The Badge Archive

Digital Footprint Book Collage

Info Needed for badge requirements: Just like footprints show where we’ve walked, digital footprints are the trail of information we leave behind when we’re online. Hackers can use these digital footprints—such as your browsing history, the links you click, and public information—to manipulate you through social engineering. They might send fake ads or emails based on your preferences to trick you into sharing personal data. For example, a hacker could pretend to offer a discount on shoes you like, but clicking the link might secretly download harmful malware onto your device.

Items Needed

  • Timer
  • Magazines, catalogs, or newspapers (one for each scout)
  • Highlighters or sticky notes (one for each pair)
  • Scissors (one for each pair)
  • Glue or tape (one for each pair)
  • Construction paper (one for each scout)

Instructions

  1. Divide scouts into pairs. If there’s an odd number, one group of three can work together.
  2. Each scout chooses a magazine, catalog, or newspaper. Any book that can be flipped through with pictures and/or articles in it. They are all “Internet Users” in this first round and have 5 minutes to flip through their magazine and highlight or mark with sticky notes anything that appeals to them—words, pictures, or articles. They should move quickly and not read in depth.
  3. When the timer rings after 5 minutes, the Internet User gives the marked-up magazine to their partner (or rotate them in a group of three).
  4. The timer is now set for 10 minutes. The partner cuts out everything the Internet User marked and arranges it into a collage on a piece of construction paper.
  5. When the timer rings after 10 minutes, the leader collects them and displays them on a wall or table.
  6. Give scouts a minute or two to look at the collages. Can they guess who created which collage? What clues gave it away? How are the collages similar or different?
  7. Discuss: How does it feel knowing your preferences can identify you? What could someone learn about you based on what you do online?

Note to Leaders – You can learn more about Digital Footprints with a mini lesson.

Tia Kennard