The growing use of social media and artificial intelligence chatbots across generations has made privacy protection a priority. This is especially important for children who are often insensitive to the risks when navigating the vast online world. The onus is therefore on parents and teachers to provide proper guidance.

The guidelines issued by the Privacy Commissioner to safeguard the privacy of youngsters are a timely step. The practical tips suggest parents and teachers take an interest in children’s online activities, including discussing with them the dos and don’ts and using parental controls provided by online platforms to monitor children’s activities. They are also encouraged to try out the platforms themselves so that they can share their experience with children. The guide also calls for the safeguarding of children’s online privacy, including reminding youngsters not to excessively share personal data when using online platforms or interacting with AI tools, while parents and teachers should review and change default privacy settings.

This may sound like common sense. But it underscores the supervisory role of parents and teachers as the digital world reaches users of a younger age. From running their own social media accounts and chatting to AI chatbots to playing online games and attending virtual classes, children are expanding their digital footprints more than ever today. But many may not be aware of the privacy and security risks behind the fun and convenience of such activities. The privacy watchdog has rightly warned that when children share their personal data casually online, it may result in cyberbullying, doxxing or other misuses.

Some countries have resorted to age restrictions for protection. For instance, Australia has banned the use of social media among those under 16 while the European Union is exploring mandatory age verification for major online platforms and other online protective measures. The Hong Kong authorities are not prepared to go down the same route at this stage, but intend to issue updated health guidelines on the use of electronic screens and social media within this year. Such a step should be complemented with strengthened public education on privacy protection for children.