These days, it feels like everyone’s online, from scrolling through TikTok to checking Snapchat or shopping on Amazon. But have you ever stopped to think about how much of your personal information is being collected? A recent BBC article by Natalie Sherman called “TikTok sued for ‘massive’ invasion of child privacy” revealed just how serious this issue can get. The lawsuit claimed TikTok was gathering data from kids without their parents’ permission, which violates the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Basically, TikTok was tracking kids when it legally wasn’t supposed to.

For many students and teachers, that’s a wake-up call. Choir teacher Stephanie Cannon said she’s worried about how much data websites collect without people even realizing it. “I think what’s concerning is that they’re collecting all sorts of data that you don’t even realize they’re collecting,” she said. “Like, if you go into your Facebook settings, you can see all these different assumptions they make about you, just based off the things you browse. Like, they can guess your political affiliation, what stores you shop at, what your interests are, things like that, which is kind of creepy to me.” Cannon also believes companies should be held responsible when users’ data gets leaked or stolen. “Yeah, I think somebody needs to be held accountable when data gets breached like that,” she said. “Companies need to take a better look at how secure their data actually is.”

According to the website DLA Piper Data Protection Laws of the World, privacy rules are different everywhere, and companies are supposed to follow strict laws to protect people’s information. Still, DLA Piper’s “Privacy Scorebox” shows that many businesses are only doing the bare minimum, treating privacy like a checklist instead of a promise to keep users safe.

Some people aren’t as worried, though. Dean of Students Joshua Stevens said, “I think it’s weird, but I’m not too concerned about it.” However, he also added that companies should face consequences if they lose user data: “They should be fined as well as paying fees to the consumers.” For students, the risks feel real. Damani Wynn, a 10th grader, said, “Yeah, because what if it does get stolen, then that’s all my private information, gone.” Whether it’s TikTok, Instagram, or even your smart speaker, one thing’s for sure, the internet remembers everything. And as more stories like TikTok’s come out, maybe it’s time we start thinking twice before we click “accept.”