Online safety scenarios for kids: 31 situations about chats, photos and games

By the Life Scenario team · Updated · For children 6–14

31 situations a child can meet on a phone, tablet or game: a message from an unknown username, a photo posted without asking, a friend who hands over their game login, a group chat that turns a classmate into a meme. Read one together and ask what your child would do first.

The game calls this skill digital awareness. Most of these scenarios are less about technology than about people: what to do when friends laugh at a meme, whether to look at a private chat, how to say no to a dare to post something. A few are about safety in the stricter sense, like a stranger who wants to chat privately or a password left on screen.

The scenarios were written by the Life Scenario team together with child psychologists. The first 7 appear here in full, exactly as they do in the game, and your child can try them without an account. The other 24 are listed further down by title and opening line, and play in the game with a free account. To make a free printable, use your browser’s Print command: the full scenarios print as a plain list.

7 online safety scenarios to read in full

  1. Mystery Text

    Ages 10–14

    You get a message from an unknown username saying they know you from school. They want to chat privately. What do you do?

    Also practises: self-control, social awareness, focus

    Practise this one: Mystery Text

  2. Unexpected Lunch Photo Shared with Friends

    Ages 10–14

    A student takes your photo while you're eating and shares it on a group story without asking. Others start commenting. What do you do?

    Also practises: empathy, kindness, social awareness

    Practise this one: Unexpected Lunch Photo Shared with Friends

  3. Video post

    Ages 12–14

    You’re at your friend’s house, and everyone’s joking around. Your friend secretly records you dancing and uploads it to their story with a funny caption.

    You laugh at first - but later notice people at school commenting on it and tagging you. Some are kind, but others make fun of it.

    Your friend says, “Relax, it’s just a joke - everyone loved it.” What do you do?

    Also practises: courage, self-awareness

    Practise this one: Video post

  4. Group Text Turns into Teasing Trouble

    Ages 8–14

    Your classmates start a group text teasing someone who’s not in the group. At first it seems like a joke, but it keeps going. You’re in the chat. What do you do?

    Also practises: social awareness, empathy, relationship skills

    Practise this one: Group Text Turns into Teasing Trouble

  5. Silent Treatment

    Ages 8–14

    You accidentally said something in a group chat that embarrassed your friend. You apologised right away, but since then, they’ve stopped talking to you — no replies, no eye contact at school.

    Days turn into a week. You start wondering if the friendship’s over.

    What do you do?

    Also practises: relationship skills, self-awareness, resilience, integrity, empathy

    Practise this one: Silent Treatment

  6. Secrets Spread

    Ages 10–14

    You shared something personal in a private chat. Later, you hear people whispering about it. A screenshot may have been shared. What do you do?

    Also practises: self-awareness, kindness, self-control

    Practise this one: Secrets Spread

  7. Clothes liner

    Ages 12–14

    Someone starts a group chat making fun of a classmate’s clothes.

    A few friends you like are in the chat too — and one of them adds you.

    You want to leave, but you also don’t want to look boring or self-righteous.

    Then someone posts a photo of one of your mates in clothes and everyone starts laughing.

    What do you do?

    Also practises: integrity, courage, kindness, social awareness

    Practise this one: Clothes liner

More scenarios in the game

24 more online safety scenarios to play in the game. Tap one to sign up free — it will be the first scenario your child plays.

  1. Silly Filter Surprise in the Class Chat Ages 6–8

    Your friend uses a silly filter on your picture and posts it on the class chat without asking.

    Play in the game

  2. Sibling Video Disagreement Ages 6–14

    You and your older sibling are watching videos on a shared tablet.

    Play in the game

  3. Friendship Meme? Ages 8–11

    You catch your good friend's computer screen and it's your photo with a meme.

    Play in the game

  4. Digital Drawing Dilemma Ages 8–14

    You work hard on a digital drawing, but someone posts a copy and claims it’s theirs.

    Play in the game

  5. Friend's Tablet Password Peek Temptation Ages 8–14

    Your friend leaves their tablet open and you can see their password.

    Play in the game

  6. Silly Video Goes Online Without Asking Ages 8–14

    You make a silly video at home and your sibling posts it online without asking.

    Play in the game

  7. The Case of the Found Phone Ages 8–14

    You find a smartphone on the playground.

    Play in the game

  8. Video Comment Causes Unintended Hurt Feelings Ages 8–14

    You leave a silly comment on a video, but someone replies and says it's mean.

    Play in the game

  9. Choosing Fairness Ages 10–14

    You’re invited to a private online video chat with friends, but they’re excluding someone else who usually plays with you.

    Play in the game

  10. Classmate's Funny Face Ages 10–14

    In your class group chat, someone shares a picture of a classmate making a funny face.

    Play in the game

  11. Classmate's Meme About Teacher Needs More Humor Ages 10–14

    Your classmate creates a meme online about a teacher and asks if you’ll help make it funnier.

    Play in the game

  12. Classmate’s Photo Turned Meme, Ages 10–14

    Someone edits a classmate’s photo into a funny meme and shares it with the group.

    Play in the game

  13. Classmates Want Popular Player in Your Private Game Ages 10–14

    Your classmates pressure you to invite a popular player into your private game online.

    Play in the game

  14. Digital Dilema Ages 10–14

    You're in a group chat and someone changes a classmate’s name to something silly.

    Play in the game

  15. Empty Shelf Ages 10–14

    Your dad has been looking for work for months.

    Play in the game

  16. Live Streaming comedy? Ages 10–14

    You’re watching a live stream with your friend when the streamer starts making fun of people who wear glasses.

    Play in the game

  17. Mean or Meme? Ages 10–14

    You create a meme being shared about a student in your school.

    Play in the game

  18. Rude but funny? Ages 10–14

    During an online match, someone on your team starts saying rude but funny things to the opposing team.

    Play in the game

  19. Sceenshot secret Ages 10–14

    You’re at your friend’s house when they show you a private group chat.

    Play in the game

  20. Silly Photo Makes You Uncomfortable Online Ages 10–14

    A friend tags you in a silly photo online.

    Play in the game

  21. Silly Sibling? Ages 10–14

    In a group chat, someone dares you to post a silly video of your younger brother doing a dance.

    Play in the game

  22. Unexpected Guest Joins Video Call Ages 10–14

    You’re hosting a group video call with friends.

    Play in the game

  23. When a Laugh Crosses the Line Ages 10–14

    In a game chat online, your friend changes another player’s name to something silly and everyone laughs.

    Play in the game

  24. When Temptation Strikes Ages 12–14

    A friend gives you their game login to help them level up.

    Play in the game

How can you use these at home or in class?

  1. Ask your child where the scenario happens: a group chat, a game, a video call. Children often know these places better than adults, so let them explain.
  2. Ask what could happen next if they do nothing, and if they share, comment or reply. Something posted online is hard to take back.
  3. Agree on a few moves that work in most of these: don’t reply to strangers, ask before posting someone’s photo, leave a chat that turns mean and tell an adult when something feels wrong.
  4. Practise the exact words, such as “Please take that down” or “I’m not adding to that,” with you playing the friend who pushes.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What are good online safety scenarios for kids?

Short situations from places children actually go: a message from someone who says they know them from school, a photo posted without asking, a dare to share a silly video. The scenarios on this page are like these, and each ends with a choice to work through.

What age are these online safety scenarios for?

Most are written for 10 and up. A few, like a silly filter put on a photo in the class chat and sharing a tablet with an older sibling, are for younger children. Each scenario shows its own range.

What should my child do if a stranger messages them?

Not reply, not share anything about themselves, and tell a parent or another adult they trust. The Mystery Text scenario on this page is a way to practise that before it happens.

Is online safety the same as digital awareness?

Digital awareness is the name the game uses. It covers staying safe online and also how a child treats other people there: what they post, share and laugh at.

Guides for parents on this

One situation in depth

My child is in a group chat that’s being mean to a classmateThe class chat has turned on a kid who isn’t in it. What your child can post, message privately or do offline to help, and what you can say at home.

More scenario lists

The whole scenario library