Privacy & Data
Parents
The Digital Shadow: A Lifetime of Data
Understanding the trail of data we leave behind from the moment of birth.
THE CONCEPT
A 'Digital Shadow' is the collection of data created about a person by others—parents posting baby photos, school records, and medical databases.
THE CONCERN
By the time a child is 13, they may already have thousands of data points indexed by search engines and data brokers before they have ever signed up for a single app.
PROTECTION STEPS
1. Sharenting Awareness: Before posting a photo of your child, ask: 'Would I want this photo appearing in a professional background check 20 years from now?'
2. Right to be Forgotten: Under 2026 GDPR updates, parents can request that Google and social platforms scrub specific data points about their minors.
3. Privacy Audits: Search for your child's name once a year to see what 'The Shadow' is showing the public.
A 'Digital Shadow' is the collection of data created about a person by others—parents posting baby photos, school records, and medical databases.
THE CONCERN
By the time a child is 13, they may already have thousands of data points indexed by search engines and data brokers before they have ever signed up for a single app.
PROTECTION STEPS
1. Sharenting Awareness: Before posting a photo of your child, ask: 'Would I want this photo appearing in a professional background check 20 years from now?'
2. Right to be Forgotten: Under 2026 GDPR updates, parents can request that Google and social platforms scrub specific data points about their minors.
3. Privacy Audits: Search for your child's name once a year to see what 'The Shadow' is showing the public.