Okay moms, add this one to the baby registry — right next to the swaddle blankets and the white noise machine.

You can now reserve an email address for your child before they ever take their first steps — and it only costs a dollar. Yes, really.

Here’s why this is actually a really big deal, and why savvy parents everywhere are already jumping on it.

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What Is the “Born Private” Program?

Privacy-focused company Proton launched a new initiative called “Born Private” that allows families to reserve a private, encrypted email address for their child for up to 15 years — for just $1 — keeping their digital identity safe from tracking before they’re even old enough to need an account. NewsBreak

Think of it like locking in the perfect username now, so no one else can snag it. We all know how annoying it is when you go to sign up for something and your name is already taken — don’t let that happen to your kid!

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Why Should You Care About Your Child’s Email Privacy?

Here’s where it gets a little eye-opening. You know how you let your kid log into a school app or a game, and suddenly they need an email address? According to Proton’s own research, 43% of children under 18 already have a personal email address, and a whopping 74% of those accounts are hosted on Gmail. CyberInsider

And Gmail isn’t exactly… neutral.

Mainstream email services routinely insert tracking pixels into messages, collect metadata, analyze behavior, and use inbox activity to refine advertising systems or even train AI models. For children, this means their early interests, choices, and even mistakes feed Big Tech’s algorithms before they’re old enough to understand what’s happening. Proton

That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?

Proton’s research shows that only 14% of parents strongly trust major tech companies with their children’s data, NewsBreak and yet most of us hand it over by default because we simply don’t have another option. Until now.

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How Does It Work? (It’s Super Simple)

The whole process takes just a few minutes. Here’s the breakdown:

Step 1: Go to proton.me/mail/born-private and choose your child’s email address (think emmalynn@proton.me or jacobsmith@protonmail.com).

Step 2: Enter your own email address — Proton will use it to send you a voucher containing the activation code your child will need to activate their account later. Then make a donation starting at just $1. Proton

Step 3: Sit back and hold onto that voucher. When your child is ready — whether that’s next month or 15 years from now — you hand over the unique link and QR code, and their account is created: fully private, fully theirs. Proton

And don’t stress if you misplace the voucher down the road. If you lose it, you can easily request a new copy. Proton Crisis averted.

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What Makes Proton Different From Gmail or Outlook?

Great question. Here’s the big difference: Proton Mail accounts use end-to-end and zero-access encryption, advanced phishing and spam protections, and open-source code — so anyone can verify that the apps do what Proton says they do. And because Proton is based in Switzerland, your family’s data is protected by some of the strongest privacy laws in the world. Proton

Translation: Not even Proton itself can peek inside the inbox. That’s a very different situation than what’s happening with free email services you’re probably used to.

And here’s another bonus for the long game: Because many people keep their first email address well into adulthood, data collected early in life may continue to shape a child’s online identity for years. Tech Times Reserving a Proton address now means your kid starts their digital life with a clean slate — not one that’s been pre-loaded with years of behavioral data before they even knew what the internet was.

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Where Does the $1 Go?

100% of the donation funds go to the Proton Foundation, the nonprofit shareholder dedicated to defending digital rights and ensuring privacy remains the default for the next generation. NewsBreak So it’s not just a smart parenting move — it’s a feel-good one, too.

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The Bottom Line for Michiana Moms

You pack their lunch, you double-knot their shoes, you teach them to look both ways before crossing the street. Protecting your kid’s digital identity before the internet gets its hands on it? That’s just the next step in the same game.

Research shows that 71% of children have their own device by age 10, NewsBreak so this is coming faster than you think — no matter how old your little one is right now.

For just a dollar and about five minutes of your time, you can lock in a private, safe, spam-free email address that will be waiting for your child when they’re ready — completely untouched and untracked.

👉 Reserve your child’s email now at proton.me/mail/born-private

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Sources: Proton.me | GlobeNewswire | CyberInsider | TechTimes