Online Privacy (Keeping Personal Information Private)

Have you ever whispered a secret to your best friend. Or hidden a special toy in a place just for you. That feeling of keeping something safe and special is a little bit like me. I help you keep your thoughts, your pictures, and your stories private when you are on a computer or a tablet. I am like an invisible, friendly shield for your personal stuff in the online world. I make sure that only the people you want to see your drawings or read your messages can do so. Sometimes, people call me a digital guardian, because I watch over your information just like a superhero watches over a city. Hello. My name is Online Privacy, and I’m here to be your best friend when you explore the internet.

Long ago, before most people had computers in their homes, your secrets were kept in diaries with little locks or in letters sent by mail. But then, in the 1960s, clever scientists created something called ARPANET, which was the grandparent of the internet we use today. It was a way for a few computers to talk to each other across long distances. As time went on, more and more computers joined the conversation. Then, in the early 1990s, a man named Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. Suddenly, people everywhere could share pictures, play games, and learn amazing things online. It was so exciting, but it also meant that I had a very important new job. As people shared more, they sometimes left behind little digital clues, like crumbs from a cookie. In 1994, a computer expert named Lou Montulli helped create something called 'cookies,' which websites use to remember you. I help make sure those crumbs don't tell strangers too much about you. Grown-ups realized that kids needed extra protection, so in the United States, they created a special rule on October 21st, 1998, called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. It helps me do my job of keeping you safe.

I'm not here to make the internet scary. I’m your helper. Think of me as your teammate for online adventures. I am the little voice that reminds you to ask a grown-up before you share your name, your picture, or where you live. I help you create super-secret passwords that are like a special handshake only you and your family know. When you remember me, you can explore, create, and connect with your friends safely. The internet is a wonderful, giant library full of fun and learning, and I’m here to make sure you have a great time while keeping your secrets safe and sound. Together, we can make sure your time online is always happy and secure.