← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Privacy settings

A switch in an app or account that controls who can see your information, like making it private or friends only.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 42, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Digital footprint and privacy — Module 8, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Data privacy and the Australian Privacy Principles — Module 20, IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 5.3 Cyber Security — Module 40, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Staying Safe Online — Module 19, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 20, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Networks and Cyber Threats — Module 32, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 11

Understanding Privacy settings in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Friends only is a privacy setting that controls who can see your information, so only approved friends see the photos. Reviewing your privacy settings means checking the switches again, because apps can change and you might have set something to public by mistake. Friends only limits who can see the photo. A school uniform can show where you go to school, so it is safer to share with fewer people. Location sharing can show where you are or where you live. Switch it off or limit it, and ask a trusted adult if you are unsure. Public means anyone can see it. Friends only is more private.

Common mistakes: The word off is text, so it needs quotes. Without them Python thinks off is a variable name and gives an error. It should be location = "off". The text "private" is missing its closing quote mark. It should be profile = "private".

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 31–56) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
What does a privacy setting do?
Makes your device run fasterControls who can see your information
Matches
Profile: Public (to keep my info safe)
↓
Public lets everyone see your information, so it does not keep it safe. Change it to Private or Friends only.
Applying
Meanings
Term
privacy setting
Meaning
A switch in an app or account that controls who can see your information, like making it private or friends only.
Practice
Profile: Friends only
Testing
Gaps
postVisibility = ""
Check Answer
Spots
2sharing = "friends only"
3location = off

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Quick Questions

1. What does a privacy setting do?
A. Makes your device run faster
B. Controls who can see your information ✓
A privacy setting is a switch in an app or account that decides who can see your information.
2. Your account is set to PRIVATE. Who can usually see your posts?
A. Everyone on the internet
B. Only people you have approved ✓
Private means only people you choose can see your posts. Public means anyone can see them.
3. Which setting is the safer choice for a photo of you in your school uniform?
A. Friends only ✓
B. Public
Friends only limits who can see the photo. A school uniform can show where you go to school, so it is safer to share with fewer people.
4. An app asks to share your location with everyone all the time. What is a smart choice?
A. Turn location sharing off or limit it to people you trust ✓
B. Always leave it on so the app works better
Location sharing can show where you are or where you live. Switch it off or limit it, and ask a trusted adult if you are unsure.
5. You set up your privacy settings once. Should you ever check them again?
A. Yes, apps can change and settings can be reset ✓
B. No, they stay the same forever
Checking settings regularly makes sure your information is still shared only with the people you want.

Match the Pairs

Account: Private → Only people you approve can see your posts and profile
Location sharing: Off → The app cannot show other people where you are
A setting that lets only your approved friends see your photos → Who can see my photos: Friends only
Checking your settings regularly to make sure they still protect you → Settings > Privacy > Review who can see my posts
Profile: Public (to keep my info safe) → Public lets everyone see your information, so it does not keep it safe. Change it to Private or Friends only.
Location sharing: On for all apps, just in case → Location sharing should only be on when an app really needs it. Turn it off or limit it so strangers cannot see where you are.

Key Term

privacy setting
A switch in an app or account that controls who can see your information, like making it private or friends only.

Fill in the Blanks

1. postVisibility = "private"
Hint: Type the setting value that keeps your posts visible only to you.
2. locationSharing = "off"
Hint: Type the setting value that stops an app from knowing where you are.
3. photoVisibility = "friends only"
Hint: Type the setting value that limits who sees your photos to people you accepted.
4. if visibility == "public": print("Anyone can see this!")
Hint: Type the setting value that lets anyone online see your post.
5. locationSharing = "on" if locationSharing == "on": print("Turn it off!")
Hint: Type the operator that checks whether the setting is equal to a value.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A profile = "private"
B sharing = "friends only"
C location = off
D print("Settings saved")
Line C — The word off is text, so it needs quotes. Without them Python thinks off is a variable name and gives an error. It should be location = "off".
Question 2
A name = "Sam"
B profile = "private
C print("Profile:", profile)
Line B — The text "private" is missing its closing quote mark. It should be profile = "private".
Question 3
A posts = "friends only"
B if posts == "friends only":
C print("Anyone can see")
Line C — The setting is friends only, so the message must say that only friends can see the posts. Saying anyone can see is wrong. It should be print("Friends can see").
Question 4
A # Hide my location on holiday
B location_sharing = True
C print("Location hidden")
Line B — To hide your location you must turn location sharing off, which is False. True would keep sharing it. It should be location_sharing = False.
Question 5
A prefs = {}
B prefs["profile"] = "private"
C prefs["location"] = "off"
D prefs[posts] = "friends"
E print(prefs)
Line D — The setting name posts is text, so it needs quotes inside the brackets. It should be prefs["posts"] = "friends".

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