Privacy Evaluations

Help protect student data. Use our privacy evaluations before choosing edtech tools for your school.
As part of the Common Sense Privacy Evaluation Initiative, privacy evaluations break down complex privacy policies and help you make informed choices to protect student information online. Our privacy team goes beyond the requirements of COPPA, FERPA, PPRA, and other federal and state privacy regulations. We consider a broad range of legal requirements and industry best practices to pinpoint what you need to know about company policies on safety, privacy, security, and compliance.
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1979 Revolution: A Cinematic Adventure Game
The criteria for "Not Recommended For Use" measure whether or not a vendor has done the bare minimum to allow people to have even a rudimentary understanding about how the vendor protects user privacy. The four criteria here are all basics of sound privacy and security practice. Vendors who do not meet these basic requirements can potentially run afoul of state and federal privacy laws. As with the "Use with Caution" criteria, a "Not Recommended" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies and observable security practices, their systems do not provide adequate guarantees that information stored in their systems will be protected.
Not Recommended
  • Privacy policies are not available.
  • Site uses encryption.
  • Site forces the use of encryption.
See full evaluation
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24 Game – Math Card Puzzle
The criteria for "Use with Caution" are narrowly focused around data uses related to creating profiles that aren't related to any educational purpose, and using data to target ads. We include both first party (ie, the vendor that builds the service) and third party (any company given access by the vendor) data use. It's worth highlighting that using data to profile students violates multiple state laws, and in some cases also violates federal law. A service can be designated "Use with Caution" for either a lack of transparency around data use -- which creates the potential for profiling and behavioral targeting -- or for clearly stating that they use data to target advertisements and/or create profiles. As with any application being considered for use within schools, school and/or district staff should review the privacy policies and terms of service to ensure that they meet the legal and practical requirements of their state laws and school policies. As with the "Not Recommended" criteria, a "Use with Caution" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies, we do not have adequate guarantees that data will not be used by first or third parties to create non-educational profiles or to target behavioral ads.
Use with Caution
Basic evaluation
  • Privacy policies do not indicate a version or effective date.
  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether data are shared for advertising and/or marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays behavioral or contextual advertising.
  • Unclear whether this product allows data collection by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product allows third parties to use data to create ad profiles, data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
See basic evaluation
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270 to Win
The criteria for "Not Recommended For Use" measure whether or not a vendor has done the bare minimum to allow people to have even a rudimentary understanding about how the vendor protects user privacy. The four criteria here are all basics of sound privacy and security practice. Vendors who do not meet these basic requirements can potentially run afoul of state and federal privacy laws. As with the "Use with Caution" criteria, a "Not Recommended" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies and observable security practices, their systems do not provide adequate guarantees that information stored in their systems will be protected.
Not Recommended
  • Privacy policies are not available.
  • Site uses encryption.
  • Site forces the use of encryption.
See full evaluation
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30hands Pro: Create & Show What You Know
The criteria for "Use with Caution" are narrowly focused around data uses related to creating profiles that aren't related to any educational purpose, and using data to target ads. We include both first party (ie, the vendor that builds the service) and third party (any company given access by the vendor) data use. It's worth highlighting that using data to profile students violates multiple state laws, and in some cases also violates federal law. A service can be designated "Use with Caution" for either a lack of transparency around data use -- which creates the potential for profiling and behavioral targeting -- or for clearly stating that they use data to target advertisements and/or create profiles. As with any application being considered for use within schools, school and/or district staff should review the privacy policies and terms of service to ensure that they meet the legal and practical requirements of their state laws and school policies. As with the "Not Recommended" criteria, a "Use with Caution" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies, we do not have adequate guarantees that data will not be used by first or third parties to create non-educational profiles or to target behavioral ads.
Use with Caution
Basic evaluation
  • Privacy polices do indicate a version or effective date.
  • Data are not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Data are not shared for advertising or marketing.
  • Behavioral or contextual advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Unclear whether this product uses data to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Unclear whether this product allows third parties to use data to create ad profiles, data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
See basic evaluation
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3D Molecules Editor
The criteria for "Not Recommended For Use" measure whether or not a vendor has done the bare minimum to allow people to have even a rudimentary understanding about how the vendor protects user privacy. The four criteria here are all basics of sound privacy and security practice. Vendors who do not meet these basic requirements can potentially run afoul of state and federal privacy laws. As with the "Use with Caution" criteria, a "Not Recommended" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies and observable security practices, their systems do not provide adequate guarantees that information stored in their systems will be protected.
Not Recommended
  • Privacy policies are not available.
  • Site uses encryption.
  • Site forces the use of encryption.
See full evaluation
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3rd World Farmer
The criteria for "Not Recommended For Use" measure whether or not a vendor has done the bare minimum to allow people to have even a rudimentary understanding about how the vendor protects user privacy. The four criteria here are all basics of sound privacy and security practice. Vendors who do not meet these basic requirements can potentially run afoul of state and federal privacy laws. As with the "Use with Caution" criteria, a "Not Recommended" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies and observable security practices, their systems do not provide adequate guarantees that information stored in their systems will be protected.
Not Recommended
  • Privacy policies are not available.
  • Site uses encryption.
  • Site forces the use of encryption.
See full evaluation
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ABCmouse.com
Indicates that the product meets all our required privacy safeguards, but more research should be completed prior to use.
Use Responsibly
Full evaluation
  • Intended for children under 13.
  • Collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
  • Personal information is not displayed publicly.
  • Users can interact with trusted users and/or students.
  • Unclear whether this product provides notice in the event of a data breach.
  • Parental consent is required.
See full evaluation
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ABCya
The criteria for "Use with Caution" are narrowly focused around data uses related to creating profiles that aren't related to any educational purpose, and using data to target ads. We include both first party (ie, the vendor that builds the service) and third party (any company given access by the vendor) data use. It's worth highlighting that using data to profile students violates multiple state laws, and in some cases also violates federal law. A service can be designated "Use with Caution" for either a lack of transparency around data use -- which creates the potential for profiling and behavioral targeting -- or for clearly stating that they use data to target advertisements and/or create profiles. As with any application being considered for use within schools, school and/or district staff should review the privacy policies and terms of service to ensure that they meet the legal and practical requirements of their state laws and school policies. As with the "Not Recommended" criteria, a "Use with Caution" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies, we do not have adequate guarantees that data will not be used by first or third parties to create non-educational profiles or to target behavioral ads.
Use with Caution
Full evaluation
  • Privacy polices do indicate a version or effective date.
  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Data are shared for advertising or marketing.
  • Behavioral or contextual advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are not collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Data are used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Third parties can use data to create ad profiles, data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
See full evaluation
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ABCya Animate
The criteria for "Use with Caution" are narrowly focused around data uses related to creating profiles that aren't related to any educational purpose, and using data to target ads. We include both first party (ie, the vendor that builds the service) and third party (any company given access by the vendor) data use. It's worth highlighting that using data to profile students violates multiple state laws, and in some cases also violates federal law. A service can be designated "Use with Caution" for either a lack of transparency around data use -- which creates the potential for profiling and behavioral targeting -- or for clearly stating that they use data to target advertisements and/or create profiles. As with any application being considered for use within schools, school and/or district staff should review the privacy policies and terms of service to ensure that they meet the legal and practical requirements of their state laws and school policies. As with the "Not Recommended" criteria, a "Use with Caution" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies, we do not have adequate guarantees that data will not be used by first or third parties to create non-educational profiles or to target behavioral ads.
Use with Caution
Full evaluation
  • Privacy polices do indicate a version or effective date.
  • Unclear whether data are sold or rented to third parties.
  • Data are shared for advertising or marketing.
  • Behavioral or contextual advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are not collected by third-party advertising or tracking services.
  • Data are used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Third parties can use data to create ad profiles, data enhancement, and/or targeted advertisements.
See full evaluation
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Academo
The criteria for "Not Recommended For Use" measure whether or not a vendor has done the bare minimum to allow people to have even a rudimentary understanding about how the vendor protects user privacy. The four criteria here are all basics of sound privacy and security practice. Vendors who do not meet these basic requirements can potentially run afoul of state and federal privacy laws. As with the "Use with Caution" criteria, a "Not Recommended" designation is NOT a sign that a vendor is necessarily doing anything unethical or illegal. It is a sign that, based on publicly available policies and observable security practices, their systems do not provide adequate guarantees that information stored in their systems will be protected.
Not Recommended
  • Privacy policies are not available.
  • Site uses encryption.
  • Site forces the use of encryption.
See full evaluation
Want to know more about teaching with tech? Browse Common Sense edtech tool reviews to find the right tools for your classroom. These reviews focus on the learning potential of digital tools and are separate from privacy evaluations.
About Privacy Evaluations

The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to streamline making an informed decision about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.

Our core evaluation criteria are freely available and will remain freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and the information security primer we released. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process.

Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.

About Common Sense Privacy Evaluation