Parents are being urged to treat online privacy as a core life skill for children - something as natural as teaching them to cross the road.
Online safety should be a basic life skill for children
The call comes from the Information Commissioner's Office, which has launched a new campaign encouraging families to talk more openly about how youngsters protect their personal information online.
Research carried out by the regulator found that three in four parents are worried their child may not be able to make safe choices when it comes to privacy. Despite this, it remains one of the least discussed aspects of online safety in many households.
According to the ICO’s findings, 21% of parents had never spoken to their children about online privacy, while 38% said they discussed it less than once a month.
Emily Keaney, deputy commissioner at the ICO, said many families have “never been shown how to talk to their children about online privacy”, adding that tackling the issue requires a “whole-society approach”.
The ICO's campaign, "Switched on to Privacy", aims to support parents and carers of children aged 4-11 in starting simple, regular conversations about online privacy at home, building on what children learn in school. This includes understanding what personal data is, why it matters, and how to spot situations where information should not be shared.
The ICO said: "Just like you show your child how to cross the road safely, brush their teeth or lock the door, you also need to help them make safe choices online. Talking about online privacy at home helps children to build smart habits, stay safe and equips them to make well-informed choices for the future."