SAN FRANCISCO – Navigating the complexities of the digital world can be daunting for families, prompting the **Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)** to release a comprehensive new guide: "[Online Privacy for Parents and Youth](https://ssd.eff.org/module/online-privacy-for-parents-and-youth)." This resource aims to empower parents and guardians to make informed decisions about their children's online engagement. **Babette Ngene**, **EFF** Public Interest Technology Director, emphasized that parents don't need to be tech experts to foster digital safety. "At **EFF**, we believe in empowering families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their digital lives," Ngene stated. "It’s about meeting families where they are and giving parents the guidance they need to have meaningful conversations with their children about digital safety, based on what works best for their families.” The guide's release is particularly pertinent given the current legislative landscape. State and local governments are increasingly considering laws that mandate age verification for online services. While often well-intentioned, the **EFF** argues these measures could inadvertently harm young people by cutting them off from essential information and supportive online communities, especially impacting vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who may find safety and connection online that is unavailable offline. **Thorin Klosowski**, **EFF** Senior Security and Privacy Activist, highlighted the importance of familial autonomy in these decisions. "Deciding how to help your young people use the internet—including engaging with video games, social media, web search, and everything else—is a complicated topic that touches on many different skillsets and ideas," Klosowski said. "But ultimately it's up to families – not governments – to decide when and how to engage with these sorts of questions." The **EFF**'s guide acknowledges that each young person's needs evolve with age. It encourages thoughtful planning to find adaptable solutions that grow alongside children. The resource helps parents explore their concerns, identify potential threats like trusting **AI** chatbots or sharing personal information, and then outlines steps to mitigate these risks. This approach allows children to continue benefiting from games, educational materials, and communication platforms crucial for their development. Furthermore, the guide includes links to parental control setup documentation for a variety of popular devices and platforms. It also provides practical, easy-to-implement advice for parents looking to quickly enhance their children’s online privacy.