What is oversharing online, and what should kids keep private?
Oversharing online means posting things that help a stranger find you or get into your accounts. Kids should keep their full name, home address, school, phone number, passwords and live location private. Favourite colours, pets and drawings without a name on them are fine to share. Use a made-up game name, and ask a parent when unsure.
▶ Try it
Why it matters
Some things about you are like your backpack: just for you. Others are fine on a noticeboard. Knowing the difference keeps strangers from finding you.
In 5 minutes you'll be able to
- Name, address, school, phone and password stay in the backpack.
- You can show your favourite colour and pictures without your name.
- Not sure? Ask a grown-up.
What you'll practise
Backpack or noticeboard?
Where does it go? In your backpack or on the noticeboard?
- Your full name → Backpack (private)
- Your address → Backpack (private)
- The name of your school → Backpack (private)
- Your phone number → Backpack (private)
- Your password → Backpack (private)
- Your favourite colour → Noticeboard (okay)
- A picture you drew → Noticeboard (okay)
- Your favourite animal → Noticeboard (okay)
Share or not?
What do you do in these situations?
In a game, someone asks: "Where do you live?"
- I tell them my street.
- I don't say, and I tell my parents. (Answer)
A profile wants your game name. What do you pick?
- Mia Taylor 2016
- StarCat 🐱 (Answer)
Your friend asks for your password. What do you do?
- I give it to her. She's my friend.
- I say nicely: "That's just for me." (Answer)
Fix the profile
Mia wrote her game profile. Tap everything that should go back in the backpack.
StarCat
Hi! I'm Mia Taylor and I go to Hillside School. I live on Oak Street. I love drawing cats 🎨
Remember
Name, address, school, phone, password: if it helps someone find you, keep it in the backpack.
If it helps a stranger find you, it stays private.
Key facts
- The UK Children's code came into force on 2 September 2020. It says online services likely to be used by children should start with high privacy settings and with location sharing switched off. · Source: ICO (UK Information Commissioner's Office), Age Appropriate Design Code, 2020
- In the US, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires websites and apps to get a parent's consent before collecting personal information from children under 13. · Source: US Federal Trade Commission, COPPA Rule
- 8.5% of children aged 10 to 15 in England and Wales said they had shared their location publicly online in the past year. · Source: ONS, Bullying and online experiences among children in England and Wales, year ending March 2023 (published 2024)
- A made-up nickname with no real name, age or town in it is one of the simplest ways for a child to stay private in games and apps.
Updated:
Questions people ask
What personal information should kids keep private online?
Their full name, home address, school, phone number, passwords, birthday and live location. Together these can show a stranger who a child is and where to find them.
Is it safe for kids to use their real name in games?
It's safer to use a made-up nickname that doesn't include a real name, age, birth year or town. A name like StarCat gives nothing away.
Should kids share their password with friends?
No. A password stays private, even from best friends, because a friend could log in or pass it on. Kids can share passwords with their parents.
What is safe for kids to share online?
Things that don't help anyone find them: a favourite colour, animal or hobby, and drawings or photos with no name, school uniform or street sign in them.
Related terms