A father who thinks that his Bitcoin secret is safe

[GEMIN_M4]

Few people believe that teaching Bitcoin to their children at early stage isn't bad, but what the world has turned into today makes me think how dangerous it can be.

I just knew that my neighbour is a Bitcoin investor through his 7 years old son, I was outside with a friend receiving fresh breeze under the mango tree in our compound and the boy came along to play with us, while we were having a discussion about Binance exchange he uttered Bitcoin and said " my daddy has many Bitcoin".

I cautioned him instantly, but I can't stop thinking about the dangers that this kid can bring to his father, different "what if" started coming to my mind, this boy can say the same thing in his school, or to bad people without him knowing.

Somehow I believe the father must have exposed his crypto wallet balance to his son or maybe after the father lectured the son about Bitcoin few times the son started to think that his father has Bitcoin? Either ways this is not good, and the reason why I haven't try talking to his father is because of how unfriendly he is even though we are neighbours.

What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

[Nwada001]

I think the first approach to all of this is to study your child first before anything. If you are the type of parent who pays attention to details, you will know about your children who have a loud mouth. This is not just about age, but some children can be very lousy. If your child is that type, then you will limit the type of sensitive information you allow them to gain access to.

[Floxynice]

If we decide not to transfer the knowledge we know to our children or anyone, we should be ready to accept the fact that all the bitcoins we laboured for will be lost the moment we die or get incapacitated. I will teach my children about bitcoin from an early age, but I will not make the mistake this father made; telling a young child who still needs to be put under control how much bitcoins he has or telling the  child his seedphrase and other very important information that'll put his bitcoins at risk. Children will always be children, only teach them things that are age appropriate, they will figure out more as they grow older.

[Fiatless]

What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

You have to understand your environment. This understanding will help you know which information should be given out to children who cannot exercise restraint. If you are aware that exposing that you own Bitcoin might attract criminals, then you shouldn't show a child anything about Bitcoin. There is this assumption in some areas that anyone who owns Bitcoin is rich. Most of these folks don't know that Bitcoin could be bought in bits, so they just assume that you own one or more.

Children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood. They shouldn't be bugged with lessons about Bitcoin. Their school work is even too tedious to add more lessons. My take is that young people from sixteen and above could be introduced to Bitcoin.

You would have to inform his father about the consequences of his son's comments. Then he should warn the kid never to mention Bitcoin anywhere.

[Antona]

That's a serious opsec fail by the dad honestly. Kid's just being a kid but he could put a target on the family, best correction is to never show them the actual wallet or amounts, teach them what Bitcoin is, not what you have big difference

[retreat]

I just find your story absurd, that a child would immediately grasp the topic you're discussing. It's like a made-up story. A child wouldn't say something like that right away, and what kind of father would teach their child about Bitcoin at age 7? It's a bit far-fetched, in my opinion. I mean, if you're going to make up a story, it should be more plausible, or just use it as an illustration rather than claiming it's your own.

[Sammye3]

The knowledge of Bitcoin is something that could be beneficial to a kid at an early start based on how the world is becoming digitally centralized but on the other end, it's best to caution them as well as some knowledge can be very dangerous depending on the situation it was applied.

I think it's best you have a conversation with the father as this concerns him and could endanger his safety if it was said to the wrong ears. At your own capacity, you could also caution the child on the dangers of such information said our publicly without formal knowledge and how it could affect him and his father, I think that could give him a sense of awareness to take precautions.

[Mrbluntzy]

What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

The way to avoid this is by not telling your kids that you are holding so much Bitcoin, don't tell them such thing at a very early age when they are not yet done being a baby. Any parents that wants their children to know about their Bitcoin should at least wait until the child has come of age, the right age is when the child is smart to know the kind of information to withhold from strangers. @OP, I don't know how old this child you are talking about is but a teenager would not easily give out this kind of information especially if as a parent you instruct the child not to tell anyone about it but if you tell a 4 or 5 year old about your Bitcoin, they will definitely tell someone because they are still baby who thinks giving out the information is harmless.

[sleepfirefly]

What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

if you are going to teach your kid about your bitcoin or how much money you have, you also have to teach your son about humility and privacy there is a reason why a lot of rich kids are taught that even though they live luxuriously they are not supposed to let it get into their heads and be too proud of it or else they might get themselves in danger

[famososMuertos]

OK… but what is this topic really about? Why create such far‑fetched stories, trying to add nuances that could apply to any level of privacy (lovers, drinks, gambling, jewelry, shopping, etc) when the Bitcoin scenario makes that context entirely different?

Anyway, there are hundreds of guides in this forum that explain in detail the steps to follow to keep your environment secure. It’s not just about protecting your secret keys; although that is a very important part, but it’s not everything.

Do you remember the phrase " $5 wrench attack"’ comes from?

There are variations of the classic meme:

[snowpega]

<.....>
What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

First of all, if you come to know this that his son is talking about his father's bitcoin investment publicly, then you should talk to his father so that he should have to understand his son that his son should not discuss his father's bitcoin investment publicly because this can raise a lot of problems that he can not even imagine. Believe me, I have read a relatable case a long time ago where someone was asked to share all his data after he got kidnapped, and then the kidnappers stole all the money from his wallet.

He had no choice left; he thought he should share all the details to save his life from kidnappers. But now, as far as I remember, he reported about the kidnappers, and then he got some of his money back. There is nothing wrong with educating a kid about modern technology, but what is more important is that parents should never tell their kids how much money they are holding in bitcoin and educate their progeny that never share this kind of information publicly because it can lead to a threat to their family.

[BIT-BENDER]

Few people believe that teaching Bitcoin to their children at early stage isn't bad, but what the world has turned into today makes me think how dangerous it can be.

I just knew that my neighbour is a Bitcoin investor through his 7 years old son, I was outside with a friend receiving fresh breeze under the mango tree in our compound and the boy came along to play with us, while we were having a discussion about Binance exchange he uttered Bitcoin and said " my daddy has many Bitcoin".

I cautioned him instantly, but I can't stop thinking about the dangers that this kid can bring to his father, different "what if" started coming to my mind, this boy can say the same thing in his school, or to bad people without him knowing.

Somehow I believe the father must have exposed his crypto wallet balance to his son or maybe after the father lectured the son about Bitcoin few times the son started to think that his father has Bitcoin? Either ways this is not good, and the reason why I haven't try talking to his father is because of how unfriendly he is even though we are neighbours.

What do you think is the best way to correct this of the kid is yours?

The boy is 7 years old, that is how they mostly behave, there are 7 year old you should them $5 and they won't stop telling friends or anyone they can that you have plenty money, it is just a childish exaggeration, you should have experienced this a lot or at least a few times.
There is a big Chance that his dad doesn't even have as many Bitcoin as the kid exaggerated it to be.
And also you are guilt in a way because you were already discussing about binance with your friend what are you doing on binance if you aren't into Bitcoin or at least Crypto-currency, so you also broke anonymity.

[FirmWars]

After telling your child that you have Bitcoin, also tell them  not to tell anyone about it so that they will keep the information to themselves. There's how children act, if you tell them something and ask them not to disclose it to anyone, they won't disappoint you but it also depends on how mature you child is, so you must study them first to know whether they are ready to bear such information or you should give them time to grow more before telling them.

[Jewan420]

There is nothing wrong with teaching your children about Bitcoin, it can be done from a young age. I don't want my life's worth of Bitcoin to be buried as soon as I die. But I would never tell my child about the size of my wealth, especially when my child is not old enough or wise enough to discuss the size of my wealth with him.

Maybe when I can make my child a competent Bitcoiner, I will tell him about the size of my wealth, but before that, my child must be responsible and trustworthy and loyal. Otherwise, I would prefer to donate this wealth to the beneficiaries.

[btcwoot]

a kid could say the same thing about real estate or any other asset. The future will be bitcoin is not a secret and its a fairly regular commodity used and held by everyone.

[BitMaxz]

What do you think is the best way to correct this if the kid is yours?

If you're talking about your son, I think you should tell him that you don't have Bitcoin. Always remind him that you're just teaching him to learn about Bitcoin and how to use it, but you don't have a Bitcoin, not even a single one. I believe a child will only expose that you know Bitcoin but you don't have a Bitcoin if you didn't show him your wallet. Unlike your neighbor's son, he maybe saw his father's wallet; that is why his son told you his father had many bitcoins.

So there's no wrong in teaching our son to learn about Bitcoin; the only danger is if you tell your son that you have many bitcoins. You better not tell your son you have them; keep reminding him that you just want him to be aware of Bitcoin.
If someone tries to ask your son, I think the discussion will end up with nothing because it's already on his mind that you don't have BTC.

[Stalker22]

In truth, this isnt a "Bitcoin issue".  If this child ran around telling everyone his father had $100k cash under his mattress or a gold bar in his closet, there would be equal danger.  The child is considered to be a security "leak", due to his father incompetence.  He should teach his son that bragging makes him a target and makes people dislike him.

[CryptSafe]

I think the first approach to all of this is to study your child first before anything. If you are the type of parent who pays attention to details, you will know about your children who have a loud mouth. This is not just about age, but some children can be very lousy. If your child is that type, then you will limit the type of sensitive information you allow them to gain access to.

This could be the best measure in getting your child exposed to sensitive information as this. As a parent, it is best to know what your child is capable of doing before letting them get access to some sensitive information, because whatever you tell them at such an age should be something that would not put you or them into trouble although some kids are very smart to be able to conceal information but not every kid you see are that sensitive as some are lousy just as you've said.

[Rockstarguy]

I think the first approach to all of this is to study your child first before anything. If you are the type of parent who pays attention to details, you will know about your children who have a loud mouth. This is not just about age, but some children can be very lousy. If your child is that type, then you will limit the type of sensitive information you allow them to gain access to.

A child will always be a child, and it is normal for children to boast about their possessions outside. One thing you also need to know is that the child you know under your roof is different from the child who goes out. Sometimes parents are even shocked by what their children do outside.

There is a certain age at which children don't even know what a secret is—information that needs to be kept secure and not shared with anyone. As parents, it is very important to understand what children need to know. That is why the best age to teach children about bitcoin is during their teenage years, because at this age they understand better and can handle privacy and security, unlike when they are younger.

[PrivacyG]

It is good to teach the curious child about Bitcoin.  It is definitely a stupid thing to tell your child about the Assets you are holding.  Does the child HAVE to know that you are holding Bitcoin too?  Can they not only know that Bitcoin is a very interesting Asset compared to the rest?

Responsibility goes a very long way.  And telling your child sensitive information like this is simply being an irresponsible adult and parent.  Children are often stupid and can not make the difference between good and bad.  They will do stupid things.