Online, Offline, Privacy & Security

Even the youngest children today are growing up immersed in digital technology. By the time they are preschoolers, many have regular access to internet-connected devices. In the United States, nearly 40% of toddlers (age 2) already have their own tablet, and this figure climbs to about 58% by age 4. On average, American children 8 and under spend roughly 2½ hours per day on screens. Globally, too, early digital exposure is rising wherever internet access is available. In high-connectivity countries, children often start using devices “while they are still in diapers,” as one report put it (about 30% of U.S. infants). This widespread early use of smartphones and tablets means that children under 5 are unwittingly engaging with the online world long before they can read or fully understand it. Such early exposure brings opportunities for learning, but also raises concerns about safety and privacy at an age when kids are most vulnerable.

Despite their limited abilities, young children face real internet threats. Preschool-aged kids typically use devices to watch cartoons, play games, or video chat with family – activities that seem harmless. However, risks lurk in these digital environments. For example, a UK survey found that 89% of 3–4-year-olds use online video platforms and many even engage with social media or messaging apps at that age. This means toddlers can accidentally encounter inappropriate content or strangers online. Indeed, children “as young as four” have experienced online harm like exposure to violence or scary material. Moreover, nearly 60% of children globally (ages 8–12) have already been exposed to at least one cyber-risk–such as violent content, bullying, or misuse of personal data–by the time they enter adolescence. Another growing concern is data privacy: young kids cannot consent or judge what information they share, yet many apps collect personal data. A recent analysis found 95% of popular apps for kids under 5 contain advertising (often with manipulative prompts to click or buy), potentially capturing data or pushing in-app purchases on toddlers. And breaches aren’t just an adult problem: in 2022 over 1.7 million children had their personal information exposed in data breaches (about 1 in 43 U.S. kids).

Yet, there is a notable lack of awareness-focused resources tailored for children under 5. Most internet safety education programs target older kids in elementary or middle school, leaving a critical gap in the preschool years. Many parents and educators hesitate to discuss online safety with toddlers, assuming “screen time” is harmless if content looks kid-friendly. In a UK study, one-third of parents who rarely talked about internet safety felt their child was “too young” to need it. Similarly, early childhood teachers have not traditionally included digital safety in the curriculum, especially if young kids are not using the internet independently. However, attitudes are shifting as device use in this age group becomes common. 45% of parents of 0–6 year-olds now believe internet safety should be taught in early childhood settings alongside other life skills.

This is where Project OOPS (Online, Offline Privacy & Security) comes in. Project OOPS is an awareness initiative designed specifically for under-5 children, along with their caregivers and teachers, to indirectly teach online privacy and security through engaging bedtime stories. The idea is to fill the education gap by introducing simple safety concepts in a toddler-friendly way. Storytelling is a powerful tool at this age.

Project OOPS builds on this narrative approach. Through age-appropriate stories, lovable characters, and analogies, the project helps parents and educators start critical conversations about online privacy long before formal instruction begins. By weaving lessons into bedtime tales, Project OOPS aims to raise awareness in an indirect, gentle manner–teaching kids the basics of digital “stranger danger,” safe device use, and personal privacy even before they can spell “internet.” In doing so, it empowers caregivers and teachers with a much-needed resource to foster digital safety habits from the very start of a child’s life.