Managing Settings: Privacy


In this workshop, you will learn how to add a privacy policy page to your website.

Learning outcomes

  1. How to create a custom privacy policy page.
  2. How to display your privacy policy page in your footer area.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is a privacy policy?
  2. Why do all websites need a privacy policy?

Transcript

Hi, and welcome to Learn WordPress. Are you keen to add a privacy policy page to your website? Well, let’s jump right in. In this workshop, we will cover how to create a custom policy page and how to display it in your footer area. It is recommended to all website owners to add a privacy policy page to your site, as it is a document required by law that discloses the information you collect about visitors to your website.

Let’s visit an established website and scroll down to the footer area and here you will find a link to the privacy policy page of this website. And once you open it up, here we will be able to view the types of data collected. Let’s also visit the wordpress.org website and see what their privacy policy page looks like. This privacy policy describes how wordpress.org uses and protects information that is given to them.

Next, let’s talk about how WordPress has made life easier for users. When we open up pages, you would have noticed that WordPress has simplified the process by providing us with a template privacy policy that you can modify to meet your needs. There are various subheadings with suggested text. But you can add and remove whatever you need. And some of the topics that are covered include media, cookies, embedded content from other websites, who we share your data with, how long we retain your data, what rights you have over your data, and lastly, where we send your data. When you are happy with your changes click Publish. But let’s look at some more options that we have.

Let’s make our way back to the dashboard. Scroll down to Settings and click on Privacy. Here you will be able to edit or preview your privacy policy page. And check out the privacy policy guide for extra help and support. When you scroll down, you have the option to create a new privacy policy page or change the one you’re using. If you would like to change your privacy policy page, click on the dropdown button and select the page of your choice. If you would like to create a new privacy policy page, click on Create. If you decide to create a new page, you have the same template, which you can modify and customise to meet your requirements. And once you are happy with your changes, click Publish.

So when you have edited and published your privacy policy page, you would want it to display in your footer area. And this will all depend on which theme you’re using. Some classic themes display the privacy policy page automatically when you publish your page. And other classic themes require you to add a page to a footer widget area or even a sidebar widget. If you’re using a classic theme such as Twenty Twenty-One, you won’t have to do anything. So let’s make our way to the front of the website and scroll down to the footer area. And here we don’t see any link to the privacy policy page. So let’s make our way back to the dashboard, click on Pages, open the privacy policy page, change the content as needed, and when you’re ready, click Publish. Then let’s make our way back to the front of our website and scroll down to the footer area. And as you will notice the privacy policy page has been added automatically.

Some classic themes won’t display the privacy policy page automatically. So let’s make our way to the dashboard. Go to Appearance and click on customise and when you’re in the Customizer, click on Menus and create a new menu. Name your menu appropriately and then click on Next. Click on Add Items and select the privacy policy page, and when you’re done, click on Publish. Make your way back to the dashboard, Appearance and click on Widgets. You can add blocks to your sidebar, header area and footer area. I’m going to select Footer One. Click on Add block and search for the navigation menu. And then I will select the privacy policy menu that I’ve created. Click on Update, and then make your way back to the front of the website. And if you scroll down to the footer area, you will notice that the privacy policy page now displays. Please be reminded, themes dictate your widget experience and therefore options will differ depending on which theme you’re using. Or you may decide to install the Classic Widgets plugin to restore the previous or classic WordPress widget settings screen, or search for other widget plugins to meet your needs.

Lastly, let’s see how it works if you’re using a block-based theme, and have opted in for full site editing. If you have activated a block-based theme such as Twenty Twenty-Two make your way to Appearance, and click on Editor. This will open up your Site Editor. Click on the WordPress icon or site icon top left and make your way to template parts and click on footer, and here you can edit your footer template part. Let’s open up the List View. Select Proudly Powered by WordPress and then click on Insert After. And now we are going to add a Navigation block. Click on Select Menu, the one we’ve already created, and choose the privacy policy. Click on Save twice, and then let’s make our way to the front end of our website. And when you scroll down you will notice that the privacy policy page is now visible in your footer template part.

Best of luck as you create your own privacy policy page and visit Learn WordPress for more workshops and training material.

Workshop Details



Presenters

Wes Theron
@west7

I am an Instructional Designer for the WordPress open-source project sponsored by Automattic. I am a strong supporter of the open-source movement. I have a background in education and content development. I am a husband, father, dreamer and lifelong learner.