Keeping Your Online Data Safe wellbeing lesson plan
A secondary wellbeing lesson for Years 10 to 13 that helps Australian teachers introduce online privacy and personal data protection through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise what counts as personal information, understand how it can be shared or exposed through everyday internet and social media use, and practise safer choices around privacy settings, sharing and online communication.
Online Safety, AI & Digital Literacy
Snapshot
Keeping Your Online Data Safe
The lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce online privacy and personal data protection with senior secondary students. Feedback: 4.3/5 from 153 teacher ratings
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Protecting personal information and building critical digital habits
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise what counts as personal information, including details such as location, contact information and photos
recognise how personal information can be collected, shared or exposed through everyday internet and social media use
recognise when an app, website or online request may be asking for more information than necessary
Understand
understand how a digital footprint can build over time through everyday online activity
understand why privacy settings, passwords and sharing choices can affect personal safety online
Practise
practise reviewing or adjusting privacy settings on common online platforms
practise deciding what personal information is appropriate to share in different online contexts
practise using clear, respectful language when discussing personal information and privacy boundaries online
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for senior secondary students in Years 10 to 13 who are managing an increasingly independent online presence, including social media accounts, apps and everyday internet use.
It is suitable for:
secondary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care or advisory sessions
digital literacy or online safety programs
preparation for further study, employment or independent digital use
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing online privacy and data protection Use when students need a clear introduction to personal information, privacy settings and safe sharing choices.
Building digital literacy in wellbeing or advisory time Use when embedding online safety and critical digital thinking into regular wellbeing or advisory programs.
Reinforcing safe social media habits Use when revisiting how personal information is shared and managed across social media and everyday internet use.
Preparing students for further study or work Use when students are building a digital footprint relevant to applications, employment or further education.
Supporting critical thinking about AI and online data Use when students need practical language for questioning how personal information may be collected or used online.
Creating a structured digital literacy discussion Use when you want a calm, teacher led discussion about privacy, safe choices and respectful online behaviour.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Senior secondary students manage a growing amount of personal information online, often across multiple apps, accounts and platforms. Building clear, practical judgment about what to share and how to protect personal information supports safer digital habits over time. Protecting personal information online is not only about avoiding risk. It also involves helping students think critically about how their information is collected, used and shared, including through social media and emerging technologies such as AI. This lesson supports students to build confidence in managing their own privacy and digital footprint, without framing everyday internet or social media use as something to fear.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Digital literacy Students build understanding of how personal information is collected and shared online.
Critical thinking Students question why apps, platforms or AI tools may request personal information.
Privacy awareness Students consider how privacy settings and sharing choices affect their personal safety.
Decision making Students practise deciding what personal information is appropriate to share in different contexts.
Respectful communication Students use clear, respectful language when discussing privacy boundaries with others online.
Self management Students build confidence managing their own digital footprint and online presence.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students not to share specific passwords, account details or personal online activity during discussion
Frame the discussion around general examples and scenarios rather than personal disclosures
Make clear the lesson is about building safer digital habits, not judging current online use
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
During delivery
Use general examples such as location sharing, app permissions and social media posts
Encourage students to think critically about why platforms or apps request certain information
Allow time for students to discuss privacy choices in pairs or small groups before whole class discussion
Keep the tone practical rather than alarmist about technology or online platforms
Supporting safe discussion
Encourage students to use general examples rather than naming specific apps, accounts or classmates
Remind students that privacy choices and boundaries can look different depending on personal context
Direct students to a trusted adult if they have concerns about their own online safety
Adaptation options
Use small group discussion for students who prefer not to share online habits publicly
Extend the discussion into AI and data collection for more digitally confident groups
Provide simplified examples of privacy settings for students with less prior exposure
