Online Privacy for Teens
Being online is part of daily life, but privacy is still important. Online privacy means deciding who can see your information and how it is used. Many apps ask for your name, birthday, school, and location. Share only what is necessary. If an app requests extra data, skip it or change the setting.
Create strong passwords with at least 12 characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not reuse the same password on different apps. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) so a one-time code is needed to log in. Check your privacy settings: make accounts private, limit who can message you, and hide your location services or geotags. Before posting, try the “Grandma test”: would you show this post to your grandma or a future teacher? If not, don’t post it.
Be careful with public Wi-Fi. Avoid entering passwords or paying online on open networks. Learn to spot phishing—fake messages that ask you to click a link, share a code, or confirm a password. Real companies do not ask for passwords in chats. If someone pressures you to share personal photos or secrets, say no, block the person, and tell a trusted adult. Every few months, clean up: delete old apps, close unused accounts, and review past posts.
10 Questions
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What does online privacy mean?
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Should you share all details or only necessary ones?
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How long should a strong password be?
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Why use 2FA?
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Which app settings should you check?
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What should you do with location services/geotags?
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What is the “Grandma test”?
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Why is public Wi-Fi risky?
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What is phishing?
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Name one “clean up” action.
Short Answers (B1)
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Deciding who sees/uses your information.
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Only necessary ones.
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At least 12 characters.
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It adds a one-time code for extra security.
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Privacy, messaging, and account visibility.
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Hide or turn them off.
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Post only what you’d show to Grandma/teacher.
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Hackers can steal data on open networks.
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Fake messages that try to steal info or passwords.
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Delete old apps/close unused accounts/review posts.