Some phone manufacturers are actively promoting phones and watches specifically designed for youth and teens as alternatives to fully functioning iPhones and Android phones (1) – a trend we support. In fact, we here at the White Hatter team have written an article on this very topic. (2) However, as parents and caregivers, it is crucial to understand the privacy policies of these youth-targeted devices and communication technologies. (3) Reading these policies is essential for protecting both our child’s and at times our own, personal identifiable information (PII) as you will read.
After reviewing several privacy policies, we were astonished to discover the extent of personally identifiable information collected by some of these youth-focused devices and platforms. Most of these companies clearly state in their privacy statements that they do not sell this data to third parties and that it is encrypted and stored on secure servers. However, many of these privacy statements often note these companies can use collected PII for their own marketing, marketing research, and product development purposes. This raises significant concerns about the amount of data being harvested from us and our children, and how these youth-focused phone and watch companies are using it.(4)
Even more concerning – the type of PII data being collected. What if one of these companies stated in their privacy policy that their proprietary algorithm may gather sensitive information such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, sexual orientation or practices, criminal records, and health or genetic information. Would you as a parent or guardian feel comfortable about that? Incidentally, one privacy policy we reviewed for this article did mention the potential collection of this type of concerning PII information. This begs the question – why would a company marketing phones specifically designed for youth need to collect such sensitive data from a child’s phone or the parent’s phone, as some companies also require an app on a parent’s phone to monitor the child’s phone? If they don’t use this type of PII in any way, then why collect it in the first place?
There is a significant and justifiable focus on social media giants like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok regarding their extensive data collection practices. These tech giants have been criticized for exploiting user data for their financial gain, especially from our kids.(5) Ironically, some companies that market phones for children openly criticize these social media platforms for their data collection practices. However, if these child phone companies are collecting similar PII data, isn’t it fair to question their collection of PII as well? – especially when it comes to using it for their own marketing strategies. After all, what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.
As parents and caregivers, it’s our responsibility to thoroughly read and understand the privacy policies of the devices and platforms our children use. Yes, this task can feel as tedious as watching paint dry, especially with all the legal jargon some companies use. However, by doing so, we can better protect both our kids’ privacy and our own, ensuring that sensitive information collected is not being misused. The data collection practices of these companies warrant as much scrutiny as those of the larger social media platforms and vendors that cause us all concern. Safeguarding our children’s privacy in today’s onlife world requires vigilance and informed decision-making by parents and caregivers and is more important than ever in today’s data-driven attention economy.
It became clear to us, after reading several privacy policies, that some youth-centric phones and watches collect more personally identifiable information than others. We suggest that before making a purchase, you conduct your own research and choose the product that best meets your family’s comfort, safety, and privacy needs.
With the convenience of some of these youth-focused cellphones and watches, also comes vulnerability to our kiddo’s privacy. As the old saying goes – “Buyer beware”!
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
References:
3/ https://users.encs.concordia.ca/~mmannan/publications/parental-control-acsac20.pdf
4/ https://www.illinoislawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Haber.pdf
