Dear Editor,

Every year, Data Privacy Week, celebrated January 26-30, gives us a good reminder about something many of us don’t think about daily: How much of our personal information is floating around online.

Most people have no idea how their digital activity is tracked, stored, or shared. And honestly, it can be overwhelming. Data privacy week created a moment for all of us to pause, reflect, and take back control of our online footprint.

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to join the Digicel Foundation team as we visited schools across the island through our Safer Internet Together (SIT) programme to provide interactive presentations about safe Internet use. Being on the ground has been eye-opening. What our volunteers hear from students mirrors what I’ve seen first-hand: Children are sharing everything online — photos, their location, personal updates, you name it. They jump onto platforms without thinking twice, and most aren’t even aware that privacy settings exist, much less how to use them.

And the truth is they are not being reckless on purpose. For them, the Internet is just a normal part of growing up. But the consequences of what they post can last much longer than they realise.

We warn our children about so many dangers, but sometimes we forget to talk about digital ones. The reality is that once something is online, it rarely disappears. That’s why it’s so important for us as parents, guardians, teachers, and community leaders to help guide them.

This is exactly why programmes like Safer Internet Together are so important. SIT takes the conversation beyond the warnings and delivers real, practical, age-appropriate solutions. We go into classrooms not just to tell children what not to do, but to show them exactly how to protect themselves by using relatable examples from the apps and platforms they use daily. We show them how to turn on their privacy settings, how to recognise warning signs, what is safe to share, and what really should not be online at all.

And the change in their attitude is almost immediate. You can see the light bulbs go on when they realise how one small decision today can affect them for years down the road.

Here are a few of the tips we share with students that we can all use:

1) Think before you post. Would you be okay with your teacher, future employer, or family seeing it?

2) Check your privacy settings often. Apps update frequently, and defaults are not always in your favour.

3) Don’t share personal information publicly. This includes your school, address, location, or daily routine.

4) Use strong passwords and avoid using the same one for everything.

Be careful with friend requests. Not everyone online is who they claim to be.

At the end of the day, our goal is to help young people enjoy the Internet safely and confidently. Data Privacy Week was a great reminder that we all have a role to play.

Remember to educate our children about data privacy and how to be SMART online.

• S – Say kind things, don’t tease or send mean messages. Block or report someone who is unkind.

• M – Manage time online, take breaks, and spend time offline playing or reading.

• A – Ask for help from a parent or trusted adult if you feel unsafe.

• R- Responsible – Think about your actions online. If you wouldn’t do it face to face, don’t do it online.

• T-Tell a teacher or parent if someone or something online makes you uncomfortable.

Charmaine Daniels

CEO

Digicel Jamaica Foundation