S1.2 - Safe Spaces, Shared Screens

✨ Reflect & Write: Creating Safe Online Environments & Protecting Others
✍🏽 Reflect & Write Questions

1. Imagine you're hosting an online class or club meeting.
   What are three things you should check before turning on your camera or screen sharing?
2. Why is it important to protect other people’s privacy during a virtual session?
   What could happen if someone’s name, face, or background is shared without permission?
3. Think about a time when you were in an online session.
   Did you notice anything personal in someone’s background? How did it make you feel?
4. What is identity theft?
   In your own words, explain how someone’s information could be stolen and misused online.
5. Oversharing can lead to someone pretending to be you.
   What are some things you can do to make sure your personal data stays safe in shared spaces?
6. If you see someone sharing too much personal information in a group chat or online meeting, what should you do?
   How can you support them without embarrassing them?
7. What does a safe online space look and feel like to you?
   List three rules or values you would use to build one for your friends or classmates.
8. Write a short message you could post in a group chat or online meeting to remind others to stay safe and respectful online. "Hey everyone, just a quick reminder..."

A confident Afro-Latina Corporate Privacy Engineer with beautiful, long curly hair smiles in her modern office, a digital network diagram on a screen in the background.

Corporate Privacy Engineer 💼🛡️
Designs systems and tools that safeguard employee data such as payroll, health records, and contact info. Works with HR and IT departments to manage access controls and security policies.

Saturday Morning Workshop – “Your Digital Space, Your Rules”

Location: A local high school media center. Coffee, snacks, and chargers are set out on a table. Njoki sits in a circle with a group of high school girls and their mothers. Everyone has their phones nearby. The room is casual and welcoming.

Njoki: Good morning, everyone. Thank you all for being here. I wanted us to have a real conversation—not just about what we see online, but how we build spaces that protect us and others.

So let me ask you this: have you ever been in a virtual meeting and noticed something in someone’s background that made you uncomfortable?

Kayla (16): Ugh, yes! One time, a girl had her whole medicine cabinet open behind her during a Zoom. You could read the labels on everything!

Mrs. Jackson (Kayla’s mom): Oh nooo. That’s the kind of thing you don’t even realize is visible until someone screenshots it.

Njoki (nodding): Exactly. That’s what I mean by protecting the space. When we host or even just participate in online sessions, we have to be intentional about what’s showing—and what might show up later.

Ava (17): I once saw someone’s baby brother’s school info on the fridge during a class. Full name and school name on a flyer.

Njoki: That's such a good example. It’s not always about our information, either. It’s about being mindful that we’re protecting everyone who shows up in our frame—even if they didn’t choose to be seen.

Mrs. Gomez (mother of two): I didn’t know much about Zoom privacy settings until my job required us to do webinars. I had my full name and personal email just out there—no password on the meeting either.

Njoki: That’s real. And for folks in roles like yours—where you’re managing information for others—it’s even more important. Simple things like turning off name displays or using nicknames for kids in group calls can go a long way.

Laila (15): Can we talk about identity theft for a second? Because my mom had her info stolen last year and it was… actually kind of scary.

Mrs. Thompson (her mom, visibly unsettled): It was awful. Someone used my social to apply for loans I didn’t take out. All because I posted a “new job announcement” with too much detail and used my birthday month in the caption. They pieced it all together.
(The room gets quiet.)

Njoki (softly): Thank you for sharing that. I know that wasn’t easy. And I’m really sorry that happened to you. It shows how something that feels celebratory can be turned into a vulnerability.

​That’s why identity protection isn’t just about keeping your passwords strong—it’s about thinking, “What does this post reveal about me that a stranger could use?”

Zuri (16, trying to lighten the moment): I’m over here changing my Instagram bio in real-time.
(Everyone laughs a little, the tension breaking.)

Njoki (smiling): Hey, that’s growth in action.

Mrs. Wilson: So how do we balance it? Like, we want to be proud of our kids, share moments, celebrate wins... but how do we keep it safe?

Njoki: That’s the big question. I like to say: “If it feels like an announcement, make it private. If it feels like a memory, ask who needs to see it.” Not everything has to be for everyone.

Kayla: Okay wait, that’s kind of deep.

Mrs. Jackson (grinning): We need that on a mug.

Njoki: So let’s close with this: What does a safe online space mean to you? Not just for yourself—but for your family, your friends, your community.

Ava: A place where I don’t feel judged for what I don’t share.

Laila: Where people know I care about them even if I don’t repost everything they post.

Mrs. Thompson: Where I don’t have to explain why I protect my peace. Even digitally.

​Njoki: Yes. Yes. All of that. Safe online spaces don’t just happen—they’re built. And you all are already doing the work.

Scene Ends: Moms and daughters exchange ideas, hugs, and plans to check their account settings when they get home. Njoki leaves them with a printed checklist titled: “Before You Share: Is It Kind? Is It Clear? Is It Safe?”

​🛡️ Building Safe Digital Spaces

💬 Warm-Up
Think about a time you posted something online—or joined a video call.

What did you notice in your background?

Was there anything you forgot to hide or blur?

✍🏽 Reflect & Write
1. Why is it important to protect other people’s privacy in a webinar, group chat, or online meeting?

2. What kind of personal information do people sometimes share without realizing it? List at least three examples.

3. After hearing about identity theft in Njoki’s group, what is something you will do differently online?

4. Imagine you're helping to host a virtual event or study group. What are 3 things you would do to make sure everyone feels safe and respected?

5. Njoki said, “If it feels like an announcement, make it private. If it feels like a memory, ask who needs to see it.” What does this mean to you?

✅ Before You Share: Safety Checklist 
🔲 I checked my background for personal or sensitive information.

🔲 I avoided showing mail, IDs, documents, or location clues.

🔲 I protected my attendees’ names, faces, and personal info.

🔲 I turned off automatic name displays if hosting a meeting.

🔲 I asked myself: Would I want a stranger to know this?

🔲 I used a nickname or initials if sharing about a child.

🔲 I reviewed my privacy settings before sharing.

🔲 I avoided posting someone else’s image or info without asking.

🔲 I didn’t include my birthday, address, or phone number.

🔲 I paused and asked: Is this kind? Is this clear? Is this safe?

💡 Bonus Prompt
Write a short message you could send in a group chat or post online to remind your community to stay safe and thoughtful online.
“Hey everyone, before we go live/share, let’s remember…”

🔐 “AI in My Space: Safe, Smart, and Respectful Use”

💬 What You’re Going to Do
You and your mother (guardian or mentor) will explore how to use generative AI platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini safely. These platforms are powerful tools—but just like social media, you must protect your personal information and know how to create safe, respectful online spaces.

In this activity, you will:
🔹 Learn how to use generative AI in a safe way.
🔹 Recognize how PII and overly personal prompts can lead to risk.
🔹 Collaborate with family or mentors on household/group norms for AI use.
🔹 Practice asking questions and getting helpful answers.
🔹 Practice healthy AI habits for safe and productive use.
🔹 Analyze AI output critically for accuracy, bias, or red flags.
🔹 Make your own “AI Safety Poster” to remind yourself of smart online habits.
 
📲 Materials Needed
🔹 A device with internet access (phone, tablet, laptop)
🔹 Access to a generative AI platform (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini)
🔹 Something to write with (or use a digital notepad)
🔹 Access to a platform to create a digital flyer (Canva) OR paper and craft supplies
🔹 About 45 minutes to work together

🧠 THINK: Explore and Discuss
Read these tips with your mother, guardian, or mentor. Use sticky notes or a shared Google Doc to write 5–7 "Safe Prompt Rules" for your home.

Examples:
👉🏽 Never share your real name, address, school, phone number, email, or usernames.
👉🏽 Use general language (“a student” instead of “me at MLK High”).
👉🏽 Don’t share stories, photos, or family details without permission.
👉🏽 Ask yourself: Would I say this to a stranger?
👉🏽 Keep advice from AI in draft form. Always talk to a real person before acting on it.
👉🏽 Double-check what AI tells you using a search engine and reliable sources.
👉🏽 Ask questions that help you learn, grow, or create something positive.

​😊 Now talk together about this:
1.     Why should you keep personal information private, even from a chatbot?
2.     What kinds of questions feel safe to ask AI?
3.     What would you do if the answer felt wrong?

TRY IT: Prompt + Audit + Submit
Choose an AI tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) and write a prompt. Before you enter it, use this checklist:

📝 Safe Prompt Checklist
[ ] I did not use real names or usernames.
[ ] I did not include someone else’s story.
[ ] I wrote things in a general way.
[ ] I used kind, respectful words.
[ ] I feel safe asking this question.

💿 Examples of Safe Prompts:
🍝 Help me write a recipe for [dish] for someone who is lactose intolerant.
🎁 Give me gift ideas for a friend who likes [hobby].
📄 Pretend to be a [job] interviewer—what are 5 questions you would ask someone applying for [scholarship or role]?

💬 Ask Yourself:
Would someone be able to guess who I am from this prompt?
​Would I feel safe reading this if it were posted by someone else?


🥵 FACT CHECK: What Did It Say? Could This Be Harmful?
1.     Read the AI’s answer aloud.
2.     Analyze the response:

• Is it giving false information?
• Is it biased or inappropriate?
• Does it sound unsafe?
• Would a trusted adult say the same thing?

3.     Use Google or a trusted site to double-check anything that feels wrong.
🔹 Bonus: Search “When ChatGPT got it wrong” or “AI bias examples” and talk about what could have been done differently.

🎨 CREATE: Your AI Safety Poster
Make your own “My AI Safety Poster.”
Include:
🔹 3 rules for using AI safely
🔹 2 safe types of questions to ask
🔹 1 thing you want to remember
🎨 Decorate it with drawings, colors, or photos.
📆 Save it as your phone or tablet lock screen for a week. Or print it and hang it on your refrigerator at home.

💬 REFLECT: Write or Share
📃 What surprised you most about using AI?
🤔 How did you feel reading the AI’s answers?
🌟 What new rule or habit will you use moving forward?
💖 How can you help a friend use AI safely?

🗃️ BONUS SEARCH
Search online:
🔍 “What are safe ways kids can use AI?”
🔍 “How do AI platforms protect your information?”
Write down 2 facts that surprised you!