Privacy & Data
Parents
The Digital Shadow: A Lifetime of Data
Understanding the massive trail of data left behind from birth to adulthood.
THE CONCEPT
A Digital Shadow is the sum of all data created about you by others. This begins before birth with ultrasound photos and continues through school records, medical data, and parents sharing photos on social media.
THE RISK
By the time a child turns 13, data brokers may have already built a consumer profile that predicts their future political leanings, health risks, and spending habits.
MITIGATION STEPS
1. Selective Sharing: Avoid posting photos that show your child in their school uniform or near your home.
2. Privacy Audits: Periodically search for your child's name in major search engines to see what information is publicly indexed.
3. Opt-Out Requests: Use your rights under the UK Data Protection Act to ask companies to delete data they have collected about your minor children.
A Digital Shadow is the sum of all data created about you by others. This begins before birth with ultrasound photos and continues through school records, medical data, and parents sharing photos on social media.
THE RISK
By the time a child turns 13, data brokers may have already built a consumer profile that predicts their future political leanings, health risks, and spending habits.
MITIGATION STEPS
1. Selective Sharing: Avoid posting photos that show your child in their school uniform or near your home.
2. Privacy Audits: Periodically search for your child's name in major search engines to see what information is publicly indexed.
3. Opt-Out Requests: Use your rights under the UK Data Protection Act to ask companies to delete data they have collected about your minor children.