Tech Positive Parenting
Tech Ready ยท Module 3
๐ Module 3 ยท Safety, Privacy & Digital Judgment
Four activities to make
digital safety real for your family.
Spot scams in the wild, work through group chat scenarios, do a quick privacy checkup, and build a Safety Agreement you'll actually use.
Spot the Scam
The biggest cybersecurity threat isn't hackers โ it's manipulation. Look at each scenario together and identify the red flags before you hit reveal.
๐ง
How to play: Read each scenario, discuss what feels off, then tap "Reveal the Red Flags" to see the full breakdown. Try not to peek before guessing!
Scam 1 of 4
Scam 1 of 4
๐ Fake Prize DM
You've Been Selected!
An Instagram DM from an account you don't recognize. It looks exciting. It is not.
๐ธ Instagram DM
Message Request
Today 2:14 PM
๐
instagram_official_prizes
๐ Congratulations!! You have been SELECTED as our weekly winner! You've won a $500 Apple Gift Card!
๐
To claim your prize click the link below and enter your info. Offer expires in 24 HOURS โฐ
๐
๐ claim-insta-prize.com/winner29182
2:15
โ ๏ธ Message Request ยท This person isn't following you
Before you reveal... What do you see?
List every red flag you can spot in this message. Try to find at least 5.
Scam 2 of 4
๐ฆ Phishing Text
Your Package Is On Hold
A text from what looks like a delivery service. Something's not right.
๐ฌ Messages
Unknown Sender
Today 11:02 AM
๐ฆ
USP5-Delivery
USPS NOTICE: Your package #9261290100 is on hold due to an incomplete address. Confirm your details within 12 hours to avoid return.
๐ฆ
Verify here: usps-pkg-confirm.net/9261290100
11:02
โ ๏ธ Unknown sender ยท Not in your contacts
Before you reveal... What do you see?
What feels off about this text? List every red flag you can find.
Scam 3 of 4
๐ณ Impersonation Scam
"It's Me โ I Need Help"
A text from someone claiming to be a friend or family member. In a rush. Needs a favor.
๐ฌ Messages
Unknown Number
Saturday 3:44 PM
?
Unknown Number
Hey it's Grandma! I lost my phone and I'm using a friend's number. I'm in a little trouble and I really need your help
?
Could you buy me a $200 Amazon gift card and send me the code? I'll pay you back as soon as I'm home. Please don't tell your parents I asked, I don't want to worry them
3:45
Before you reveal... What do you see?
This one is sneakier because it's personal. What are the red flags? What makes this hard to spot?
Scam 4 of 4
๐ฎ Gaming Scam
Free V-Bucks / Robux Generator
A link shared in a Discord server or group chat. Free in-game currency โ sounds amazing. It's not real.
๐ฎ Gaming Server
Discord ยท #giveaways
Today at 6:22 PM
B
BotHelper9000
๐ FREE V-BUCKS GENERATOR!! Get 50,000 V-Bucks FREE. No survey. No download. Just enter your Epic username!
B
๐ free-vbucks-gen.io/claim?ref=discord
6:22 PM
J
Jake_real
I just got mine! worked for me ๐ฅ
โ ๏ธ This link may be unsafe ยท Discord Safety Warning
Before you reveal... What do you see?
Gaming scams target kids specifically because in-game currency feels very real. What are the red flags here โ including the "Jake_real" comment?
๐ง
The pattern in every scam: Urgency + emotion + a sketchy link or request. If something makes you feel like you have to act right now โ that's exactly when you should slow down and check with an adult first.
Group Chat Case Studies
Read each scenario together, then work through the discussion questions. There are no right answers โ just honest conversation.
๐ญ
Ground rule before you start: These scenarios might feel familiar. If something comes up that's happened to you or someone you know, that's okay to share โ but nobody has to. The goal is understanding.
Scenario 1 of 4
Scenario 1 of 4
๐ฌ The Pile-On
The Soccer Group Chat
A teammate misses a penalty kick. The group chat reacts.
โฝ Varsity Squad
14 members
Today 4:42 PM
J
Jake
anyone watch Marcus miss that penalty ๐
4:42
T
Tyler
lmaooo how do u even miss that
4:43
A
Aiden
he cost us the game bro
๐ 6
๐ 4
S
Sofia
guys come on
4:45
T
Tyler
you're so sensitive sofia lol
Y
everyone messes up sometimes
Read by 11
Discussion Questions Talk it through
Everyone
For the kid
Everyone
For the parent
๐ก Research note
Exclusion and mean comments are the two most common forms of cyberbullying among teens. One person speaking up changes the group norm โ even if the chat keeps going, it plants a seed.
Scenario 2 of 4
๐ฐ Peer Pressure
The Secret Party Invite
A group chat is being used to pressure someone into doing something they're not comfortable with.
๐ just us ๐คซ
5 members
Friday 7:15 PM
B
Brianna
ok so Riley's parents are out of town ๐
C
Chloe
everyone's going Saturday. you're coming right?
๐ 3
Y
idk I'm not sure...
Read by 4
B
Brianna
are you serious?? everyone will be there
C
Chloe
you're gonna be the only one not there lol
D
Devon
just come for a bit! no big deal
Y
I'll think about it
Discussion Questions Talk it through
For the kid
Everyone
For the kid
For the parent
๐ก The FOMO hook IRL
"Everyone will be there" and "you'll be the only one not there" are the same FOMO hooks we saw in apps โ just in a group chat. Recognizing the pattern gives you power over it.
Scenario 3 of 4
๐ธ The Screenshot
The Forwarded DM
Something shared privately gets sent around. By the time anyone stops it, it's everywhere.
๐ฅ 8th Grade ๐ฅ
31 members
Wednesday 12:03 PM
K
Kayla
omg guys look what Emma texted me ๐
K
[screenshot of Emma's private DM about liking someone]
J
Jordan
LMAOOO
๐ญ 8
๐ 5
M
Max
wait does she know you sent this
P
Priya
Kayla this isn't cool. she trusted you.
Y
yeah delete this
Read by 28
Discussion Questions Talk it through
Everyone
For the kid
Everyone
For the parent
๐ก The screenshot rule
"Private" is an assumption, not a guarantee. Once something leaves your hands, you have zero control over where it goes. The screenshot test: would the person who sent this be okay with you forwarding it? If you're not sure โ don't.
Scenario 4 of 4
๐จ Stranger Danger Online
The New "Friend"
Someone gets added to a group chat by a mutual. One of the "members" isn't who they say they are.
Gaming Crew ๐ฎ
7 members
Saturday 9:44 PM
X
xXgamer99Xx
hey! Jake added me, I play the same games as you guys
J
Jake
yeah I met him on Discord he's cool
X
xXgamer99Xx
what school do you guys go to? I might know some people
L
Leo
Westbrook Middle, why?
X
xXgamer99Xx
oh nice! how old are you guys? I'm 13
Y
wait... something feels off here
Read by 5
Discussion Questions Talk it through
Everyone
For the kid
Everyone
For the parent
๐ก Information adds up fast
In four messages, this group had given away: their school name, approximate ages, and that they're active on Discord on Saturday nights. Each piece feels small. Together, they're a detailed profile.
Privacy Audit
Five minutes now could prevent a major headache later. Go through each section together โ phones out, settings open.
๐ฑ
Have your phones ready! This only works if you actually check your settings in real time. Open your Settings app and go section by section together. If your child doesn't have a phone yet, go through it together on the adult's device and discuss why you made certain choices.
Section 1 of 5
20% complete
Section 1: App Permissions
Go to Settings โ Privacy & Security. For each app, check what it has access to and toggle to record. Tap ON if it has access, OFF if not.
| App | ๐ Location | ๐ท Camera | ๐ Mic | ๐ธ Photos |
|---|
Any surprises? Write them here.
Section 2: Your Public Profile
Open your social media profile as if you're a stranger seeing it for the first time. What can someone figure out about you?
Is your profile public or private?
๐ Public
๐ Private
๐คท Not sure
What does your bio reveal? Check all that apply.
๐ซ School name
๐ Neighborhood
๐ Full birthday
๐ City/town
๐ Phone number
โ
None of these
Do your recent posts reveal your location or daily routine?
๐ฌ Yes, quite a bit
โ
No, I'm careful
๐คท Maybe a little
Section 3: Your Group Chats
Group chats deserve their own checkup. Think honestly about the chats you're currently in.
How many group chats are you active in right now?
1โ3
4โ7
8โ15
15+
Are there any chats that don't feel good to be in?
Negative, stressful, or where things sometimes go too far.
๐ฌ Yes, one or more
โ
No, all feel okay
Do all the people in your chats actually know you in real life?
โ
Yes, all of them
๐ฌ No, some are strangers
๐คท Mostly, not all
If something bad happened in a group chat, what would you do?
Section 4: Passwords & Security
No need to share your actual passwords โ just answer honestly about your habits.
Do you use the same password for multiple accounts?
๐ฌ Yes, same for most
โ
No, all different
๐คท Mix of both
Do you have two-factor authentication (2FA) turned on?
2FA sends a code to your phone when you log in from a new device โ one of the best protections available.
โ
Yes
๐ฌ No
๐คท What's that?
When did you last update your main passwords?
Last month
Last 6 months
Over a year ago
I genuinely can't remember
Section 5: Reflection
Last section โ and the most important. Take your time with these.
What was your biggest surprise from this audit?
What's one thing you're changing this week?
If something went wrong online โ account hacked, something scary in a group chat, a stranger making contact โ what's your family's plan?
โญ
Great work. Now head to Activity 3 to build your Family Safety Agreement โ where you'll make all of this official.
Family Safety Agreement
This isn't a contract โ it's a conversation made concrete. Fill it out together, print it, and put it somewhere you'll actually see it.
๐ก
Do this together. Each section has a short discussion built in. The conversation matters more than filling every box perfectly.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Our Family's Digital Safety Agreement
We're making this agreement not because we don't trust each other โ but because we want to be a team when it comes to technology. This is our plan for staying safe, connected, and aligned.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Our Family
Who's part of this agreement?
Write everyone's first name or nickname.
Parent / Guardian 1
Parent / Guardian 2 (if applicable)
Kid / Teen 1
Kid / Teen 2 (if applicable)
๐ What Stays Private
Information we agree not to share publicly online
Check everything your family agrees to keep off public profiles and group chats with people you don't know.
๐ซ Our school name
๐ Our home address
๐ Real-time location
๐ Daily schedule
๐ Phone numbers
๐ Full birthday + year
๐ Passwords
๐ธ Screenshot Rules
Before we screenshot or forward anything...
The screenshot test: would the person who sent this be okay with you sharing it? When in doubt โ don't.
โ
No forwarding screenshots without permission
โ
What's in a DM stays in a DM
โ
If unsure โ ask first
๐ฌ Group Chat Agreement
How we handle group chats
Group chats have their own social pressure. Here's what we agree to do when things get complicated.
โ
We can mute or leave chats that don't feel good
โ
We won't pile on or amplify mean comments
โ
If someone's targeted, we'll say something โ or tell an adult
โ
We won't add people to chats without asking them first
๐ When Something Goes Wrong
Our plan when something bad happens online
Talk through each scenario and fill in your family's answer.
If someone is mean to you online, you will...
If you see something online that scares or upsets you, you will...
If a stranger contacts you online, you will...
If a group chat goes somewhere uncomfortable, you will...
๐ Call Me If...
No matter what happened โ no matter how uncomfortable or embarrassing it feels โ there is always someone safe to call. Fill in the people who will pick up, no questions asked.
๐ Connected to Our Values
How this connects to what we care about
Look back at your Module 1 Values Exercise. Which family values does this agreement help protect?
Our top family values (from Module 1):
This agreement helps us live those values by...
โ๏ธ We Agree
Sign and date
The conversation you just had is what matters โ this just makes it official.
Parent / Guardian
Kid / Teen
Parent / Guardian 2
Kid / Teen 2
๐ค Our Family's Digital Safety Agreement
Tech Ready ยท Module 3 ยท Tech Positive Parenting