Children’s apps are supposed to entertain and educate. Instead, many quietly harvest data: names, locations, photos, voice recordings, purchase histories. The list keeps growing.
A new analysis by SafetyDetectives shows the scale. Half of the most popular child-targeted apps collect broad personal data. Among 74 apps studied globally, 34 collect data. Twenty-one share it. On average, each app pulls 5.7 data points.
Some apps are worse. Eleven of the most aggressive collect seven or more types of personal information. Together, these data-hungry apps account for more than half of all data points tracked.
Developers often promise encryption and compliance with Google Play Families Policy. Reality diverges. Only 62% of these apps allow parents or children to request deletion of collected data.
Location matters too. Apps in Oceania, particularly New Zealand, gather more data per app than in other regions. European averages vary widely, highlighting inconsistent privacy practices.
The risks are clear: Excessive data collection, in-app purchases with aggressive tracking, opaque privacy policies, limited parental controls, exposure to inappropriate content, and vulnerabilities in app security.
Every gap leaves room for exploitation, and marketing to children, malicious actors, and even criminal activity becomes possible.
Parents face a challenge. Transparency is scarce, and parental supervision is limited. Children’s data is quietly being commodified.
This is more than a technical problem, it’s a societal one. It touches law, education, ethics. The takeaway is simple. Know the apps your children use.
SafetyDetectives advises parents to:
Before Downloading:
- Check privacy labels on app stores.
- Read independent reviews (such as Common Sense Media).
- Avoid subscription-based apps with vague policies and age gates like “Are you over 13?”
- Support stronger enforcement of children’s privacy laws.
- Push schools to vet EdTech tools more thoroughly.
Opt for safer apps like:
- Monkey Preschool Lunchbox (paid, no data collection).
- PBS Kids Games (free, strong protections).
“Until regulators are able to rein in these data mining practices, parents, schools, and watchdogs must act as the first firewall against apps that quietly exploit children’s data for profit,” the company says.
Playtime should be safe. Right now, it is a data battlefield. Until regulations catch up, vigilance is the first line of defense.
Information Security Buzz News Editor
Kirsten Doyle has been in the technology journalism and editing space for nearly 24 years, during which time she has developed a great love for all aspects of technology, as well as words themselves. Her experience spans B2B tech, with a lot of focus on cybersecurity, cloud, enterprise, digital transformation, and data centre. Her specialties are in news, thought leadership, features, white papers, and PR writing, and she is an experienced editor for both print and online publications.
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