The Family Sharing features offered by technology giants such as Apple, Amazon and Google are becoming popular among many users today. This enables people within the same family to use similar items like buying devices, subscribing for certain services etc. Although convenient, Family Sharing has its implications on matters of privacy and security. Here’s what you need to know about managing your family’s privacy while using these services.
What is Family Sharing?
By using Family Sharing, one can create a shared account that will enable all members to use the same services, applications and subscriptions which are not available with individual accounts. A good example is Apple’s Family Sharing which enables you to share purchases on iTunes, App Store or Apple TV among your family members. Similarly, Amazon allows you to share Prime membership benefits and digital content like books and movies with your family.
Even though it is beneficial in cutting expenses and making it easier to get to digital content, sharing such information among family members may raise issues of confidentiality, especially if they can access one another’s purchase history as well as other personal data.
Privacy Concerns with Family Sharing
The visibility of purchase history is among the top issues that violate people’s privacy. If you are on a family plan, the account manager (who is usually the main account holder) might also have access to what everyone buys. And what is bought here refers to everything including the downloaded apps, rented movies, or purchased e-books. This kind of visibility may be seen as an invasion of privacy by certain users, particularly on matters related to sentimental or personal goods.
For instance, if someone in your family frequently orders personal items from Amazon, they may not want others to see these purchases. To address this, Amazon offers the option to hide Amazon orders from the family. This feature can help maintain some level of privacy within Family Sharing by preventing order details from appearing in the shared account’s order history. It’s a simple way to maintain discretion without losing the benefits of shared services.
How to Protect Your Privacy on Family Sharing Platforms
In order to maintain your privacy when using Family Sharing, you can take some precautionary measures. Modifying the preferences of every single account is one simple way of doing this. On most platforms, such as Apple and Amazon, a person can decide on the data that is shared through their accounts. In Apple’s Family Sharing, for instance, one has the option of sharing his or her location, purchases as well as subscriptions with other family members.
Another useful feature is setting up different payment methods for each account. By linking a separate credit card or payment option to your personal account, you ensure that each family member’s purchases remain private. This way, even if someone is sharing a service like Apple Music, their payment history and charges will not be visible to others.
The Importance of Communication
Even though there are options for privacy, open communication is still important among family members regarding acceptable use of accounts. To illustrate, they should talk about factors such as visibility of certain purchases to third parties as well as types of content fit for sharing. By setting expectations upfront, you can avoid misunderstandings and protect everyone’s privacy.
In addition, remember to always check and, if needed, modify the settings in shared accounts. Since social media platforms keep on updating their privacy features and settings, being updated will assist you in deciding rightly about your family’s privacy.
Summary
Family Sharing is a great technique which helps in easing control as well as reducing costs allocated towards digital resources. Nevertheless, it is important to take into account issues related with privacy, particularly on delicate expenses and personal information. By using features like hiding orders on Amazon, tailoring account parameters, and being sincere with your relatives; you will be able to use Family sharing without compromising your privacy.
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
