Viral Sphere: Fostering Healthy Social Media Practice Through Playful Simulation

In this paper, we present the development of a learning game, Viral Sphere, aimed at stimulating discussions on the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) among secondary school students and educators. Our game consists of a fictional social media platform, displaying a network diagram to illustrate the spreading of data. Our design aims at promoting informed decision making, through interactive scenario-based learning. Players navigate real-life inspired situations, simulating posting on social media platforms and related consequences, as data spread beyond their immediate network. Data from testing with students, shows that our gameplay can facilitate meaningful conversations about GDPR in a relatable manner.