Not long ago, I overheard a conversation between two mothers at a coffee shop. They were swapping stories about their kids’ latest TikTok trends - funny dances, lip-sync videos, and harmless pranks. But then one mom lowered her voice and said, “Did you hear what happened at (such-and-such school)?” What the mom proceeded to share was chilling: a private moment between two students - a boyfriend and girlfriend - had been secretly recorded and shared across the entire school. Within hours, the video had spread beyond their peer group, leaving the teens humiliated and vulnerable.

This is the reality we live in. Social media has blurred the line between our public and private spheres, and the consequences can be devastating. When we post photos, share personal details, or even allow location tags, we’re not just connecting with friends, we’re broadcasting pieces of our lives to audiences we can’t fully control. For adults, this can mean identity theft or reputational harm. For kids, it can lead to exploitation, harassment, bullying, and emotional trauma.

The incident cited above underscores a sobering truth: smartphones have turned every child into a potential broadcaster. What was once whispered gossip now becomes viral content in minutes. And when intimate videos circulate, the damage isn’t just social - it’s psychological. These young people believed they were in a private setting. Instead, they were needlessly exposed to intense ridicule. This isn’t just a lapse in judgment; it reveals the urgent need for us to introduce children to concepts related to digital ethics early on and how to set boundaries on their online behaviors.

So, what can we do? We can’t turn back the clock, but we can take meaningful steps to protect privacy and safety:

First, start the conversation early. Talk to your kids about consent - not just in relationships, but when using social media. Make sure they understand that recording or sharing private moments without permission is harmful and, in many cases, illegal.

Second, set clear boundaries around devices. Create tech-free zones at home and establish rules for when and where phones can be used. Encourage your child to pause before posting: “Would I be okay if this photo or video was seen by everyone I know?”

Third, prioritize digital literacy that highlights these risks. At home and in school, comprehensive education and skill-building should take place with a focus on issues of privacy, empathy, and the permanence of actions people perform online. These lessons should carry as much weight as developing math or science skills because they will shape how our children will make informed choices that safeguard their privacy and wellbeing online.

Navigating through a world of increasingly vanishing privacy can be deeply unsettling. But by doubling down on values of respect, responsibility, and care for others, we can weather this storm. Privacy is not a given anymore. It’s something we must actively protect, for ourselves and for the next generation. W

Dr. Richard Lopez is an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He studies the impacts of digital media use on emotions and mental health. He and his family live in Rutland.