One click too many? 75% of parents fear their kids aren't making safe choices online

“Barnardo’s Northern Ireland welcomes the launch of the ICO’s Switched on to privacy campaign.  

“Making sure children are safe online is a shared responsibility for us all. It’s never been more important for children to have safe spaces, open conversations and trusted adults they can turn to when something online makes them feel uncomfortable.  

“It’s also vital that families are having conversations with children and young people about things like privacy settings, location sharing, age settings and the other ways we share personal information online. Responsibility cannot rest on families alone, so we’re calling for robust measures from government and tech companies to make sure children are protected from harm online.  

“By working together, families, decision-makers and tech companies can create an online world where children are empowered, protected and free to explore safely.” 

“We support the ICO’s ‘Switched on to privacy’ campaign because online safety is increasingly important for young people and their parents.   

“Our recent youth engagement work with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s ‘Aye Mind’ initiative explored how the online environment affects young people’s mental health and wellbeing. We engaged with nearly 300 children and young people through surveys and focus groups. A key finding was that support often starts at home. Two-thirds (67%) of young people said they would turn to parents, carers or friends if upset by something online. They also told us they want parents to feel more confident in having supportive conversations, without fear of judgement, to help them stay safe online.” 

“The online world offers children the opportunity to learn, play, and connect with friends – but over the last five years as Children’s Commissioner I have heard from tens of thousands of children about the negative aspects of a childhood online, including how to protect their privacy and stay safe. 

“We all have a role to play in protecting children from these dangers, many of which we as adults are also still learning to navigate. Too often we are playing catch up, this is why it is important that parents feel confident having early, everyday conversations with children about the risks of being online and how to respond if something makes them uncomfortable. But we cannot let tech companies off the hook. They must be held accountable for putting profits before protections and must be required to design services that prioritise children’s safety and privacy by design, rather than treating children’s safety as an optional tick box exercise, after harm has already occurred.” 

"Children's privacy matters, and so does making sure parents and carers feel equipped to protect it. The ICO's Chat, Choose, Check framework offers a straightforward starting point for families in Wales to open up those important conversations — helping children understand their rights and take greater control of their personal information online. We're proud to support the ICO’s Switched on to privacy campaign and encourage every family to take those first steps together." 

“Online privacy is a vital part of keeping children safe in a digital world, and so is empowering parents and carers with the tools, knowledge and resources they need to support their families.  

“Parents are children’s main source of information about online safety and who they turn to when something goes wrong. This is why the ICO’s Switched on to Privacy campaign is so important, in encouraging parents and carers to have regular conversations with their children to help them make informed choices about managing their personal information and privacy online. 

“Open conversations build trust and give children the confidence and tools needed to navigate digital spaces safely. Alongside regular check-ins we also encourage parents to review their child’s privacy settings and make use of parental controls across the devices, apps and platforms their children use.” 

“Conversations on Mumsnet show that parents know their children are growing up in a world where sharing information online is second nature. What they’re less sure about is how to help them understand privacy. 

"Many parents are already talking to their children about harmful content or screen time, but privacy often gets overlooked. As concerns grow about how children’s data is used online, families are looking for clear, practical guidance to help them start those conversations with confidence.” 

“We know just how tough it can be to keep children safe in an online world that moves fast and where content spreads even faster.  

“It’s worrying to hear that so many parents are concerned that their children don’t know how to keep their personal information safe online yet still feel unsure about how to approach those conversations. That’s why we welcome the ICO’s push for clear, practical guidance that cuts through the noise. 

“You don’t need to be a tech expert to protect your child’s privacy. The ICO’s Chat, Choose, Check framework gives every parent and carer a simple, empowering way to start those vital conversations and help children stay in control of their own data.” 

“I welcome the launch of the ICO’s Switch on to Privacy campaign. It provides an important and accessible resource for parents, carers, and education providers to talk to their children about online behaviour and learn to support them in making safe, informed choices throughout their lives.  

“Children have a right to privacy and safety online, just as they do offline. This campaign is a helpful and timely way of supporting children to understand what happens to their personal information and how to protect it. It reflects our position that children’s best interests must come first in the digital world. Giving children clear, age appropriate information, alongside strong rules and accountability for organisations, is essential if technology is to work in children’s interests rather than put them at risk.  

“I am grateful that the ICO has developed a resource that supports families and educators to create safe online environments for children, without losing the fun, creativity, and social experience that digital content can offer. Most importantly, toolkits encourage open and honest conversations about what is appropriate to share and what should be private.” 

“We know it can be challenging for parents and carers to navigate an increasingly complex digital space with their children, and it’s entirely understandable to feel overwhelmed at times. That is why this campaign from the Information Commissioner’s Office is so important - it provides clear, practical guidance on online privacy and supports the regular conversations that help children understand how their personal information is collected, shared and protected.

“At the Safeguarding Board, we remain firmly committed to working closely with partners across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors to ensure children feel safe, supported and protected online.” 

“This campaign is devised to spark family conversations about what we share online and the choices we have.   

“Parents don’t just need settings or safety modes. They need regular conversations - that’s why talking about online privacy with your kids is so important.”  

“Online privacy doesn’t have to mean a big, serious conversation. You don’t need to sit your child down with a list of rules. It can be as simple as ‘Hey, did you know…?’ or ‘Who are you chatting with?’ Start small, keep it light, and you’d be surprised how much that opens up.”

1. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent data protection regulator. Under UK law, children's personal information must be given special protection. The ICO's Children's code sets out design standards for online services likely to be accessed by under-18s, requiring organisations to put children's best interests first and give them a high level of privacy by default. 
2. Data is based on a survey of 1,000 UK parents with children aged 4-11 years, February 2026. 
3. The ICO has already driven changes that have the potential to improve online privacy for up to 11.7 million children. Where companies fall short, the ICO acts — fines against Reddit, MediaLab and TikTok have made clear that children's privacy is non-negotiable. 
4. Online privacy is about people having the ability to control and choose what personal information is collected, used, and shared when online. This includes their name, age, and where they live but also less obvious information like their browsing history, purchases, photos, voice notes and social media or gaming activity. Even when parents manage what their child sees online, children still need to develop their own skills to make smart privacy choices as they grow up. 
5. The ICO has specific responsibilities set out in the DPA 2018 and the UK GDPR, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) and a further five acts and regulations.  
6. The ICO can take action to address and change the behaviour of organisations and individuals that collect, use and keep personal information. This includes criminal prosecution, non-criminal enforcement and audit.
7. To report a concern to the ICO telephone our helpline 0303 123 1113 or go to ico.org.uk/concerns.