Introducing Our New Surveillance Self-Defense Guide: Online Privacy for Parents and Youth

Understanding the complexities of navigating the internet safely and privately is a challenging task for both youth and parents. While the internet may appear daunting, it is not insurmountable. Our new Online Privacy for Parents and Youth Surveillance Self-Defense guide aims to provide a structured approach to finding solutions that cater to individual needs.

This initiative comes as state and local governments contemplate ill-conceived legislation that could restrict young people's access to vital information and experiences, particularly affecting vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who rely on online communities for support. Such legislation also includes age gating, which undermines online privacy and limits the growth and self-expression of young users.

The internet is a dynamic environment where the needs of youth evolve over time, making blanket protection an impractical and draining endeavor. To counter this, the security community has long advocated for security planning, also known as threat modeling. This method involves asking critical questions to pinpoint what matters most. The guide utilizes this framework as its foundation, emphasizing that identifying what is and isn't important is the first step in evaluating privacy risks.

However, this resource is not a quick fix solution. Every young person has distinct requirements and considerations that must be addressed. Rather than relying solely on tools or software, the key lies in comprehending the threats and concerns at hand and then devising strategies to mitigate those risks. Our guide seeks to facilitate a conversation around these issues. We encourage readers to explore the outline provided and consider making a donation to support this vital cause.