Essential Websites & Organizations

Common Sense Media - Digital Citizenship Curriculum

commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship

Comprehensive K-12 digital citizenship curriculum with free lesson plans, videos, and resources covering privacy, security, digital footprint, and more. Excellent teacher resource with age-appropriate materials for all grade levels.

Educators K-12 Free

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

eff.org

Leading nonprofit defending digital privacy, free speech, and innovation. Provides student-friendly guides including "Surveillance Self-Defense" with practical privacy protection tips. Excellent resource for understanding digital rights and current privacy issues.

Students Educators Advanced

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Kids & Tech

consumer.ftc.gov/topics/kids-and-tech

Government resource with practical information about COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), online safety tips, and guidance for parents and educators. Authoritative source for understanding privacy laws affecting children.

Parents Educators Legal Info

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

privacyrights.org

Nonprofit consumer advocacy organization providing comprehensive privacy resources, fact sheets, and guides. Excellent for understanding specific privacy rights and how to exercise them.

Educators Parents Reference

NetSmartz - Internet Safety Education

missingkids.org/netsmartz

Age-appropriate resources from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children focused on internet safety, including privacy protection. Interactive games, videos, and lesson plans for K-12.

Students Educators Interactive

The Privacy Playground

priv.gc.ca - Youth Privacy Resources

Interactive games and activities from Canada's Privacy Commissioner teaching kids about privacy. Age-appropriate content for elementary and middle school students.

Students Elementary-Middle Games

Privacy Tools & Software

DuckDuckGo - Privacy-Focused Search Engine

duckduckgo.com

Search engine that doesn't track users or personalize search results based on browsing history. Great alternative to Google for privacy-conscious searching. Also offers browser extensions that block trackers.

Students Free Tool

Privacy Badger - Tracker Blocker

privacybadger.org

Free browser extension from Electronic Frontier Foundation that automatically blocks invisible trackers while you browse. User-friendly tool for teaching about how tracking works.

Students Free Browser Extension

Signal - Private Messaging

signal.org

Free, open-source messaging app with end-to-end encryption. Recommended by privacy experts and security professionals. Good example of privacy-respecting communication tool for discussing with students.

Reference Free App

Have I Been Pwned - Data Breach Checker

haveibeenpwned.com

Free service to check if your email or phone number has been compromised in a data breach. Educational tool for discussing data breaches and password security. Use with parent permission for middle schoolers.

Educators Free Checker

Educational Videos & Documentaries

The Social Dilemma (Documentary)

Platform: Netflix | Length: 94 minutes | Rating: PG-13

Documentary featuring tech insiders explaining how social media platforms use AI to manipulate users and harvest data. Powerful but intense - preview before showing to middle schoolers and consider watching relevant excerpts rather than full film. Excellent for sparking discussion about personalization algorithms and data collection.

Educators Ages 13+ Documentary

Common Sense Media - Privacy & Security Videos

Common Sense Education Videos

Collection of short (2-5 minute) animated videos covering privacy topics at appropriate levels for different ages. Topics include digital footprint, passwords, location sharing, and more. Perfect for classroom use.

Students Educators K-12

TEDEd - Privacy Lessons

ed.ted.com

Search for "privacy," "data," or "surveillance" to find engaging animated lessons about privacy concepts. Each video includes discussion questions and additional resources. Particularly good: "What does the internet know about you?" and "How computer memory works."

Students Middle-High School 5-10 minutes

Books for Students

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Age Level: 13+ | Genre: Young Adult Fiction

Compelling novel about a tech-savvy teenager who fights back against government surveillance after a terrorist attack. Explores themes of privacy, security, civil liberties, and activism. Accessible to middle schoolers and sparks important discussions about surveillance in society.

Students Ages 13+ Fiction

Be Internet Awesome with Google

beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com

Age Level: 8-12 | Format: Interactive Curriculum

Free curriculum and online game teaching kids about internet safety, privacy, and security. While created by Google, offers valuable lessons about protecting personal information. Includes printable activity sheets and family guides.

Students Elementary-Middle Interactive

Cybersecurity for Beginners by Raef Meeuwisse

Age Level: 12+ | Genre: Non-Fiction

Accessible introduction to cybersecurity concepts including privacy protection, encryption, and safe online practices. Written in clear language suitable for young teens interested in learning more about digital security.

Students Ages 12+ Non-Fiction

Books for Educators & Parents

The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick

Audience: Adults | Level: Intermediate

Practical guide to protecting privacy online from legendary hacker-turned-security-consultant. Covers everything from passwords to anonymous browsing. Helps educators understand technical aspects of privacy protection to better teach students.

Educators Parents Non-Fiction

Digital Parenting: The Parent's Guide to Social Media, Gaming, and More by Josh Shipp

Audience: Parents and Educators | Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Practical advice for navigating digital parenting challenges including privacy concerns, screen time, and online safety. Written by youth expert who understands both technology and child development.

Parents Educators Parenting

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil

Audience: Adults | Level: Advanced

Explores how big data and algorithms can perpetuate inequality and invade privacy. Helps educators understand deeper implications of AI and data collection beyond individual privacy concerns. Important for contextualizing social justice aspects of data privacy.

Educators Advanced Social Justice

Key Articles & Reports

Common Sense Media: Privacy Ratings of Apps and Websites

Common Sense Reviews

Detailed privacy and safety ratings of popular apps, websites, and games used by kids and teens. Each review includes information about what data is collected, how it's used, and whether parental controls are available. Essential resource for educators and parents.

Educators Parents Reviews

Pew Research: Teens and Privacy

pewresearch.org/internet

Regularly updated research about how teenagers use technology and think about privacy. Provides valuable data about current trends in teen social media use, privacy concerns, and digital behaviors. Search site for "teen" and "privacy" for relevant reports.

Educators Research Statistics

Student Privacy Compass by Future of Privacy Forum

studentprivacycompass.org

Comprehensive resource about student data privacy in educational technology. Includes state-by-state privacy law information and guidance for evaluating edtech tools. Essential for educators using technology in classroom.

Educators EdTech Policy