A recent report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) highlights widespread surveillance practices by major social media and video-streaming companies, revealing how these platforms collect and monetize vast amounts of personal data, often without adequate protection—particularly for children and teens.
The report, based on orders issued to nine major companies in December 2020, including Amazon (Twitch), Meta (Facebook), YouTube, X Corp (formerly Twitter), Snap, TikTok (ByteDance), Discord, Reddit, and WhatsApp, uncovers how these platforms track and use personal information. The companies collect data ranging from browsing behavior to demographic details, and even use this information in algorithms to target people with personalized ads and content.
“The report lays out how social media and video streaming companies harvest an enormous amount of Americans’ personal data and monetize it to the tune of billions of dollars a year,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said. “While lucrative for the companies, these surveillance practices can endanger people’s privacy, threaten their freedoms, and expose them to a host of harms, from identity theft to stalking. Several firms’ failure to adequately protect kids and teens online is especially troubling.”
Here are some key findings from the report:
Research cited in the report shows that exposure to social media and digital technology can negatively impact the mental health of children and teens. While companies claim to exclude children under the age of 13, the reality is that individuals in this age group are not given adequate protections and are subject to the same aggressive data collection practices as adults.
The FTC offers several recommendations to both policymakers and companies:
“While profitable for these companies, these surveillance practices put users—especially children and teens—at significant risk,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan. “This report underscores the urgent need for stronger protections.”
Practical Steps to Enhance Privacy for Kids and Teens
While the FTC’s report calls for regulatory changes, parents and kids can take important steps today to protect their online privacy. Here are some tips:
1. Limit information shared on social media
Parents should help their children review privacy settings on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to restrict who can see their content. Kids should also avoid publicly sharing sensitive personal details, such as their location, school name, or birthdate.
Use Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection to find out the internet knows about you and get real-time alerts whenever personal information gets leaked online or end up in a data breach dump on the dark web.
2. Maximize available privacy settings
Encourage kids to use the most restrictive privacy settings available on social media platforms. This includes making profiles private, disabling location tracking, and limiting who can send friend or follow requests. Parents and guardians can review these settings regularly to ensure they haven’t changed.
3. Avoid connecting via third-party apps
Many social media platforms allow third-party apps to connect and access user data. Parents should teach kids to avoid linking unnecessary apps to their accounts and to revoke access to apps they no longer use. This limits the amount of data shared with third parties
5. Educate about phishing scams
It’s important to teach kids and teens to recognize phishing, where scammers try to trick them into revealing personal information. Encourage them to avoid clicking on suspicious links or giving away login details.
6. Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
Where available, activate two-factor authentication for your child’s accounts. This adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification (like a code sent to their phone) to log in.
7. Limit screen time and monitor usage
Parents can use parental control tools to limit screen time and track which apps and sites their children use. Monitoring their digital activity can help identify any potential privacy concerns early on.
With Bitdefender Parental Control, you can manage and protect your children's online activities by blocking inappropriate websites, games, or file-sharing programs and limiting screen time.
Parental controls, alongside other privacy-enhancing features, can be found in our all-in-one plans, Total Security and Family Pack.
Check out plans here.
8. Encourage open conversations about privacy
It’s essential to have open discussions about online privacy with kids and teens. Parents should explain how companies collect data and why it’s important to safeguard personal information. Encourage children to ask questions and be proactive about protecting their privacy.
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Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions. She spends most of her time between her two feline friends and traveling.
View all postsSeptember 06, 2024
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