Protecting Our Children's Privacy: 7 Levers for a Safe Digital Future

 What if a simple selfie posted today could harm their future 15 years from now?

At just 13 years old, Lucie already has a denser digital footprint than her grandparents. Shared photo albums, sign-ups for educational apps, online games, first steps on social media, her life is documented, analysed, often without her even realising it.

At Keur Espoir, we work every day with young people across Africa and Europe to help them shape their own future. And in this hyperconnected world, a critical question arises: What happens to their right to be forgotten, to privacy, to trial and error without permanent consequences?

In this article, we will:

• Explain why privacy must be sacred from childhood

• Highlight the invisible but very real risks

• Offer concrete solutions for families, educators, and institutions

• Lay the foundation for a collective digital pact, aligned with our vision of a digital world that empowers rather than controls

  
  

1. Privacy from the cradle: a necessity, not a luxury

Why it matters Just because a child can’t yet manage their own data doesn’t mean choices should be made for them.Privacy shapes identity, freedom, and the right to experiment without permanent judgement.Our digital literacy workshops at Keur Espoir show it clearly: awareness changes how young people behave online.

Exemple concretDes recruteurs ont admis consulter des traces numériques très anciennes dans leurs processus de sélection. Imaginez un post maladroit à 8 ans qui ressurgit à 25 ans…

Réflexe immédiatAvant de publier sur vos enfants, posez-vous cette question :« Serais-je à l’aise que cette image soit montrée à un inconnu dans 10 ans ? »

2. The 4 silent digital dangers children face

1. Identity theft: Children are easy targets: little oversight, exposed personal data.

   → Never use their full name or real birthdate on platforms.

2. Commercial profiling: Algorithms create consumer profiles from a young age.

   → Block ads and reject non-essential cookies.

3. Cyberbullying: An innocent photo can go viral and become harmful.

   → Teach them never to share intimate content — even “just with friends.”

4. Reputational damage: Deleting doesn’t mean it’s gone.

   → Use GDPR-compliant platforms with real deletion options.

   
   

3. The 5 digital reflexes to teach today

1. Think before posting: Golden rule: “What I post today could follow me for life.”

2. Master privacy settings: Turn it into a fun, hands-on activity with your kids.

3. Use creative nicknames: Security and imagination go hand in hand.

4. Talk about data openly: Organise a family “digital night” to learn what happens behind every click.

5. Choose respectful tools: Favour certified and transparent digital services.

   
   

4. A shared responsibility

At Keur Espoir, we believe digital protection is a collective duty:

• Families: the first digital educators

• Schools: teach digital hygiene like reading or math

• Local governments: reject opaque tools, prefer local, controlled solutions

• Companies: build services with privacy by design

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Inspiring example: some cities have replaced Google Classroom with open-source, locally hosted tools, keeping full control over data.

5. For a digital world that empowers, not surveils

Protecting privacy is protecting innocence and freedom. It’s giving each child the right to grow, explore, and make mistakes without fear of being judged forever through the lens of the internet.

It’s also about giving equal opportunities to young people in Dakar, Bordeaux, or Marseille, through a digital world that opens doors, not closes them.

 In summary — 5 key takeaways

1. Privacy from childhood shapes future freedom

2. Children’s data is highly vulnerable to exploitation

3. Every post must be considered and secured

4. Digital education starts early, at home and in school

5. Collective action is essential to build a digital world that protects and empowers