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My privacy every day

Tips to protect your digital footprint

From the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed at night, you leave behind a trail of personal information about yourself. Understanding how online data can be collected in everyday situations, such as while using an app or playing video games can help you to put your privacy first.

You can’t control everything, but here are some ways that you can better protect your privacy by limiting the information that you share in your daily activities.

This printable poster for teachers can help to teach students about ways to protect their digital footprint.

Time Data
8:50 a.m.

Open an app on your phone

Apps may collect information about you, including your location, photos, contacts, and access to your microphone. They may share this information with other companies.

Adjust your privacy settings
  • Your location and other personal information should only be shared while you’re using the app.

Learn more: Tips for using privacy settings
12:35 p.m.

Post photos with friends on social media

You post a photo that’s super embarrassing for your friend and might even get them into trouble.

Pause before you post
  • Think twice before you post information and ask permission before posting photos of others.

Learn more: Staying safe on social media
12:50 p.m.

Forget your phone at the restaurant

If your phone isn’t password protected, anyone could pick it up and see your messages, photos, contacts, and accounts.

Protect your device and accounts
  • Lock your phone when you’re not using it.
  • Create long passwords and use a different one for each account.

Learn more: Tips for creating and managing your passwords
6:00 p.m.

Return a pair of jeans at the store 

The cashier invites you to fill out a survey and provide your email address and postal code in return for a discount. The company may create a profile about you and use your information to send you ads.

Limit sharing of your personal information
  • Ask why information is needed and how it will be used.
  • Complete only the required fields in forms.

Learn more: 10 tips for protecting personal information
7:30 p.m.

Play video games online

Gaming companies collect lots of personal information: your name, address, credit card, email, IP address, feedback rankings, digital images and personalized profile. If you haven’t set up privacy settings, you may be giving strangers access to information on your profile.

Play with privacy in mind
  • Use a made-up name and don’t share personal information like your school or address with people you don’t know in real life.
  • Use privacy controls.

Learn more: Gaming and personal information: playing with privacy

Printable poster

Print and display this poster in your classroom.

For best results, select Ledger size (11 x 17), and “fit to screen”.

Download printable poster (PDF): My privacy every day. Description follows
Download printable poster
(PDF, 2.7 MB)

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