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Privacy Settings to Stop Kids Sharing Personal Info

What settings should I check to stop a child from sharing personal information online?

Start by locking down the settings where kids can post, message, or reveal profile details. The goal is to limit who can contact them, what information appears publicly, and which apps can access location, camera, microphone, and contacts. These checks take only a few minutes but reduce the most common ways personal data gets shared.

1) Device privacy and location settings

On iPhone/iPad and Android, review Location Services and app permissions. Turn off location access for social, chat, and games unless it’s essential, and disable “Precise Location” where available. Also check permissions for Contacts, Photos, Camera, and Microphone—deny by default and allow only as needed.

2) Screen Time / Family Link and content restrictions

Use Apple Screen Time (Content & Privacy Restrictions) or Google Family Link to manage app installs, block explicit content, and prevent changes to privacy settings. Set age-appropriate app limits, require approval for new downloads, and restrict web access to safer options where possible.

3) Social media and gaming account privacy

Set profiles to private, hide the child’s real name, and remove personal details (school, phone number, email, birthday, city). Disable public friend lists and turn off “Discoverable by phone/email” options so strangers can’t find the account. In games, limit voice chat and direct messages to “friends only” or disable them.

4) Messaging and contact controls

Within chat apps, set who can message, add to groups, or see status updates to “contacts only.” Turn on spam filters and block unknown senders when available. Review existing group chats and remove any that include unknown participants.

5) Browser, search, and ad settings

Enable safe search filters and consider using a kid-focused browser or supervised profile. Turn off ad personalization and review any “data sharing” or “public activity” settings on major platforms to reduce tracking and exposure.

For a deeper walkthrough on kids’ online safety settings (including AI-related risks and family rules), see this parent guide to AI safety for kids online.

FAQ

How can I teach my child what counts as personal information?

Use simple categories: “who you are” (full name, school), “where you are” (address, location), and “how to reach you” (phone, email). Practice with examples and make a rule to ask an adult before sharing any of it online.