The Badge Archive

Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Ambassador Cybersecurity Safeguards badge requirements.

Info Needed for the badge requirements: Digital marketers use your online activity, like search history and preferences, to create ads aimed at you. Understanding their tactics helps you make smarter online decisions. Protect yourself by clearing cookies, managing browser settings, deleting internet history, and being cautious about subtle advertising from influencers or games.

Items Needed

• Pre-prepared activity cards with fictional online behaviors or activities (see list below)
• (Optional) A bell or buzzer for quick responses
• A scoreboard (can be a whiteboard or just a piece of paper).

Instructions

1. Divide scouts into two teams.
2. Place the pre-prepared cards in a stack.
3. One player from Team A draws a card and reads the behavior/activity out loud to both teams. Teams have 30 seconds to brainstorm and shout out potential ads related to the card. Examples:
   • For “searches for concert tickets,” ads could be for ticket discounts, band merch, or event apps.
   • The first team to shout a correct ad earns 1 point.
4. Maladvertising Round: After identifying ads, teams take turns calling out one possible risk associated with the ad (maladvertising). Examples:
   • “It could lead to an unsafe website.”
   • “It might promote impulse buying.”
5. Teams earn 1 point for each valid risk they identify.
6. Bonus Round: For extra points, scouts can brainstorm ways to protect themselves from targeted ads and maladvertising. Examples:
   • “Clear cookies regularly.”
   • “Use ad blockers.”
7. The team with the highest points at the end wins.

Behavior/Activity Cards

Here’s a list of fictional online behaviors and activities that can be used for pre-prepared cards:

1. “Someone searches for hiking gear and follows travel bloggers on social media.”
2. “Someone frequently likes posts about pets and shares videos of cute animals.”
3. “Someone visits websites about video games and subscribes to gaming YouTube channels.”
4. “Someone posts photos of their meals and follows food bloggers on Instagram.”
5. “Someone joins a Facebook group about gardening and frequently searches for plant care tips.”
6. “Someone watches fitness tutorials and follows workout influencers.”
7. “Someone checks out online shops for fashion trends and pins outfits on Pinterest.”
8. “Someone buys concert tickets online and follows their favorite bands on Twitter.”
9. “Someone reads blogs about travel destinations and saves articles about cheap flights.”
10. “Someone engages in posts about school hacks and subscribes to educational websites.”
11. “Someone streams TV shows and movies frequently and follows entertainment accounts.”
12. “Someone searches for DIY craft ideas and watches tutorials on crafting channels.”
13. “Someone looks up sports schedules and follows fan pages for their favorite team.”
14. “Someone clicks on ads for tech gadgets and joins forums discussing new devices.”
15. “Someone regularly comments on posts about college advice and follows scholarship pages.”
16. “Someone saves recipes for quick meals and follows cooking tutorials on TikTok.”
17. “Someone searches for college admission tips and compares scholarship options online.”
18. “Someone watches live streams of esports tournaments and shares gaming memes.”
19. “Someone explores online stores for prom outfits and bookmarks accessories.”
20. “Someone follows photography accounts and searches for beginner camera gear.”
21. “Someone uses fitness apps to track workouts and watches gym transformation videos.”
22. “Someone browses DIY dorm room decor ideas and pins organizing hacks on Pinterest.”
23. “Someone listens to playlists on Spotify and adds new artists to their favorite list.”
24. “Someone watches influencer vlogs about makeup tutorials and skincare routines.”
25. “Someone follows sustainability blogs and shops for reusable products online.”
26. “Someone frequently reads reviews for tech gadgets like headphones or laptops.”
27. “Someone joins discussions about favorite book series on online forums or fan pages.”
28. “Someone looks up volunteer opportunities and connects with local charities.”
29. “Someone searches for SAT prep tools and enrolls in an online study course.”
30. “Someone interacts with meme pages and shares funny content with their friends.”