Keeping Personal Information Safe

You already know that some things about you are private. In this lesson, you will practice spotting personal information and deciding what is safe to share online and what should stay secret. This helps you make smart, quick choices when you are using a computer, tablet, or game.

Personal information is any detail that tells someone exactly who you are or where to find you. Your full name, home address, phone number, birthday, and school name are all personal information. A password is personal information too, because it protects your accounts.

If a stranger could use a detail to find you or pretend to be you, it is personal information. That is why these details should only be shared with people your family trusts, like a parent or guardian.

Not everything about you is a secret. Some things are fun to share and do not put you at risk. Your favorite color, a drawing you made, or your favorite animal do not tell a stranger who you are or where you live. These are usually safe to share.

Try sorting these two examples. If a new game asks for your home address before you can play, that is personal information, so you should stop and ask a trusted adult. If a game asks you to pick a nickname or a favorite superhero, that is not personal information, so it is usually safe.

Sometimes it is hard to decide if a detail is safe to share. Maybe a pop-up asks for your birthday, or a website asks what city you live in. When you are not sure, always stop and ask a trusted adult before you type anything.

You can also protect yourself by using a nickname instead of your real name in games, and by never typing your password where someone else can see it. These small choices add up to keep your information safe.

Personal Information: Details that tell who you are or where to find you, like your full name, address, phone number, birthday, and school name.

Private: Information that should stay secret and only be shared with people your family trusts.

Safe to Share: Details that do not reveal who you are or where you live, like a favorite color or a nickname.

Password: A secret code that protects your online accounts and should never be shared.

Trusted Adult: A grown-up, like a parent, guardian, or teacher, who helps you make safe choices online.

Make two lists with a family member: one titled Keep Private and one titled Safe to Share. Take turns naming a detail and sorting it into the correct list. Then look at a pretend game sign-up screen together and circle which questions you should skip until a trusted adult helps you answer them.

Related lessons

• Protecting Your Identity Online