
Where children's details — such as their name, interests and pictures — are left unprotected, the risks are serious: unwanted contact from strangers, grooming and radicalization.
Why aren't parents talking about it?
Despite widespread anxiety, many parents feel underprepared, and online privacy remains one of the least discussed online safety topics.
Treating privacy as a life skill
The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched the Switched on to privacy campaign to help parents of children aged four to 11 start simple conversations about protecting their personal information online. The campaign urges parents to treat online privacy as an essential life skill — as natural as teaching a child to cross the road.
How to start the conversation with your child:
Ask them what they clicked "accept" on today — and what it might mean.
Explain that sharing a name, photo or school online is like telling a stranger in the street.
Talk about why game rewards or freebies are sometimes used to collect personal data.
Check privacy settings together on apps and games they use regularly.
Reassure them they can always come to you if something feels wrong online.
