Online platforms have the capacity to collect nearly every type of data imaginable. The extent to which they do varies by platform. Any information entered, uploaded, or generated through interactions on a digital platform can be collected.
For children under age 13, there are legal restrictions that limit the types of data platforms are allowed to collect without consent. Platforms are known to violate these laws, so it is safer to assume they are collecting all the data they are technically capable of. Many platforms gather a wide range of information, including:
-
- Personally-identifying information (e.g., name, age, school, gender, race, ethnicity, address, photos , email address)
- Geolocation data (estimates of a user’s physical location)
- Digital behavioral data, including clicks, viewing duration, scrolling behavior, and engagement with ads
- Non-digital behavior, such as the type of transportation a person uses, how fast they’re moving while on their phone, or the physical locations they regularly visit
- Information about people nearby, including who is in the same area and the online activities of others in the user’s household or close environment
- Browsing history
- Financial information
- Download history
- Device ID (a unique set of numbers for each device)
It is important to note that even if users do not intentionally provide certain types of information, platforms may still collect and store that data. In addition, personal data collected by one platform can be sold or transferred to an entirely different platform. For example, if you log onto a social media platform, the platform might collect your device ID, what advertisements you watched, and what posts you liked. Then the platform can sell that data to another platform directly, or to a third party called a “data broker” who then sells that data.
It can be difficult to tell which data platforms are collecting and why. While some data is collected to help improve the functioning of the platform, other data is collected to predict user behavior and better target advertisements and content. User and privacy agreements may superficially state what data is collected, but these agreements can be long and confusing.
Websites and platforms need data in order to function, but often they collect more than necessary for the functionality of that particular site.
Parents should talk to their kids about how the internet collects data they may not mean to share, how that data is used by companies, and what steps they can take to protect themselves.
Data Privacy and Children
A visual digest of current research on data privacy and children
Privacy, Please
Tips to Protect Your Family's Online Privacy
Tools for Protecting Data Privacy
From #AskTheExperts webinar "Captive Market: Protecting Children in the New World of Online Advertising
Media Policy: Summary and Recommendations
Summary and Recommendations found in the "Handbook of Children and Screens: Digital Media, Development, and Well-Being from Birth Through Adolescence," Part Two: Research on How Media Influence Relationships, Family, Culture, and Society, Media Policy Section (pages 465-514)
All in the Family: How Parental Controls, Monitoring Apps, and Media Plans Can Support Healthy Digital Media Use
What Data Do Platforms Collect?
Online platforms have the capacity to collect nearly every type of data, but what they collect varies by varies by platform.
Does Social Media Cause Eating Disorders?
What causes an eating disorder? Will all kids who use social media develop one? How can caregivers protect against disordered eating behaviors in children?
Does Teen Phone Use Affect Romantic Relationships?
Do phones and other digital devices prevent teens from having fulfilling romantic relationships? What are the drawbacks of using these devices to communicate with partners? Are there benefits?
When Should I Give My Child a Smartphone?
When is a child ready for their first smartphone? What factors are worth considering in this decision?
Which social media features harm youth mental health?
Which social media features affect kids’ mental health? Why are kids more vulnerable to these features than adults? What changes can social media platforms make to reduce these harms?
Is AI safe for children?
Are generative AI programs like ChatGPT safe for kids? Should AI come with a child-lock or warning label?