Privacy education goes mobile

Privacy Pirates app teaches children to protect their information online

Ottawa, ON (May 21, 2015) – To assist parents and teachers in helping kids manage their online privacy, MediaSmarts is bringing its popular educational game Privacy Pirates to mobile platforms. Privacy Pirates teaches children ages seven to nine about the value of their personal information and how to know when it’s okay to share information online and when it’s best to keep things private.

“We need to start teaching children privacy management skills as soon as they start going online,” says Jane Tallim, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. “Our research shows that almost all of Canadian children’s favourite websites are commercial spaces where users’ information is gathered and their activities are tracked, highlighting the importance of teaching kids how to understand privacy risks in a wide range of contexts.”

Guided by a friendly wizard mentor, Privacy Pirates takes players across a pirate-inhabited island where they learn about important privacy issues including personal identification, photos and videos, data mining, digital footprints, privacy policies, passwords and parental consent.

To play the game and download the accompanying background guide, visit: http://mediasmarts.ca/game/privacy-pirates-interactive-unit-online-privacy-ages-7-9. The app is available to download for all iOS and Android devices.

Privacy Pirates was originally developed in 2011 with funding from Google Canada. The updated mobile versions were made possible by financial assistance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

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About MediaSmarts

MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. mediasmarts.ca, @mediasmarts

Contact:
Maya Shoucair, Communications Manager, MediaSmarts
613-224-7721, ext. 231, mshoucair@mediasmarts.ca