How To Keep Your Child’s Data Safe In The Age Of Surveillance

Welcome to the era where everything and I mean everything is tracked, recorded, stored, and sometimes even sold to the highest bidder.

From smart toys that listen a little too carefully, to apps that quietly suck up location data, our kids are growing up in a digital fishbowl. And honestly? That’s messed up. 

As parents, guardians, or even just responsible adults, we can’t afford to sit back and hope “privacy laws” will save the day. (Spoiler: they won’t.) 

We have to get aggressive about protecting our children’s data because once it’s out there, it’s out there forever. 

Let’s break down how you can actually fight back against the surveillance machine. 

1. Start With Devices You Actually Control

First things first: if your kid is using a device you didn’t set up yourself, you have no idea what’s going on under the hood. 

That tablet they borrowed from school? Loaded with apps. That smartphone from grandma? Might be leaking info like a sieve. 

👉 What to do: 

• Wipe and reset any device before giving it to your kid.

• Set up a child-specific profile that blocks unnecessary permissions right from the start.

• Only install apps you’ve personally vetted (and yes, read the reviews and the privacy policy, even if it’s soul-suckingly boring).
  

2. Be A Paranoid App Inspector

I’m going to say something spicy: most free apps for kids are privacy nightmares. 
They exist to harvest data, not to entertain or educate. 

👉 What to do: 

• Pay for apps if it means fewer ads and better privacy policies.

• Use tools like Exodus Privacy or AppCensus to see what kind of trackers are hidden in the apps.

• Avoid any app that demands access to your kid’s microphone, camera, contacts, or location unless it’s absolutely, painfully necessary.

3. Watch Out For Hidden Spy Apps

Here’s the dark side no one really talks about: spyware doesn’t just happen to adults kids are targets too. 

And no, we’re not just talking about creepy stalkers. Some “parental control” apps basically double as spyware, and sketchy third-party apps sometimes end up installed without you even knowing. 

Spy apps can: 

• Track their real-time location 24/7.

• Record calls and text messages.

• Activate microphones and cameras remotely (!!).

👉 What to do: 

• Regularly check the installed apps list and look for anything with weird names or hidden icons.

• Use an antivirus that specifically scans for spyware (Bitdefender and Malwarebytes are solid picks).

• Only use reputable parental monitoring tools that respect your child’s privacy and your trust.

If you’re looking for a tool that actually gets it right, Family Orbit is one of the few I’d personally recommend. 

Plus, it’s super transparent about what it collects and why, and you stay 100% in control, not some random server overseas. 

You want to protect your kid, not spy on them. Tools like Family Orbit help you guide your child safely through the digital world without turning into Big Brother. 

And if your kid ever says their device is “acting weird” (battery draining fast, getting hot, glitching randomly), take that seriously. Those are classic spyware red flags and the sooner you catch it, the better. 

4. Use A VPN And Private DNS Always

You wouldn’t send your kid out into the street wearing a sign with their home address on it, right? So why send their device out onto the internet without protection? 

👉 What to do: 

• Set up a reputable VPN on their device something like Mullvad or ProtonVPN.

• Configure a private DNS (like NextDNS or AdGuard) to block trackers, ads, and known malware domains.

• Teach your kids that “free Wi-Fi” is a trap unless they’re protected.

5. Educate, Don’t Just Restrict

Locking down devices without explaining why is like banning candy but leaving a donut shop unlocked. 

Kids are smart way smarter than most adults give them credit for. 
If you don’t teach them why privacy matters, they’ll find ways around your rules. 

👉 What to do: 

• Talk openly about online privacy. Explain it in ways they understand.

• Make it a challenge like a game to “catch” apps trying to spy.

• Reward them for spotting suspicious behavior online.

6. Think Twice About “Smart” Toys And Home Devices

Smart speakers, smartwatches, “learning” robots all that stuff seems cute until you realize it’s one big eavesdropping operation. 

👉 What to do: 

• Research the heck out of any smart device.

• Avoid anything that’s “always listening” unless you can 100% control the settings.

• Favor “dumb” toys and activities that don’t require an internet connection.

7. Fight For Your Kid’s Data Rights

Honestly, we shouldn’t have to do all this work. Companies should be held responsible. But while lawmakers crawl at glacial speeds, we can still put pressure where it counts. 

👉 What to do: 

• Know your rights under COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and similar laws.

• Demand data deletion when apps or services collect information without consent.

• Support organizations that fight for digital privacy, like EFF or Common Sense Media.

Final Thoughts

I’ll be blunt: there’s no way to shield your kid from the surveillance ecosystem completely. The system is too big, too sneaky, and too profitable. 

But you can make it harder for the wrong people to get their hands on your child’s personal information. You can teach your kids to value their privacy.

And maybe just maybe you’ll raise a new generation that demands a better, less invasive internet. 

Because right now? 
Big Tech is betting we’ll stay lazy and distracted. 
Let’s prove them wrong.