The Scoop: How to Protect Your Digital Privacy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism

The perception of Generation Y as “digital natives”, whose very minds have been shaped by the technology they were raised alongside (Prensky, 2001), is increasingly under fire. Many young adults struggle with anything more than basic operation of technology, and lack the digital literacy to find and discern accurate information on the Internet. In an environment of increasing surveillance and malicious intrusion into corporate and personal data, there can be severe consequences to this skill gap. However, because of the assumption of competence attached to Generation Y, accessible post-educational resources are scarce for those outside of specific technology-related fields. This project aims to create a game which will serve as a stepping-stone for those interested in gaining knowledge and empowering themselves to take control of their digital lives. By presenting real-world scenarios of gradually increasing complexity, through gameplay environments focused on strategy and careful decision-making, digital literacy and security skills can be built from the ground up to serve as a foundation for further research and the development of secure personal habits.