A Parent's Guide to Privacy Settings

Thinkuknow

Children love to socialise and share online. In this article we look at privacy settings and how they can help your child to manage the content they share and who they connect with.

The internet can be a great way for adults and children to connect with friends, family and new people. An increasing amount of children and young people are using social media, gaming and live streaming apps to chat and share content with others. But connecting and sharing with people online can come with risks too.

Once shared, personal information like their name, address, photos, or bank details online, could be used by others. For example, it could lead to the child being bullied, groomed or blackmailed. It might also be used by cyber criminals.

Privacy settings can help you and your child to manage how much and what kind of information is shared, whilst enjoying their favourite sites, games and apps.

What are privacy settings?

Privacy settings are controls available on many websites and apps to limit who can access your profile and what information visitors can see.

When online profiles are created, it’s often assumed that they will be private by default. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case – many are public until the settings are changed.

How should I use privacy settings?

These tips to help your child explore the internet safely. If you have an older child who creates their own accounts, use this information to talk to them about how they can use privacy settings.

1. Check the audience.

Before your child shares content online, check who will be able to see what they post. You’ll want to make sure that personal information can only be seen by small groups of friends who they know and trust.

Most apps allow you to change who can see your posts, who can contact you and who can look you up. You can even control who can see different parts of the content you share. For example, apps like Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook allow you to share ‘stories’ with smaller audiences, rather than your entire friends list.

2. Switch off location sharing.

It’s become increasingly common for apps to allow users to share their location. Many social media and live streaming platforms make it easy for you to broadcast what you’re up to and where you are.

Some apps like Facebook and Instagram allow you to tag your photos with the place they were taken. These tags can list the exact address of your location, not just the city or general area they were taken in.

Other apps track users’ locations and update them automatically. For example, Snapchat’s ‘Snap Map’ location sharing feature can update your location whenever you have the app open. Its default setting is ‘Ghost Mode’ which prevents friends from seeing your location. However, some young people turn it on to let their friends see their whereabouts.

Remind your child that sharing their location online is risky. It could put them at risk of unwanted contact from strangers. Find out how to turn your child’s location sharing services off, or make sure that they’re only sharing it with people they know and trust.

3. Check the tagging settings.

It can be difficult to control information that others post about you online. Unless the content is abusive and violates community guidelines, it won’t be taken down by the platform. However, privacy settings can be used prevent private photos or information about your child from appearing on their profile.

Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have settings which allow you to review photos and information you’re tagged in before it’s posted to your profile.

4. Review all privacy settings regularly.

Many websites and apps periodically make changes to the privacy and security settings that they offer. Frequently review your child’s privacy settings to ensure they’re unlikely to encounter the risks associated with sharing personal information widely.

Some sites or apps like Facebook allow you to view how your profile looks to the public (people you’re not friends with). Use this tool to check that you and your child are happy with the information they share to people they don’t know.

Adults should regularly review their privacy settings too. If you are posting pictures of your child, you may wish to think about how this could affect their online footprint for years to come. Even when privacy settings are put in place, it is important to remember that information posted online is never completely private. Further information on talking to your child about sharing personal information online can be found in our personal information article

Useful resources

This document explains entitlement to parental leave. To view the document, click the...
This document explains how statutory annual leave entitlement is to apply when a teacher...
This scheme applies to all eligible teachers to provide leave to care for their child or...
This scheme applies to teachers who adopt a child from within the UK or overseas (subject...
This scheme applies to all teachers to provide leave to care for their child or support...
We’ve gathered useful advice, information and help for young people aged 8-25 and those...
Seeking Solutions offers children and young people help and support to deal with problems...
One At A Time Therapy is a single session of relationship counselling support, which can...
Get help finding missing relatives abroad through our international family tracing...
Relate Kids can help primary school-aged children, usually up to age 11, to deal with...
Parenting NI can deliver a range of 12 needs-led Employee Wellbeing Seminars to parent...
This is delivered to expectant mothers and parents of babies under 3 years of age. It has...
The Dads Project supports dads in Northern Ireland who are separating, separated or...
The Engage service provides a family therapy programme available to professionals working...
Relationship support can be helpful for Individuals who have concerns or difficulties...
This programme provides parents with a greater awareness of mental health issues and...
The Parenting Children’s Challenging Behaviour programme will: Help parents understand...
Steps to Cope has been developed specifically for young people who have experienced...
55% of Young People in NI are looking to Social Media for the information they need to...
The Family Wellness Project is an early intervention mental health project for children...
Even the most loving relationships will experience stress from time to time. But by...
The Parenting Apart Programme is aimed at parents who have separated, are separating,...
Speakeasy is a Public Health Agency funded, community based teaching programme for...
This 50 minute session is an accessible way for couples to check in with each other, and...
Positive Minds for Premature Parents supports families of premature babies to develop and...
Relate Teen can help post-primary school-aged children, usually aged 11 and over, to deal...
Fun, fast food for less. This is a practical six-week nutrition programme aimed at...
Looking after a crying baby is hard but for some families it can lead to stress,...
Our Mood Matters Young People programme is aimed at 14-18 year olds and gives them...
Families Together is a partnership project between Parenting NI and New Life Counselling...
The British Red Cross home care services will provide you with the support and care to...
Family relationship support can be helpful for supporting relationships within the family...
This programme aims to provide parents with the skills to achieve a calmer and violent...
Anger is a normal emotion, which most parents experience on a regular basis. It is often...
The Engage service provides a family therapy programme available to professionals working...
Relationship support can be helpful for couples who have concerns or difficulties arising...
In Ctrl is a group work programme for children and young people that aims to help them...
Relationship counselling is an effective form of relationship maintenance, particularly...
The teenage years can be notoriously challenging but this programme can help you navigate...
Just Ask is a unique Relationships and Sexuality Education programme working specifically...
The Sustaining Healthy Relationships project is a new and innovative venture for Relate...
The Mums Wellness Project is an early-stage intervention project for expectant mums aged...
Are you experiencing changes in your relationship because of a brain tumour? If you, your...
Baby and child first aid
Our free Easy Meals app is a great way to eat foods that are healthier for you. You’ll...
Nutrition scanner
Music timer for brushing teeth
Parenting support at your fingertips! The Parenting NI app offers tips on topics such as...
First aid advice
Support hub for mothers
Pregnancy and guidance for after birth

Helplines & Web Chats

NSPCC - Helpline
Parenting NI Free support line
Family Lives - Forum
ParentLine NI
ParentLine NI
Family Lives Forum