Good morning/day. It’s Tuesday, March 25, and today we’re diving into something most of us don’t want to believe: even “safe” kids’ games are quietly tracking your child—and selling their digital fingerprints to the highest bidder.

But instead of panicking (we’ve been there), today’s issue walks you through a simple, empowering way to talk with your child about what’s happening—and why their privacy matters.

🌱 This is Future-Ready Parents—where we turn parenting anxiety into practical steps that help our kids thrive in a world none of us can fully predict.

First time reading? You’re not alone. Join hundreds of parents like you who are building future-ready homes, one small win at a time.

THE BIG PICTURE

Imagine this.

Your 9-year-old is playing a silly mobile game on the couch. You’ve checked the reviews. Set screen time limits. You’ve done your job.

But behind the scenes, that game is sharing your child’s approximate location, device ID, and in-game behavior with 27 third-party advertising companies. Without your knowledge. Without your child’s.

You’re not failing. You’re just up against a digital world that’s evolving faster than any of us can keep up with.

The good news? You don’t have to “know it all” to start doing something.

And tonight, you’ll be ready to do just that.

TODAY'S MICRO-ACTION:

Start a Digital Footprint Conversation Over Dinner—With Just One Question

Let’s be honest: most of us weren’t raised to think about data privacy. And now we’re somehow supposed to teach it to our kids?

The pressure is real.

But here’s a totally doable way in: Ask your child this one question at dinner tonight:

Let them answer. You’re not correcting—you’re just listening.

Then follow up with one or two of these:

• “Do you think your games or apps know where you are?”

• “Would you want a stranger knowing what you watch or play?”

• “If the internet kept everything forever… what would you want it to forget?”

What to expect: At first, your child might shrug. Or say, “I dunno.” That’s okay. This isn’t about solving. It’s about starting. You’re building the muscle of digital self-awareness—the kind that helps kids recognize when something feels off, long before they hit “accept.”

⏳ 5 minutes. One question. A seed planted.

TECH TUESDAY TIPS:

From Surveillance Targets to Digital Citizens: How to Protect What Matters Most

In 2019, most of us were still catching up to how digital platforms worked.

Today, we’re waking up—and fast.

Apps, games, smart toys, and even educational tools are collecting more data than we realize. It’s not just creepy. It’s profitable. And your child? They’re often the product.

Here’s what’s changed—and what you can do:

1. Know What You’re Up Against

A CBC Marketplace investigation found that Paper.io 2—a seemingly harmless kids’ game—was connected to 27 third-party data firms. It pulled location, usage behavior, and device identifiers. Sarah Dermody, a Toronto mom, was shocked.

And this isn’t rare. Most free games do something similar.

2. 3 Quick Ways to Reclaim Your Child’s Privacy

🔍 Check Permissions Together
Grab your child’s tablet. Open one app. Look at the settings together:

• Is location turned on?

• Are there ads or pop-ups?

• Do they have access to your microphone or camera?

Just naming what’s happening changes how your child sees it.

🛡️ Try These Privacy-First Tools

• DuckDuckGo browser (searches without tracking)

• Jellyfish (a kid-friendly YouTube filter + time management)

• Family VPNs like Tailscale or ClearVPN (limit tracking across devices) I use NordVPN and am quite pleased.

🌱 Create a Family Data Rule
Write it on a sticky note. Post it on the fridge. Something like:

When kids feel like they have agency, they’re more likely to ask questions, not just click “yes.”

⚡ PARENT TO PARENT:

“Why does this game need to know where he lives?”

Sarah Dermody did everything right. Checked app reviews. Set screen limits. Tried to stay informed.

Then she learned that her 9-year-old’s favorite game was quietly tracking him—and sharing that data with nearly 30 ad companies.

This isn’t about being a “tech expert.” It’s about being awake to the world our kids are growing up in.

You’re not alone. You’re not late. You’re learning—just like the rest of us.

Got a similar story? Hit reply. We might feature your experience in an upcoming issue.

🫡 BEFORE YOU GO

This whole privacy conversation?

It’s not really about apps. Or tracking. Or even data.

It’s about teaching our kids this core truth:

If that idea resonated today, forward this to a friend who’s also trying to figure it out as they go. We all are.

Let’s build a smarter, safer, more future-ready world—one dinner table conversation at a time.

Until next time,
James Brauer
Founder, Future-Ready Parents

💬 Have something else in mind? Hit reply—we’re listening.