Password sharing is another potential risk that is often problematic for many kids and young people. ‘Password sharing has become a symbol of trust between friends and a sign of intimacy between significant others, so much so that most teens aspire to password sharing as “relationship goals” (Birdsong, 2017). Birdsong advocates that children imagine a force field around themselves serving as a healthy boundary between themselves and others. This field ‘separates what’s theirs and what’s others; what they believe and value and what others believe and value’. Educating young people about this boundary can bring up many questions about trust and friendship which need to be addressed at the same time.
While it is vital for young people to navigate a variety of privacy settings, many do not possess the understanding or knowledge. Not managing these settings effectively can open kids and young people up to bullying, or fraudulent or abusive situations. It is recommended that adults help to set up their online accounts and manage the privacy settings for them, while explaining why they are so important.