Digital Privacy

Protect your personal information online

Your personal data is valuable. Companies, advertisers, and criminals all want access to it. In this lesson, you will learn what counts as personal data, how it gets collected, and practical steps to protect your privacy online.

What is Personal Data?

Personal data includes your name, address, phone number, email, birthdate, photos, location, and even your browsing habits. Once shared online, it can be very hard to remove. Understanding what counts as personal data is the first step to protecting it.

Privacy Best Practices

  • Think before you post: Can this info be used against you?
  • Use privacy settings on social media (check them regularly)
  • Avoid posting location in real-time (share after you leave)
  • Be careful with photos that show your home, school, or work
  • Use a VPN when on public Wi-Fi

Privacy Risks

  • Never share your full birthdate publicly (year enables identity theft)
  • Avoid posting photos of documents (IDs, tickets, cards)
  • Be careful with "check-in" features that reveal your location
  • Your photos can contain GPS data (EXIF) showing where you were
  • Scammers can piece together info from multiple posts

Sharing Examples

Safe Post:

Had a great day at the beach!

Risky Post:

Having fun at Sunset Beach, GPS: 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W

Safe Post:

Celebrating my birthday today!

Risky Post:

Happy 12th birthday to me on March 15, 2012!

Your Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint is everything you've ever posted, liked, commented on, or searched for online. It stays forever and can be seen by employers, colleges, and strangers. Managing your footprint is essential for protecting your reputation and privacy.

Managing Your Footprint

  • Google yourself periodically to see what others find
  • Delete old accounts you no longer use
  • Review and delete old social media posts
  • Use different emails for different purposes (work vs personal)
  • Be mindful of what you share in group chats (screenshots happen)

Remember This

  • Nothing is truly private online — assume it can be shared
  • Private messages can be forwarded or screenshotted
  • Deleted posts can still exist in archives or screenshots
  • Online comments can be traced back to you
  • Future employers and colleges often check social media

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as personal data online?
Personal data includes your name, address, phone number, email, birthdate, photos, location data, browsing history, IP address, and even your shopping preferences. Anything that can identify you directly or indirectly is considered personal data. This also includes metadata from photos (EXIF data showing location) and information that can be combined to identify you.
How can I reduce my digital footprint?
Start by Googling yourself to see what's publicly available. Delete or deactivate old accounts you no longer use. Review and delete old social media posts. Use privacy-focused browsers and search engines. Be selective about what you share online. Consider using a VPN on public networks. Regularly review privacy settings on all your accounts.
Should I use my real name on social media?
It depends on your situation. For professional networks like LinkedIn, using your real name is expected and beneficial. For personal social media, consider whether you need your full name visible to everyone. Many platforms allow you to limit who can find you by name. For children and teens, consider using a nickname or first name only.
What information should I never share online?
Never share: your full birthdate (especially with year), home address, phone number publicly, photos of documents (IDs, credit cards, tickets), real-time location, your children's school or schedule, vacation dates (post after you return), and any information that could be used for security questions (mother's maiden name, first pet, etc.).
How do I check if my data has been leaked?
Use services like HaveIBeenPwned.com (free) to check if your email appears in known data breaches. Many password managers now include breach monitoring. Enable breach notifications on important accounts. If your data appears in a breach, immediately change passwords for affected accounts and enable two-factor authentication.

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