It’s impossible to have an online presence without creating and sharing data.

Whether it's scrolling through a social media feed or browsing the latest online sales, if you don’t understand what data you are sharing, you can't make informed decisions about what you're happy with and what you prefer to keep to yourself. 

Data is all the stuff you share online. Personal data includes your name, address, email, date of birth, and so on. Data also includes details in images and information about the things you 'like' or watch. It is the trail of cookies you leave behind. But not the chocolate chip variety.

Cookies are the small pieces of information, shared between the websites you visit and your internet browser. They carry data, such as how you interacted with the site when you last visited. This is why items are still in your shopping cart when you go back a few days later.

Have you ever wondered how TikTok or Instagram may know what you want to watch next? That’s the combination of your data trail and the website's algorithm ‘curating’ a feed designed to keep you engaged.

Understanding data – and what information is being collected about you – is crucial to being able to control it.

#1 – Check your cookies

We’re all guilty of 'accepting' cookies when they pop up on a site, without stopping to think. After all, it gets in the way of what we're there to try and do.

And this is fine – given cookies are designed to improve your experience of using the site. But if you do accept, you're basically also agreeing that you’re happy for that website to share information about what you look at with third parties (for example, another business without any direct link to what you think you are doing), and to track which pages you visit on their site as well as what you click on. But if you just accept all cookies, you're letting the site decide for you.

One habit you can start to try is to not accept all cookies when you’re asked. Check the cookies and reject what you’re not happy to share, whenever you’re browsing.

#2 – Ask “Why?”

Have you ever been asked for your email address in a shop so they can send you a digital receipt? You can say “no” to this if you want.

Shops want your email address so they can add you to their mailing lists and send you marketing materials. You might be fine with that, but it's good to remember you have the choice.

Try it out: the next time you’re waiting to pay for something in a shop, be ready to ask “why?” when the assistant asks for your email address. And if you’re in any doubt, you can always say no.

#3 – Check privacy settings

This last one will probably take about 5 minutes, so it’s a good one to do while having a cuppa.

Check the privacy settings on your regular accounts – like Facebook, TikTok or Vinted – so you are happy with who can see what from your account.

It’s easy to forget or not find time, but checking the privacy settings of one account per day will have you in control of your data within weeks.

Everyday Digital from Parent Zone builds simple but effective habits that make you feel more confident and in control of whatever your family does online.

Be streetwise - to better understand the content and the places you go online.

Read between the lines – how to avoid mis- and disinformation.

Back in the real world – being aware of the consequences in the real world.

Live your best life – making the internet a more positive place.  
 

If you want advice on specific platforms or other topics covered in this article, visit the Parent Zone Library.

This article was last updated on 02.10.23.