An innovative card game designed to foster meaningful conversations about internet safety
Client
Date
Service
Project Overview
As a secondary school Computing teacher & online safety lead for 6 years, I've seen first-hand the impact of the internet on young people. I've also seen the challenges parents and teachers face when trying to support young people online.
How do you deal with online safety at home? Parental controls? Blocking? Filtering? Monitoring apps? Something else?
We think we know what’s going on, but are we burying our heads in the sand and assuming it’s not as bad as we think? If your young person has access to the internet, even the best filtered internet connection won’t protect them against everything.
An option would be to remove all devices, remove access to the internet and get out the bubble wrap! But the internet is an amazing place - just think of what the last few years would have been like if we didn’t have access to FaceTime and Zoom. We consume our media, get our news, connect with friends and family - all with the touch of a button. We know the answer to any question we’ve ever had - just by typing it into Google. When used in the right way, technology can help drive human intelligence.
The Process
n the same way we should speak to young people about the dangers of smoking, drugs, alcohol and gambling - we need to give our young people the real facts and information. That way they can make informed decisions and when they come across something, which they will inevitably do, they will be more prepared to deal with the situation correctly.
To learn the terminology, there’s lots of great knowledge banks out there, like NSPCC and the National College. And you can find information on how to set up filtering tools and other monitoring software.
But I’d argue the most effective tool is talking about online safety… which I know isn’t the easiest thing to do with a teenager… so… let me introduce you to TALK ONLINE SAFETY!
TALK ONLINE SAFETY is a card game designed to foster meaningful conversations about online safety. Aimed at both young people and adults, it combines fun gameplay with educational content, for unplugged meaningful conversations about eSafety, digital footprint, cyber bullying, digital wellbeing, AI & more. No devices or internet needed!
2020 - First online safety ‘cards’ made up in Word and printed out for parents attending Online Safety talks
2022 - The ‘cards’ are tweaked over time - the sets get a little bigger - lots of great feedback from parents
March 2023 - ‘talking’ about Online Safety becomes the focus of my latest Primary School online safety talk
June 2023 - talkonlinesafety.com domain registered (with the idea of doing more talks about talking!)
November 2023 - I decide to look into making the cards into a real pack, initial designs drawn up
December 2023 - research into printing factories, costs and sustainability options. Factory in the UK selected.
January 2024 - Website & 3D model design (so the cards explode out of the box as you scroll!)
January 2024 - real barcode obtained(!) and prototype ordered
February 2024 - testing the prototype with some students and families
March 2024 - bulk order placed of final design
March 2024 - online shop & TikTok shop set up
April 2024 - massive pallet delivery turns up!
Where can you buy them?
There are 7 unique game rounds (52 cards in total) suitable for anyone who has access to the online world, ages 10 to 100 - but designed for families with children aged 11 to 14.
You don’t even need children to be able to play it as a colleague of mine has demonstrated… "yo yr card game which is awesome by the way I played it to day with two of my friends and whilst learning (and drinking) always helps couldn't stop laughing when we play finish the sentence section"
Ideal for 3+ players, or use the cards one-to-one to start constructive conversations. Play the game all in one go, in multiple chunks, or even just one card a day!
Interested in buying a pack? Be one of the first by going to www.talkonlinesafety.com.