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What personal information should a child never share in a game, app, or class video call?
Many games, apps, and video platforms were designed for social interaction, which can make it tempting for children to share personal details. Some information increases the risk of misuse, unwanted contact, or unwanted tracking. Below is a calm, practical guide to the kinds of details children should avoid sharing, how to teach these limits in age-appropriate ways, and a realistic family routine to prepare and review online interactions.
1. Personal details that are risky to share
Certain categories of information can identify a child or their location, or make it easier for someone to contact them outside the platform. Encourage children not to share: full name combined with date of birth; home address; school name and class details; phone numbers and home email addresses; and financial details, including payment card numbers.
Other details may seem harmless but can become identifying when combined: the name of their street, a distinct after-school routine, or even photos showing house numbers, license plates, or distinctive neighborhood landmarks. Teach children to think about combinations of facts, not just single items.
2. What is acceptable to share, and how to limit it
Some information is required for basic participation but can be shared in a safer way. For instance, many platforms ask for a username; encourage children to choose one that does not include their full name or birth year. If an app requires an age, use the minimum information necessary and follow platform age guidelines and school policies.
Teach children to use privacy-respecting choices where possible: set profiles to private, limit friend lists to people they know in real life, and avoid posting images that show identifying details. For video calls, encourage neutral backgrounds or blurring features when available, and ask children to avoid showing school uniforms or items with names on them.
3. Age-flexible, low-cost family steps to reduce oversharing
Young children: Role-play common scenarios. Practice saying a short, rehearsed phrase such as: I do not share that. Teach children to ask an adult if they are unsure. Use device settings to disable features that prompt sharing, like public profiles or location services, where possible.
Older children: Create a short checklist to run through before accepting a friend request or joining a new game: do I know this person in real life; will my profile show private details; could this conversation move off-platform? Encourage them to use privacy settings to restrict who can message or join games.
All ages: Keep conversations focused on rules and reasons rather than lecturing. Regularly review the kinds of details that were shared in recent online activity and use that as a non-judgmental learning moment.