Your child’s first data breach may happen before they’ve even opened a bank account. Here’s how to keep their digital life safe.

When we talk about children’s online safety, we often focus on inappropriate content — but we overlook a major issue: kids face many of the same identity, privacy and data‑security risks as adults, and in some cases they’re even more vulnerable.

Why criminals want children’s data

Children often have multiple digital accounts from a young age — school logins, gaming profiles, cloud photos, health records and apps. This data is valuable because it has a long “shelf life.” If a scammer uses a child’s identity to open credit, it may go unnoticed for years, and the clean credit history makes fraud easier. Criminals can also combine stolen data with fabricated details to create synthetic identities, a process made even easier with AI tools.

Child identity theft is rising sharply — the FTC reports a 40% increase between 2021 and 2024.

How things go wrong

Kids may be digitally confident but not security‑aware. They’re more likely to fall for phishing messages, click suspicious links, download malware or share passwords with friends. Parents can also unintentionally expose children by oversharing online — nearly half do so regularly, according to University of Southampton research. One‑in‑six children have already experienced some form of digital harm.

Children’s data is also at risk if companies holding it — schools, edtech vendors, gaming platforms, social media firms or smart‑toy makers — suffer breaches.

Gaming accounts are especially attractive targets because they may contain:

  • Stored payment details
  • Social graphs for further phishing
  • Valuable skins/items
  • Private chats with exploitable information

Signs your child’s data may be compromised

Watch for:

  • Passwords suddenly not working
  • Missing gaming items, skins or coins
  • Unexpected login or account‑change notifications
  • Unauthorised purchases
  • Friends reporting strange messages from your child’s account
  • Denied benefits, loans or bank accounts
  • Government notices about unpaid taxes
  • Calls or letters about debts in your child’s name

It’s a shared responsibility

Protecting a child’s identity is a shared responsibility between parents, schools, app developers and device makers. No single party controls the whole data lifecycle, so parents should focus on limiting data exposure, securing accounts, and teaching good habits.

Start by minimising data sharing. Before creating new accounts, granting app permissions or posting about your child online, consider whether it’s truly necessary. The less personal data collected, the lower the risk.

For the accounts your child does use, lock down the settings:

  • Use long, unique passwords stored in a family password manager.
  • Enable MFA to reduce phishing risks.
  • Review privacy settings on apps and social platforms.
  • Turn off or restrict location tracking.
  • Require approval for in‑app purchases.
  • Keep devices and apps updated.
  • Use parental controls to limit data sharing and monitor activity.

Talk openly with your child about identity protection, why it matters, and how scams work. Teach them good password habits and how to recognise suspicious behaviour online. Make sure they feel comfortable coming to you with concerns.

Keeping your child’s identity safe isn’t about limiting their digital world — it’s about giving them the confidence and tools to navigate it securely.

(Excerpt from ESET WeliveSecurity)