Req 1 — Digital Safety Awareness
A single click on the wrong link can expose your personal information to strangers, install malware on your device, or create a digital trail that follows you for years. Before you dive into the exciting parts of digital technology — building projects, exploring networks, and learning how data works — you need to understand how to protect yourself in the digital world.
Why Digital Safety Comes First
This requirement is the very first thing you do for this badge, and there is a good reason for that. Everything else you will learn — using search engines, creating websites, sharing files — involves being online. And being online means navigating risks that are not always obvious.
The Personal Safety Awareness “Digital Safety” video covers critical topics that every Scout needs to understand:
- Protecting personal information — what to share, what to keep private, and why it matters
- Recognizing online threats — phishing, scams, cyberbullying, and predatory behavior
- Making smart choices — how to respond when something online makes you uncomfortable
- Digital footprint — understanding that what you post today can affect you tomorrow
Where to Find the Video
The Digital Safety video is part of Scouting America’s Youth Protection training resources. Your Scoutmaster or merit badge counselor can help you locate it if you have trouble finding it.
Scouting America Youth Protection — Digital Safety Official Scouting America page with the Personal Safety Awareness 'Digital Safety' video and related youth protection resources.Key Concepts to Remember
After watching the video, make sure you can discuss these ideas with your counselor:
Personal Information
Personal information includes your full name, address, phone number, school name, passwords, and photos. Think of personal information like the combination to a lock — you would not give it to a stranger on the street, and you should not share it freely online either. Once information is posted online, it can be copied, screenshotted, and shared without your permission.
Your Digital Footprint
Every website you visit, every post you make, every photo you share creates a trail of data called your digital footprint. Unlike footprints in sand, digital footprints do not wash away. College admissions officers, future employers, and scholarship committees routinely search applicants’ online presence. A post that seems funny at 12 years old might look very different when you are applying to college at 17.
Cyberbullying and Online Pressure
Cyberbullying is using digital devices to harass, threaten, or humiliate someone. It can happen through texts, social media, gaming platforms, or any online space. If you experience or witness cyberbullying:
- Do not respond to the bully — engaging usually makes it worse
- Save the evidence — take screenshots
- Block the person on the platform
- Tell a trusted adult — a parent, teacher, or counselor
Preparing for Your Counselor Discussion
After watching the video, be ready to discuss:
- What types of personal information should you keep private online?
- How can you tell if an online situation is unsafe?
- What steps should you take if you encounter cyberbullying or a suspicious message?
- How does your digital footprint affect your future?
Your digital safety foundation is set. Time to look at where all this technology came from — and where it is headed.