Digital Safety Scenario Cards
Used in: Weeks 7–8 (Digital Money, Friction and Spending)
These cards present realistic scenarios kids ages 8–12 might encounter online or on devices. For each scenario, learners decide: Is this safe? What should I do?
The goal is awareness and confidence, not fear. Learners practice recognizing common traps and building the habit of pausing before acting.
How to Use These Cards
- Print and cut the scenario cards below.
- Read one card aloud (or give one to each student or pair).
- For each scenario, discuss:
- What is happening? (Describe the situation.)
- What is the risk? (What could go wrong?)
- What should you do? (What is the safe choice?)
- After discussing, check the guidance at the bottom of each card.
Scenario Cards
🎮 Scenario 1: The "Free" Game Upgrade
You are playing a free game on a tablet. A pop-up says: "Unlock the super pack for only $4.99! Tap here!" The buy button is big and colorful. The "no thanks" button is tiny and gray.
Discussion: What is the game trying to get you to do? Why is the "no thanks" button so small?
Safe choice: Do not tap the buy button. Close the pop-up. If you want the upgrade, talk to a trusted adult first. In-app purchases use real money, even when they look like game currency.
📧 Scenario 2: The Prize Email
You get a message that says: "Congratulations! You won a $100 gift card! Click this link to claim your prize!" You do not remember entering any contest.
Discussion: Does this seem real? How can you tell? What might happen if you click the link?
Safe choice: Do not click the link. If you did not enter a contest, you did not win one. Messages like this are often scams designed to steal personal information. Tell a trusted adult.
🛒 Scenario 3: The Online Store That Looks Weird
You find a website selling a popular toy for half the normal price. The website has a strange name, some words are misspelled, and there is no phone number or address listed.
Discussion: What clues tell you this might not be a real store? What could happen if you (or an adult) entered payment information?
Safe choice: Do not buy from websites that look suspicious. Look for signs of a real business: a real address, a phone number, correct spelling, and "https" in the web address. Ask a trusted adult to check.
📱 Scenario 4: The Free Trial Trap
An app offers a "free 7-day trial" for a music service. To start the trial, it asks for a credit card number. In tiny letters at the bottom, it says the service costs $9.99 per month after the trial ends.
Discussion: Is this really free? What happens after 7 days if you forget to cancel?
Safe choice: "Free trials" that ask for payment information will charge you automatically when the trial ends. Many people forget to cancel and end up paying for months. Always read the fine print and talk to a trusted adult before entering any payment details.
💬 Scenario 5: The Friend Request That Asks for Money
Someone you do not know sends you a message on a game: "Hey! I can sell you rare items for your game. Just send me a $10 gift card code and I'll give you the items."
Discussion: Do you know this person? Can you trust them to send the items? What happens if they take your money and disappear?
Safe choice: Never send money, gift card codes, or personal information to someone you do not know online. Once you send a gift card code, the money is gone — there is no way to get it back.
🎯 Scenario 6: The Targeted Ad
You searched for "cool water bottles" yesterday. Today, everywhere you look online — on games, videos, and websites — you see ads for water bottles. One ad says "Limited time! 50% off! Only 2 left!"
Discussion: Why are you suddenly seeing water bottle ads everywhere? Is there really a limited supply? What is the ad trying to make you feel?
Safe choice: Ads follow you based on what you search for and look at online. "Limited time" and "only 2 left" are pressure tactics designed to make you buy quickly without thinking. Use the Pause Rule — wait and see if you still want it tomorrow.
🔑 Scenario 7: The Password Question
A website says: "To verify your account, please enter your password." But the website address looks slightly different from the one you normally use.
Discussion: Should you enter your password? What could happen if this is a fake website?
Safe choice: Never enter your password on a website that looks even slightly different from the real one. Fake websites (called "phishing" sites) are designed to steal your login information. Close the page and go to the real website directly by typing the address yourself.
💸 Scenario 8: The Subscription Stack
You signed up for three different apps over the past few months. Each one costs "just $2.99 per month." You forgot about two of them and have not used them in weeks.
Discussion: How much are all three subscriptions costing per month? Per year? What should you do about the ones you are not using?
Safe choice: $2.99 × 3 = $8.97 per month. That is almost $108 per year. Cancel subscriptions you are not using. Small monthly charges add up to large amounts over time. Check regularly to see what you (or your family) are still paying for.
🛡️ Scenario 9: The Account Security Check
Your friend asks to borrow your tablet and says, "What is your password? I just want to play a game." You like your friend, but your tablet has payment apps on it.
Discussion: Is it a good idea to share your password, even with a friend? What could go wrong?
Safe choice: Keep your passwords private — even from friends. If your tablet has payment apps, someone could accidentally (or intentionally) make purchases. You can let a friend use your device while you are there, without sharing your password.
🤔 Scenario 10: The "Everyone Is Buying It" Pressure
A popular video shows a kid unboxing an expensive toy. The comments say things like "I got mine!" and "You NEED this!" You start to really want it, even though you had never heard of it before.
Discussion: Did you want this toy yesterday? What changed? Is the video trying to sell you something?
Safe choice: Many online videos are designed to make products look exciting and create a feeling of "everyone has this except me." That feeling is not the same as genuinely wanting something. Use the Pause Rule: wait a few days and see if the feeling lasts.
Quick Reference: Digital Safety Rules for Kids
Post this on a wall or keep it in a notebook.
| Rule | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Ask a trusted adult before buying anything online | Adults can help you decide if a purchase is safe and worth it |
| Never share your password | Passwords protect your accounts and your family's money |
| Do not click links in messages from strangers | Links can lead to scams or fake websites |
| Read the fine print on "free" offers | Free trials often turn into paid subscriptions |
| Remember: digital money is real money | Tapping "buy" on a screen spends real dollars, even if it does not feel like it |
| Use the Pause Rule before buying | Wait before you spend — if you still want it tomorrow, it might be worth it |
| Watch out for pressure words | "Limited time," "only 3 left," and "act now" are designed to rush your decision |
| Keep personal information private | Never share your full name, address, phone number, or school with strangers online |