Your Private Information
You know that your toys and drawings belong to you. But did you know that certain facts about you belong to you too? Your name, your address, your phone number, your passwords — these are pieces of private information. They are facts about your life. And they are yours to protect.
What Is Private Information?
Private information means facts about you that you do not share with just anyone. Some information is fine to share with everyone. Other information is for trusted people only. Think of it like rooms in a house. The front porch is where you greet everyone — it is public. The living room is for family and close friends. The bedroom is private — only a very few special people might be allowed in. Your information has those same zones. Some things live on the porch. Some things belong in the bedroom — shared only with people you truly trust.
Private information is personal facts about you — like your home address, phone number, passwords, and where you go to school. This information belongs to you, and you get to decide who knows it.
Let us look at some examples. Your first name? That is usually fine to share. You tell it to new friends on the playground every day. Your full name plus the school you attend plus your home neighborhood? That combination is more private. Together those facts could help a stranger find you, which is unsafe. Your password to your email or game account? Never share that with anyone except a trusted parent. Passwords are completely private. Your family's daily schedule — when your parents leave for work, when your home is empty? Very private. That kind of information could help a bad person plan something harmful. The more a piece of information could help someone find you or hurt you, the more private it is.
Sort each item into the right privacy level.
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Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Why Protecting Private Information Matters
Imagine you had a magic key that opened your front door. Would you hand that key to someone you just met online? Of course not! Your private information is a little like that key. Your address tells people exactly where you live. Your phone number lets anyone call you. Your password lets anyone get into your accounts and pretend to be you. When you keep private information safe, you stay in control. You decide who can reach you. You decide who knows where you live. You decide who can speak for you online. That control belongs to you.
If someone you met online — even someone who seems very friendly — asks for your address, your school name, or your phone number, that is a red flag. A safe online friend or game does not need that information. Tell a trusted adult right away.
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Someone online asks you for your home address so they can send you a surprise gift. What should you do?
Which of these is private information that you should protect?
My Information Zones
- Draw three big circles on a piece of paper — like a target. The outer ring, the middle ring, and the inner circle.
- Label the outer ring: Public — anyone can know. Label the middle ring: Trusted people only. Label the inner circle: Only me and my family.
- Now write or draw these items and place each one in the right zone: your first name, your home address, your favorite animal, your password, your school name, your favorite color, your phone number, your birthday.
- When you are done, share your target with a parent or trusted adult. Talk about whether they agree with where you placed each item, and discuss anything that surprised you.