6 Privacy Tips I Wish My Family Knew About

Trust me, I love a good family meet-up. However, when it comes to privacy, I sometimes wish my family knew better and would stop oversharing.

The 6 privacy tips I wish my family knew about are:

1. Using Password Managers
2. Reducing Social Media Exposure
3. Keeping Software Updated
4. Using a VPN for Public Wi-Fi
5. Checking App Permissions
6. Researching Apps and Companies

Did You Know? Most people reuse their passwords for all of their accounts. If you or someone you know uses “QWERTY” across multiple accounts, don’t be surprised if there's an incident of hacking.

That’s just like using one key for your house, car, and secret diary.

So, what really is privacy and security?

• PRIVACY is defined as the state of being free from unwanted observation. To add, it’s your right to control who can see your information. You can think of it as choosing what you want to and not to share at Thanksgiving dinner.
  
• Security, on the other hand, is how you protect your privacy. It’s what you do to protect your information from being stolen or misused. For example, locking your bedroom door—that’s security.

So, why is privacy so important?

Generally, privacy is important because it’s about protecting your safety, freedom, and information. It’s not because you’ve got something to hide… Because without privacy, you’re at risk of:

• Discrimination
• Identity theft
• Scams
• Manipulation
• Unnecessary Surveillance
• Data Breaches
• Reputation Damage

The importance of privacy can be different for everyone.

For Sons/Daughters: Privacy matters for younger folks, because without it, they're vulnerable to data collection, and being scammed or hacked. For example, when a teen shares a photo of themselves at school without adjusting privacy settings, it puts them at risk of being targeted by stalkers.

For Moms/Dads: Parents are the ones who handle everything—from the budget, groceries, and bills to the family Netflix account. Privacy is important for moms and dads because if you get scammed or your data gets compromised, the whole household will be affected.

For example, when a parent posts a photo of their kids online, it puts the kids at risk. Bad people could download the images to sell on the dark web or misuse them for impersonation, tracking, and photo manipulation.

For Grandparents: Our elderly are probably the kindest, caring, and trusting people we know. But sadly, that makes them vulnerable to scams. For example, your grandma might receive an email that looks like from Medicare, asking for personal information and payment for a new health card. That’s why privacy is important for grandparents.

As a privacy-focused person, there are privacy tips I wish my family had known earlier. I’m sharing them with you so you can protect your family too.

First of all, use password managers. These are tools that will help you create and safely store strong passwords—ones that hackers won’t easily guess.

I use Bitwarden, and it’s been a lot of help—a total game changer. I recommend you try it.

Essentially, using a password manager means:

• No more passwords written on sticky notes.
• No more worries about forgetting your passwords.
• No more weak passwords like “123456.”

I get it, social media is now part of our lives. Kids, parents, and grandparents use social media for communication, entertainment, and education.

But social media is one of the biggest threats to our privacy. One reason is oversharing. Many people don’t realize that whenever they post on social media, they’re sharing information that bad people can use.

In fact, over 80% of social media users post their personal information on social media every week, with 42% of people sharing information every day.

So, if it’s hard to quit, you should at least try reducing your social media exposure. Don’t broadcast every detail about your life (e.g., your birth year, when you’re on vacation, and your full address).

Also, make your profiles private. That way, only your real family and friends can see your posts and information.

Updating your software won’t just give you new features like a new set of emojis. It also fixes security holes that hackers can use.

Plus, updates sometimes bring privacy protections and compatibility. For example, a browser update might start blocking more trackers and cookies compared to the old version.

Another important privacy tip is using a VPN whenever you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi. This is because the free Wi-Fi at the mall, coffee shop, or any public space is easier for hackers to access.

Using a VPN will encrypt the internet connection, which makes it safe from anyone trying to spy on your online activity.

How to Use a VPN:

• Choose a trusted VPN (e.g., NordVPN).
• Install the VPN app.
• Connect to the public Wi-Fi.
• Launch the VPN.
• Click “Connect” to start the VPN.
• Choose a server location.
• Keep the VPN running.

It’s important to always check app permissions because most of them are unnecessary and pose risks to your privacy.

Think about it, does your weather app need to access your microphone? What for?

So, regularly check your permissions. Look for:

• Location (not every app should know where you are).
• Contacts (see if apps are collecting information on your personal networks).
• Camera/Mic (don’t let an app spy on you without you knowing)

Researching before downloading an app is an essential privacy tip. That’s because it helps you avoid greedy companies or malicious apps.

In 2025, Apple App Store and Google Play removed at least 20 malicious apps that were stealing user data. These apps were downloaded over 240,000 times.

Overall, privacy is important. It’s about protecting what’s yours and your loved ones.

So next time a family member starts oversharing or using a weak password, just remind them that the family deserves a little security.

Why should parents give their children privacy?

Privacy is important for kids because it gives them the freedom of autonomy. Plus, privacy is a basic human right of dignity. Essentially, without it, kids can’t exercise healthy boundaries. That can lead to codependency, people-pleasing, and insecurity.

How can kids convince their parents to give them some privacy?

You can ask your parents to respect your privacy by talking to them, asking them if they’ve been in your room, requesting respect for your private space, and designing a “knock before entering” sign