5 Steps to Protect Your Family's Privacy Online

family setting up digital privacy on their home computer

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Your family’s digital security strategy can be approached without too much hassle or learning too much technical jargon. Photo: iStock

Key takeaways

Digital security works best as a layered system of habits. The goal isn’t perfect protection, but making yourself a harder target.
Social media is one of the biggest privacy risks for families. Your child’s privacy can be compromised by their friends’ settings, not just their own.
Building a digital asset inventory helps families identify unused accounts and reduce their attack surface.
Digital security is a family effort. Establishing shared house rules, holding regular check-ins and teaching kids to “ask before tagging” builds lasting protective habits.

Data breaches make headlines. Deepfakes blur reality. Digital scams circulate online. And social media platforms collect more data than most of us realize. Our identities, and many of the things we hold dear, are inextricably linked to this evolving online world.

I’ve spent nearly a decade developing content and security apps for families, and one thing I know for certain: The goal isn’t to have perfect security. The goal is to make it harder, more inconvenient and more expensive to be hacked.

Think of digital security like a lock on your bike. It’s not impenetrable, but it dramatically reduces the odds that someone will ride off with your wheels. Just by adding a lock, you add a critical layer to your security system.

Your family’s digital security strategy can be approached in the same layered manner, and you can do it without too much hassle or learning too much technical jargon.

Why social media deserves special attention

Before diving into the steps, it helps to understand where a lot of family privacy actually gets eroded: social media. According to Pew Research Center, about 95 percent of U.S. teens use social media and almost half say they are online “almost constantly.” Content teens share on social media can spread far and wide, nationally and around the world.

Your child’s privacy isn’t just controlled by their own settings; it can be compromised by their community: a friend tagging them in a photo, an acquaintance reposting an image or a friend-of-a-friend with weak privacy settings. Your circle intersects with your child’s circle, and those connections multiply. This is why digital security is a family affair.

Baby steps to lifelong habits

The best-laid security plans will fail if people aren’t motivated to follow them. Instead of trying to lock everything down at once, treat security as a series of good habits based on small steps that eventually become lasting protection.

Step 1: Set up multifactor authorization or two-step authentication

Most of us already use some type of MFA to access financial, health and academic records — a code sent to your email or phone, a face scan or a fingerprint. Now’s the time to extend that habit everywhere.

To set up MFA or 2FA, go to the privacy or security settings on your family’s devices and important accounts. Find the MFA or 2FA option and follow the prompts. This security step costs nothing and it’s relatively hassle-free.

Step 1 checklist

Enable multifactor authorization (MFA or 2FA) on email accounts
Enable MFA on financial and banking accounts
Enable MFA on social media platforms
Enable MFA on school and health portals
Set up passkeys or biometric login (such as Face ID or fingerprint) on your devices where available

Step 2: Keep everything updated

By the time you get a notification to update a device, app or software, your data is already less protected, so it’s important to update immediately. Updates are designed to fix vulnerabilities, often because someone was already hacked. If you’re hesitating to download new features, you can choose to install only security updates.

Tip: After updates, some settings may revert to defaults. Always check location sharing, marketing permissions and notifications to confirm you’re only sharing what you intend.

Step 2 checklist

Turn on automatic security updates for all your family’s devices in the update or security settings (search your manufacturer’s official website for how-tos).
Download and update apps on phones and tablets as soon as they become available.
Update your router (what you use to access the internet) and ask your provider for a newer device if it can’t be updated.
Consider disconnecting smart appliances (refrigerators, washers and dryers) from the internet.
After each update, review app and device settings for location sharing, marketing and notifications.
Retire, disconnect or recycle outdated devices you no longer use — old hardware that can’t be updated is cheaper to hack.

Step 3: Build a digital asset inventory

By cataloging what your family has online, you can spot accounts you no longer use, limit your digital footprint and reduce risk. Build your inventory in stages, starting with the most valuable assets. Every unused account is an unlocked door that doesn’t need to exist.

For each account, note whether you have a unique password and MFA enabled, and review the privacy settings. Schedule an annual family check-in to keep it current.

Digital accounts to inventory

Email providers
Social media platforms
Communication and messaging apps
Cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)
Password managers
Online banking and payment providers (PayPal, Venmo, etc.)
Shopping accounts (Amazon, eBay, etc.)
Subscription services (streaming, news, software)
Loyalty and airline programs
Government portals (Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, state Driver Motor Vehicle, etc.)
Insurance accounts
Crypto or blockchain accounts
Digital photo and video libraries
Small business or freelance platforms
Estate planning or digital legacy vaults

Devices to inventory

Computers (laptops and desktops)
Tablets
Smartphones
External backup drives
Smart home devices (speakers, displays, cameras)
Smart appliances, thermostats, etc.
Installed software and browser extensions

Accounts linked to real-world assets

Bank and credit union accounts
Debt management portals
Insurance portals
Government benefits and services
Property management tools
Travel and merchant reward accounts

Step 4: Reduce your presence online

Instead of trying to erase yourself from the internet (it’s nearly impossible), shift your goal to minimizing what others can see. Start small: Search your own name and your family members’ names online. What comes up? Then work through the steps below.

One practical tactic: Consider using browser-based versions of social platforms instead of apps when possible. Apps typically collect significantly more data than their browser counterparts.

Step 4 checklist

Search your name and your kids’ names on Google and Bing
Submit data removal requests to Google and report privacy concerns to Bing
Review and tighten social media privacy settings for every family member
Audit cloud storage — identify what is public or shared
Opt out of data broker sites (see the opt-out list below)
Re-enable passkeys and MFA on any accounts where it’s lapsed
Switch from social media apps to browser-based versions where possible

Step 5: Build a family security plan

Digital security is not a one-time event, it’s a habit. By including your family in this process, you’re not only protecting them, you’re teaching them how to protect themselves and others. After you craft your plan, put a recurring date on the calendar to revisit it each year.

Remind your kids that when they post online they shouldn’t overshare their own or others’ personal information. Something as simple as asking before tagging a friend teaches respect for digital privacy and encourages their whole social circle to think before they post.

Family plan checklist

Schedule an annual digital inventory review
Set quarterly password updates as a recurring calendar event
Conduct social media privacy audits every quarter
Check for device and app updates monthly
Hold a family discussion whenever anyone wants to join a new app or platform
Agree on an “ask first” rule before tagging friends or family in photos

Conversation starters for your family security meeting

Understanding the threat: What are we protecting and from whom? Why is this important?
Tradeoffs: What convenience are we willing to sacrifice for better security?
Trust decisions: Which platforms do we actually trust with our data?

As part of your family security plan, you should create and enforce family digital house rules. Ask your kids: “Would you give a stranger the keys to our house?” Then explain that personal data is the equivalent of that front door key. The following rules are worth agreeing on together and posting somewhere visible.

Core digital house rules

Use strong, unique passwords. Never reuse a password
Turn on MFA or 2FA on every account that supports it
Never include personal details (birthday, school, town) in usernames
Enable strict privacy settings on every account and app
Hide “photos and videos I’m tagged in” from strangers on all social platforms
Opt out of location sharing wherever it’s not essential
Check for “https” in the address bar before signing in to anything
Skip optional form fields that ask for personal information
Never click suspicious links. When in doubt, go directly to the site
Avoid unnecessary app downloads; delete apps you no longer use
Ask before tagging a friend or family member in any photo or post

What to do if you’ve been hacked

If you suspect an account has been compromised, act quickly. Work through the steps below in order:

Change your password immediately. Update credentials, enable MFA and sign out of that account on all devices.
Sign out of all linked devices. If your login is saved on other browsers or devices, signing out can stop someone from getting back in.
Check linked accounts. Apps that are synced to the compromised account, especially social platforms that use an email login, may also be exposed.
Remove stored payment details from the compromised device and any connected accounts.
Contact your financial institutions to check for suspicious activity. Going forward, link a credit card rather than a bank account — it’s far safer and easier to cancel.
Audit other accounts for password reuse. Your phone’s built-in password manager can simplify this significantly.
Monitor your social media and texts for suspicious posts or messages sent in your name.
Contact credit bureaus and report fraud to the FTC.