Many of us teach children not to click suspicious links, share passwords, or talk to strangers online. But there's another digital skill that's just as important: digital consent. Knowing when to ask permission helps protect other people's privacy, build trust, and show respect. It's a skill children can start learning from an early age, but it's never too late to learn it.

Key takeaways:

• Digital consent means asking permission before sharing, posting, recording, or using content that involves someone else online.
• Photos, videos, screenshots, voice messages, locations, and AI-generated images can all require permission before being shared.
• Teaching children about digital consent should begin long before they get their first phone by helping them understand respect, boundaries, and empathy.
• Parents play a key role by modeling respectful online behavior, including asking their own children before sharing photos of them.

What is digital consent?

Digital consent means asking someone's permission before sharing, posting, using, or changing content that involves them online. It could be a photo, a video, a screenshot, a voice message, their location, or even an AI-generated image based on their face.

Digital consent is about respecting other people's privacy, choices, and boundaries online. At its core, it comes down to one simple rule: Having access to something doesn't mean you have permission to use or share it.

When you ask first, you show that you value the other person's feelings and give them control over how their image and personal information are shared. It also helps build trust and stronger relationships.

Related: The impact of sharenting. How the digital identity you create for your child today could affect their future

When should you ask permission online?

If your post involves someone else's image, words, or personal information, it's usually the respectful thing to do.

Here are some common situations:

Before posting someone else's photo. A photo that seems funny or harmless to you may be embarrassing to someone else. Before posting a picture of a friend, classmate, colleague, or family member, ask if they're comfortable with it being shared.

Before sharing a video. Videos often reveal more than photos. They can capture someone's voice, reactions, or a moment they didn't expect to be recorded. Whether it's from a birthday party, school event, or family gathering, ask before posting.

Before sharing screenshots of private conversations. Private messages are meant for the people in the conversation. Even if you hide someone's name, they may still be identifiable from the context. Unless everyone involved agrees, keep private conversations private.

Before tagging someone on social media. Not everyone wants to be connected to every photo, event, or location online. Tagging someone can make a post visible to a much wider audience, so it's good practice to ask first.

Before sharing someone's location. Avoid checking someone in or posting their location without their knowledge. This can affect their privacy and, in some situations, even their safety.

Before using someone's image with AI. Just because an AI tool lets you create an avatar, meme, or edited image doesn't mean you have permission to use someone else's face. Always ask before uploading another person's photo to an AI app or using it to create new content.

Before sharing someone else's personal information. Phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, birthdays, school names, and other personal details should never be shared without the person's permission.

Related: How to deal with a family member who overshares on social media (without starting a fight)

Digital consent at every age

Digital consent is a skill we continue to develop throughout life. While the situations change as we get older, the basic principle stays the same: if it involves someone else, ask first.

Related: Is your child addicted to screens? What parents should watch for, according to a therapist

When is it okay to share without asking for permission?

There isn't a simple yes-or-no answer. Whether you should ask permission depends on the situation, how the content will be shared, and what the other person would reasonably expect.

For example, people generally expect to appear in photos at conferences, company events, sports competitions, school plays, graduation ceremonies, concerts, festivals, or other public events where photography is common. Event organizers may also let attendees know in advance that photos or videos will be taken.

Even then, think beyond whether you can post it. Could the photo embarrass someone or reveal something they'd rather keep private? Would you be comfortable if someone shared a similar photo of you?

Related: Should family members track each other's location?

How to teach children about digital consent

Teaching consent can start long before children get their first phone through everyday interactions at home. For example, children learn that they don't have to hug someone if they don't want to. They also learn to accept when another child doesn't want to share a toy or play a particular game. These everyday situations help them understand that everyone has personal boundaries that deserve to be respected. Once children get their first phone, the same principle applies online.

When should you teach children about digital consent?

"By the age of 8 to 10, children are usually cognitively developed enough to understand concepts such as privacy, other people's perspectives, rules, cause and effect, and how their actions can affect others," says psychologist and cognitive behavioral psychotherapist Anca Ivu.

This makes it a great time to introduce digital consent through simple, everyday examples. Explain that before sending a friend's photo to someone else, they should ask if their friend is comfortable with it, just as they would like someone to ask before sharing their own photo.

How to teach children to ask before sharing online

Children learn far more from watching their parents and caregivers than from what they're told.

"If parents tell children to respect other people's privacy but regularly post photos of them without asking, the message becomes confusing," says psychologist and cognitive behavioral psychotherapist Anca Ivu. "Children may start to believe that other people get to decide what happens to their image."

According to Anca, these everyday moments shape a child's sense of autonomy, the feeling that they have a say over their own body, image, and personal space. When parents ask for permission before sharing a photo, children learn that their opinion matters and that everyone deserves the same respect. Over time, this helps children build confidence, develop healthy boundaries, and understand what consent looks like in everyday life.

Before posting a photo of your child, try asking:

"Would you be okay if I shared this?"

It may seem like a small gesture, but it sends a powerful message: "Your voice matters. What you want matters."

 Over time, they'll be more likely to show the same respect to others.

Help children understand online boundaries

"It's just a joke.", "It's funny.", "I didn't mean anything by it." Children often focus on what they intended rather than how their actions made someone else feel. That's why it's important to shift the conversation from intent to impact.

According to the therapist, parents can help children develop empathy by encouraging them to see the situation from another person's perspective.

Instead of asking, "Why did you do that?", try asking:

• How do you think your friend felt when they saw the photo?
• How would you feel if someone shared that picture of you?
• Do you think your friend would have agreed to you posting it?

Questions like these help children understand good intentions don't always prevent someone from getting hurt. They also encourage children to consider another person's feelings before they post, share, or comment online.

“No means “no”

One of the most important lessons children can learn is to respect someone else's "no."

If a friend doesn't want to be photographed, tagged, or featured in a video, that decision should be accepted without arguing, negotiating, or trying to change their mind.

 Anca Ivu says that children begin learning this skill long before they go online. "Every time a child hears 'no' from a parent, they have an opportunity to learn that difficult emotions like disappointment or frustration can be tolerated, while other people's boundaries still deserve to be respected," she explains.

Later, the same lesson applies online: you must respect another person's boundaries, even when you don't like their answer.

What to do if your child posts a photo without permission

Sooner or later, most children will post or share something they shouldn't. When that happens, try not to react with anger or criticism.

Anca Ivu says that the first step is to create a calm space where children feel comfortable explaining what happened and what they were trying to do. If they feel ashamed or attacked, they're more likely to become defensive, minimize what happened, or hide similar mistakes in the future.

Once they've had a chance to explain, shift the conversation from intention to consequences. Help them think about how the other person may have felt and what they can do to make things right.

Repair is one of the most valuable lessons children can learn. Depending on the situation, that might mean:

• deleting the photo, video, or screenshot;
• asking others not to share it any further;
• taking responsibility for what happened; and
• offering a sincere apology to the person affected.

Learning how to repair a mistake is just as important as learning how to avoid one.

AI and digital consent

For many children, creating AI memes or edited photos may feel like harmless fun. That's why it's important to talk about consent before they start experimenting with these tools.

 Encourage them to pause and ask themselves a few simple questions before uploading someone else's photo or voice:

• Did this person agree to this?
• How would they feel if they saw how I used their image?
• How would I feel if someone did the same thing with my photo?

Questions like these help children see the situation from another person's perspective and build digital maturity.

Related: Watching deepfakes for fun? Risks for families and how to stay safe

Help your family build healthy digital habits

Bitdefender Family Plans help parents create a safer digital environment for the whole family. Along with award-winning security, they include Bitdefender Parental Control, which lets you manage internet time, filter inappropriate content, and better understand your child's online activity.

These tools won't teach children empathy or respect for other people's boundaries, that's something parents do best. But they can support the healthy digital habits you're already building at home while helping protect your family from online threats such as phishing attacks, scams, malicious websites, malware, identity theft, and other digital risks.

You can explore how a family protection plan works,  here.

FAQs

What is digital consent?

Digital consent means asking someone's permission before sharing, posting, recording, or using content that involves them online. This includes photos, videos, screenshots, voice messages, locations, and AI-generated content based on their image or voice.

When should you ask permission before posting someone else's photo?

As a general rule, ask before posting a photo where someone is clearly identifiable. Even if a photo was taken at a public event, it's worth considering whether the person would be comfortable having it shared online.

Is it okay to share screenshots of private conversations?

Not without permission. Even if you hide someone's name, screenshots can reveal personal information or private discussions that weren't meant to be shared.

Is it okay to use someone else's photo with AI?

No, not without their permission. Creating AI-generated images, memes, videos, or voice clones using someone else's photo or voice can violate their privacy and trust, even if your intentions are harmless.

At what age should parents teach children about digital consent?

Children can begin learning about consent long before they get their first phone. Simple everyday situations—such as asking before taking a photo or respecting when someone says "no"—help build the skills they'll need online later.

How can parents teach digital consent?

The best way is by setting an example. Ask your child before posting their photo, talk about respecting other people's boundaries, and encourage them to ask permission before sharing photos, videos, screenshots, or AI-generated content involving someone else.

Why is digital consent important?

Digital consent helps protect people's privacy, build trust, and encourage empathy. It also reminds us that everyone should have a say in how their image, personal information, and online content are shared.

Can I post a picture of someone without their permission?

It depends on the situation and your local laws, but asking first is usually the respectful choice. Even when permission isn't legally required, asking helps protect privacy, build trust, and avoid misunderstandings.