Your Data, Your Secrets:
What Happens When You Share Everything Online?

Okay, imagine you have a little notebook about yourself. In that notebook you write: your name, how old you are, where you live, which school you go to, your favourite colour, what games you love to play, and what movies make you laugh the hardest.

All of that information? That is your data. Data is just a fancy word for "information about you." It is like a collection of little facts that together make up who you are.

Data is not scary at all — it is just information! But the tricky part is: other people want it. And if you give it away without thinking, some people can use it in ways you don't like.

Here is the best way to understand data: imagine you have a big, colourful bag of candy. Every piece of candy in that bag is one fact about you. Your name is one piece. Your age is another piece. Where you go to school? That's a big gummy bear right there.

Now imagine a stranger comes up to you on the street and says: "Hey kid, can I have a piece of your candy?" What would you do? You would probably say NO, right? You don't know this person! You can't just give your candy to everyone!

Here is the most important thing to understand: once you give away a piece of candy (your data), you cannot take it back. It is gone. The other person has it now. They can use it, share it with their friends, or keep it forever.

Websites and apps do the same thing — but they are sneaky about it. They make it really easy to click "OK" or "I Agree" really quickly, so you don't even notice you are giving something away!

There are three main types of candy-collectors out there on the internet. They are not always evil — some of them are just businesses trying to make money. But it is important to know who they are!

Every time you download a new game, open a website, or sign up for something fun online, a little box pops up that says things like "This app would like access to your location" or "Do you agree to share your information with us?"

Most grown-ups click OK without reading it. Most kids do too. But do you know what happens when you click OK? You are giving that app permission to collect your candy!

Let's follow Emma. She is 8 years old and loves dinosaurs. One day she downloads a free dino game and clicks "OK" to everything. Here is what happens next…

Let's play a quick game! For each piece of information below, decide: is it safe to share online, or should you keep it secret? Press the button and find out if you are right!

Here are the five most important things to remember every time you go online. You can even write these on a little card and stick it next to your computer!

• 🚫 Never share your home address or school name online. Even with people who seem nice! A stranger who knows where you live or go to school could show up there in real life. Keep this information only for people you know and trust in real life.
• 📵 Never share your phone number. Your phone number is like a direct door to you. Only give it to family and close friends who already know you in person.
• 🙋 Always ask a grown-up before clicking "OK" or "I Agree." Those little boxes are important! A parent, teacher, or older sibling can help you understand what you are agreeing to.
• 🙅 Never chat with strangers online, even if they seem friendly. Online, people can pretend to be kids too. If someone you don't know in real life tries to talk to you, tell a grown-up right away!
• 🤳 Never share photos of your face online without asking a parent. Once a photo is online, it can be copied and spread everywhere — even to places you never intended. Always check with a grown-up first.

You are not alone in learning about this! Other kids are talking about online privacy and data safety too. Here is a message especially for you — watch this together with a parent or teacher!