A phone app may ask for access to the camera, microphone, contacts or photos. These are different permissions, and a request should make sense in the context of what you are doing. You can pause to understand it.
Match access to the action
A video call may need the microphone and camera. A simple text task may not. Read the wording of the request and decide whether the access is needed for the feature you actually want to use.
Review existing choices
Find the privacy or permission area in your phone settings. Review one app you recognise. The available controls differ by device, so read the explanation before changing a setting. A feature may stop working when a necessary permission is removed.
Protect the lock screen
Use a suitable screen lock and review how much message content appears while the phone is locked. Keep recovery details secure. If someone helps you with settings, stay present and understand the changes rather than handing over unrestricted access.
Try this yourself
Review the permissions of one familiar app and write down what each permission is used for.
Check your understanding
Can you explain why the app needs the access, or is there something to investigate?