Helping children in the Nordics and Baltics to take control of their data
Promoting safer use of the internet among children and teenagers is a key focus for Telia Company and this includes encouraging good practice around online privacy.
Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) is a Telia Company initiative aiming at understanding children’s perspectives on their lives online and as users of digital technology. The work is carried out in close collaboration with child rights organisations and schools. In 2017/18, Telia worked with Save the Children, World Childhood Foundation and research company Kantar TNS to ask more than 850 children (most aged 11 to 13) from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden about their habits and knowledge of online privacy and safety.
The Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) survey provided insights into children’s views on, and concerns about, online privacy. Although the participants showed a good understanding of the importance of protecting their information online (94% think that passwords should be kept secret), some worrying habits were also revealed – more than half said they use the same password for most apps and games and few have read the ‘terms of use’ on the apps they use.
Ultimately, the young people said they want to be in control of their personal data – this includes not having their details shared without their permission and being able to delete their photos and videos when they want. As a result of the CAP research, Telia now offers interactive workshops for schools, including one about online privacy. The workshops, which can be facilitated by volunteers from Telia, or by teachers or parents, help children learn through interaction and participation.
