S3.1 - Opportunities and Threats

An Afro-Latina MarTech Publicist leads a workshop on online safety and creativity for a diverse group of mothers and their teenage daughters in a cozy after-school community room.

Scene: A cozy community room in the after-school center. Posters about online safety and creativity hang on the walls. Jazmin sits in a circle with a group of mothers and their daughters.

Jazmin: Good afternoon, everyone. I’m really grateful to be here today. Technology is a big part of our lives—it connects us, it teaches us, it gives us opportunities we couldn’t have imagined twenty years ago. But… there’s something else I always remind myself: as much as there’s opportunity, there’s also real threat. And that’s what I want us to talk about together.

Selena (curious): What do you mean by threat? Like, hackers?

Jazmin: That’s part of it, Selena. But I also mean… the way someone might misuse what we share. The internet can be a beautiful thing—but it doesn’t always have good intentions on the other side of the screen. You may post a picture because you feel happy or confident, but you don’t control where it goes next. That’s the kind of threat I want us to be mindful of.

Ruby (mother): I understand that. But sometimes, as a parent, I don’t know how much is too much when it comes to watching what they do on their phones.

Jazmin (pauses thoughtfully): Ruby, I get that. I grew up in a Latin household, and I know there’s this… level of uncertainty, sometimes mistrust, about what young people are doing online. And honestly, it’s not because parents don’t love or trust their kids—it’s because this technology can take things in directions none of us expect. It’s big. It’s powerful. And yes, it can go really well… or it can go really bad.

Sonia: But there are good things too, right? Like, I want to post my art online. I want people to see it.

Jazmin (smiling): Oh, absolutely. That’s the opportunity part, Sonia. Sharing your art can open doors—you could inspire people, you could build a career one day from the creativity you show now. Technology gives you that stage. My only advice is: treat that stage with care. Ask yourself: Am I okay with this picture, this thought, this moment being seen by anyone, anywhere, forever? If the answer’s no… maybe keep it just for you, or share it privately.

Coretta (mother): I try to set boundaries, but my daughter says I don’t understand what’s really going on online.

Jazmin: And that’s where the second part of this conversation comes in. Girls, I think you can help your parents understand why you use technology. Sometimes adults think it's all a waste of time—just scrolling or playing games. But there are skills you’re building, even from video games or chatting with friends, that matter. The more open you are about why it matters to you, the more trust you build.

​Zora: So, like, I should tell my mom why I’m posting a dance video, not just do it?

Jazmin: Exactly, Zora. It’s not about asking permission—it’s about making sure the people who love you know what’s on your mind and how you’re using these tools. That way, they’re not guessing or worrying.

Dolores (mother): Jazmin, if you had to tell these girls just one rule to stay safe, what would it be?

Jazmin (choosing words carefully): One rule… I’d say this: Always remember there’s a real human behind the screen. Some will lift you up, others might try to harm or trick you. So be kind, be cautious, and never share something you wouldn’t want the whole world to see.

Ava: Even if I think it’s just between me and my best friend?

Jazmin: Even then, Ava. Screens can’t promise you privacy. But they can give you incredible opportunities if you treat what you post with care. That’s how you build safety and freedom online.

Truth (mother): I like that… be kind, be cautious.

Jazmin: Yes. Technology is a gift—but like any powerful tool, it needs wisdom. And that wisdom? It comes from conversations like this one, from listening to each other, and from thinking before we tap “post.”

📝 Reflect & WriteInstructions: Read the prompts below and write your thoughts in your journal or digital notepad. If you’re working with your mom or guardian, take turns answering and then share your ideas with each other.

1. What is one opportunity Jazmin said technology can give you?
   
   
2. What is one threat or danger she mentioned?
   
   
3. Think of a time you posted or shared something online. How did it make you feel?
   
   
4. If your post had reached people you didn’t expect, what could have happened?
   
   
5. Jazmin said, “There’s a real human behind the screen.” What does that mean to you?
   
   
6. How do you decide what is safe to share online? Write down your personal rule.
   
   
7. Name one positive way you use technology every day.
   
   
8. Name one boundary you could set to protect yourself online.
   
   
9. How can you help your mom or guardian understand why you like using certain apps or games?
   
   
10. Write one sentence you want to remember from today’s conversation with Jazmin.

🎯 Spot the Opportunity or Threat?
​Goal: Practice identifying online situations as opportunities, threats, or a mix of both.

​How to Play:

1. Read each scenario aloud.
2. Each person holds up a card (or says aloud):
   • ✅ Opportunity
   • ⚠️ Threat
   • 🤔 Both
3. Share why you chose your answer and what you would do in that situation.

Scenarios:

1. You receive a message from someone you don’t know asking for a picture of you.
2. A friend tags you in a fun video from a school event.
3. A stranger sends you a link promising free concert tickets.
4. You create an art account to show your drawings to the public.
5. Someone you met in a game asks to meet in person.
6. Your favorite singer likes and comments on your dance video.
7. You post your real-time location while hanging out with friends.
8. You join an online study group that helps you do better in math.
9. A popular account reposts your photo without asking.
10. You share a private joke with your best friend through messages.

Wrap-Up Discussion:

• Which scenario felt like the biggest opportunity? Why?
• Which scenario felt like the biggest threat? Why?
• What’s one “safety rule” you want to remember for next time you’re online?

🔎 Search Smart, Think Twice
Objective:
To help girls (Grades 6–12) and their mothers collaboratively:

1. Identify and evaluate online opportunities and threats using real-world examples.
2. Use search engines and generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) responsibly to gather, compare, and assess online information.
3. Practice safe decision-making skills before clicking, posting, or engaging online.

Materials Needed:

• Internet-connected devices (laptops, tablets, or smartphones)
• Access to a search engine (Google, Bing, etc.)
• Access to AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, or similar)
• Digital worksheet or shared Google Doc for notes​

Activity Steps
Step 1 – Scenario Selection (5 min)
Each mother-daughter team chooses one real-world scenario from the list or creates their own:

• Scenario A: A new social media challenge is trending. Should you join?
• Scenario B: You receive a DM from someone offering to feature your art or dance video online. Safe or risky?
• Scenario C: A website promises free concert tickets in exchange for signing up and sharing personal information. Should you click?
• Scenario D: You’ve designed a cool digital product and want to post it on multiple platforms—what do you need to think about first?

Step 2 – Search & Gather (10 min)
Teams will:

• Use search engines to gather information about their scenario (e.g., “dangers of online challenges,” “how to safely share art online,” “fake giveaways online”).
• Document their sources, noting:
  • Website credibility (Who runs it? Is it reputable?)
  • Whether the information seems trustworthy or biased
  • What advice or warnings are given

Step 3 – Ask the AI (10 min)
Teams will:

• Use ChatGPT or Gemini to ask:
  • Opportunities: “What are the possible benefits of [scenario]?”
  • Threats: “What are the possible risks of [scenario]? How can we stay safe?”
• Compare AI responses with search engine results.
• Discuss:
  • Did the AI give new insights or repeat known advice?
  • Did the AI give any unsafe or questionable suggestions? How can you verify them?

Step 4 – Click, Post & Use with Care Checklist (5 min)
Using both sources, teams create a short decision-making checklist:

• ✅ What steps will you take before clicking, posting, or replying?
• ✅ What information will you avoid sharing?
• ✅ How will you confirm if an opportunity is real and safe?

Step 5 – Present & Reflect (10 min)
Each team shares:

• Their chosen scenario
• At least one opportunity and one threat they discovered
• One rule they will follow moving forward when using technology

Digital Literacy Skills Demonstrated:

• Critical Thinking: Evaluating search results and AI responses for reliability
• Safe Navigation: Identifying safe vs. unsafe online behaviors
• AI Literacy: Understanding how generative AI can support—but not replace—good judgment
• Online Etiquette: Recognizing the human impact of clicks and posts

Extension Challenge:
​For teams comfortable with technology:

• Ask ChatGPT or Gemini to generate a short, safe “social media caption” for posting their art, dance video, or project online.
• Teams then review the caption together and edit it using their new safety checklist before sharing (hypothetically).