Why Privacy for Gen Alpha: Fame, Risks, and 6 Privacy Tips

Imagine this: You're scrolling on your tablet, maybe posting about your day at school or watching your favorite YouTuber. Then, suddenly, an ad pops up. It’s for a new pair of shoes, which you told your friend about yesterday. Creepy, right? That’s just a taste of why privacy matters for Gen Alpha.

Privacy matters for Gen Alpha because there are risks of oversharing, data collection, facial recognition, AI, cyberbullying, and scams. Parents and educators should guide kids in protecting their privacy.

The quote above is a timeless reminder that everyone (regardless of their generation) deserves privacy.

Gen Alpha consists of people born between 2010 and onward. This is the generation of people raised in a fully digital world. They’re the first in line when it comes to smart homes, advanced phones, social media, and more.

The other characteristics of Gen Alpha include:

• Confident online shoppers
• More focused on social issues
• Frequent movie-goers
• Independent consumers (choosing what brands to buy or use, from apps to food)
• A preference for being an influencer rather than pursuing higher education

While Gen Alphas grew up with Roblox and hyper-connectivity, some of them actually value online privacy (even more than older generations).

A study revealed that Gen Alpha has become more aware and conscious of their privacy. For example, most kids will first ask their parents for permission if they post their photo or video online. This behavior is a result of their parents’ privacy practices and guidance.

According to Wunderman Thompson Intelligence, most American parents with kids under 18 years old are “very concerned” about the privacy of the pictures their children post online. Plus, most moms wish there were more built-in security options in their kids’ phones, laptops, and tablets.

So, parental controls are important to safeguard the privacy of Gen Alpha. If there’s no control, young people can develop bad privacy habits such as:

• Oversharing: Since Gen Alpha is almost always online, they’re at risk of oversharing their personal data if unguarded. For example, when they post about their personal problems online, or their pictures with a tagged location.
  
• Underage Social Media Use: While social media platforms have age restrictions, some Gen Alpha can still access these platforms, exposing them to inappropriate content and potential exploitation.

• Risk No. 1: Over-Sharenting: It’s not just Gen Alphas; some of their parents are also oversharing. Whenever they post detailed information or images about their kids, it puts them at risk. Scammers, identity thieves, and hackers will use the children’s information for their schemes.
  
  What’s worse, they can sell the data on the dark web. In 2021, cybercriminals published student data on the dark web. The leaked information includes:
  
  • Medical condition of kids
  • Financial status of the family
  • Social Security numbers
  • Birthdays
    
• Reason No. 2: In-App Data Collection: Many apps kids use can collect their data. Not just their names, but also their location, voice, or usage data. If these app developers get hacked, your data will be compromised. And the thing is, Gen Alphas might not know about these because data collection permissions are often buried in fine print that is too long or complex.
  
• Reason No.3: Facial Recognition and AI: It’s not just apps, the toys and security cameras that Gen Alphas use can collect. For example, security cameras with facial recognition collect and store images of your movement patterns. This is bad because once your biometric data gets leaked, you won’t be able to change it. It’s your unique fingerprint, retinas, and face.
  
• Reason No. 4: Cybercrime and Bullying: Gen Alphas are increasingly joining social media. This exposes them to harsh people online and puts them at risk of cyberbullying and identity theft.
  
• Reason No. 5: Scams: Whenever Gen Alphas go online, scammers can target them. There are fake games, bogus MacBook or PS5 giveaways, and phishing disguised as personality tests (e.g., Which Cartoon Main Character Are You?).

Here are easy and effective privacy tips for Gen Alpha:

• Tip No. 1: Model Good Privacy Behavior: Parents should talk to or teach their kids about privacy early on. Show them that you don’t post everything, or you don’t click sketchy links. They’ll likely follow your example. Plus, engage with your kid. Ask them questions like “Would you give your home address to a stranger?”
  
• Tip No. 2: Use Kid-Safe Platforms and Browsers: It’s ideal for Gen Alphas to use websites or platforms that won’t collect data or put you at risk from cybercriminals. For example, instead of using the regular YouTube app, Gen Alphas can use YouTube Kids—it offers parental controls, limits data tracking, and filters harmful content.
  
• Tip No. 3: Strong Password Habits: Gen Alphas can keep hackers at bay by using strong passwords. Parents should guide their kids in creating secure passwords. It’s also ideal to use a password manager for easier creation and storage of strong passwords.
  
• Tip No. 4: Turn Off Location Sharing: Many apps Gen Alphas use automatically share location. This is bad because stalkers and criminals can hijack your location. So, disable location-sharing in settings unless.
  
• Tip No. 5: Review Photos and Videos: Make sure the content you post won’t reveal too much information. For example, avoid sharing photos that show your school's name and logos, your home address, or daily routines.
  
• Tip No. 6: Opt Out of Data Brokers: Data brokers also collect data on Gen Alpha. They can collect information on parents, including the names and ages of their kids. This is a problem because it can lead to data misuse and data leaks. So, opt out of data brokers. Parents can manually remove their kids’ data or check our Family Plan.

In summary, while Gen Alphas are growing up in a technologically advanced world, their privacy should be protected.

With the awareness and right tools, young people can be equipped to protect their digital lives. As for parents and educators, you should teach kids to navigate the digital world securely.

What makes Generation Alpha special?

Gen Alpha is an age group that’s described as the “best-educated generation.” Plus, they're the wealthiest. They also have an unprecedented immersion in technology. This makes them more hyper-connected and well-adapted.

What’s the major problem that Gen Alpha has?

The biggest problem Gen Alpha has is its dwindling attention span. This is mostly because they’ve grown accustomed to short-form video content. That’s why they’re usually not interested in activities that don’t involve screens, affecting their learning retention.