Digital inequality remains a significant barrier for many older adults, limiting their ability to navigate online spaces securely and confidently while increasing their susceptibility to cyber threats. In response, we propose a novel shedding-type card game for older adults to conceptually learn and reinforce cyber hygiene practices in educational settings. We asked digital educators to participate as players alongside older adults (n = 16), departing from their usual role as teachers, they collaborated and shared a unique learning experience. The cybersafety game addresses 4 key topics: handling scams, password management, responding to cyber attacks, and staying private. We adopted a mixed-method approach of think-aloud playtesting, semi-structured interviews, and surveys to evaluate the game's reception and impact. Participants reported highly favorable gameplay experiences and found the cybersafety advice useful. Player feedback informed game modifications, detailed in this paper, to further enhance the game's usability and educational value.
View on arXiv@article{camilleri2025_2503.05430,
title={ Cybersafety Card Game: Empowering Digital Educators to Teach Cybersafety to Older Adults },
author={ Jacob Camilleri and Ashley Sheil and Michelle O'Keeffe and Moya Cronin and Melanie Gruben and Hazel Murray },
journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.05430},
year={ 2025 }
}