Episode 10
Omar and the Magical Mirror
In this episode, we follow the adventures of a curious boy named Omar, who lives in a town filled with colorful houses and friendly faces. Omar loves exploring, especially the vast world of the internet. One evening, while playing a new game on his tablet, Omar notices something extraordinary—his game character looks exactly like him! This puzzling discovery leads to an unexpected visit from Mira, the AI Fairy.
Mira introduces Omar to the magical Mirror of Data, revealing how the internet collects bits of information about him every time he goes online. Through this magical mirror, Omar learns about different types of data: personal, browsing, and activity. Mira explains how these data bits create a digital version of Omar, helping the internet understand his preferences and habits.
Main Learning Points:
- Understanding Data Collection: Listeners will learn how the internet gathers personal, browsing, and activity data to create a digital profile.
- Digital Awareness: The story emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the information shared online.
- Internet Safety: Mira’s guidance highlights the need to protect one’s digital self while enjoying the benefits of the internet.
Join us as Omar’s journey unfolds, offering valuable insights into the magical yet complex world of the internet and data. This episode is perfect for young listeners and their families, providing entertainment and education on digital literacy and safety.
This story is incorporated in our interactive learning workbook, "How does AI affect your privacy?" (https://view.pagetiger.com/AI-affect-privacy)
Check out the Data Girl and Friends website for more learning materials: https://data-girl-and-friends.com/
Transcript
Once upon a time, a curious boy named Omar lived in a small town filled with colorful houses and friendly faces. Omar loved exploring the world around him, but his favorite place to explore was the world of the internet.
Omar was playing a new game on his tablet one evening when he noticed something strange. His character in the game looked just like him! It had his curly hair, bright smile, and favorite red sneakers. “How did they know?” Omar wondered aloud “Is that just a weird coincidence?”.
Suddenly, a soft, shimmering light filled his room, and a tiny, glowing fairy appeared. “Hello, Omar!” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “I’m Mira, the AI Fairy. I can help you understand how the internet knows so much about you.”
Omar’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really? How does it work?”
Mira waved her wand, and a magical mirror appeared in front of them. “This is the Mirror of Data,” she explained. “Every time you use the internet, little bits of information about you are collected. These bits are called data.”
The mirror began to show images of Omar browsing the web, playing games, and watching videos. “See, Omar? When you play games, the internet learns what you like. When you watch videos, it knows what makes you laugh. All these pieces of data come together to create a digital version of you.”
Omar watched in amazement as the mirror displayed a digital version of himself, made up of tiny, glowing data bits. “Wow! So, the internet knows me because of everything I do online?”
“Exactly!” Mira nodded. “Let me show you how it works. When you visit a website, it can collect data like your favorite games, the videos you watch, and even the things you search for. This is called browsing data. When you sign up for a game or a service, you often provide information like your name, age, and email address. This is called personal data.”
The mirror then showed Omar typing his name and age into a game. “This is personal data,” Mira explained. “It’s information that tells the internet who you are.”
Next, the mirror displayed Omar watching a funny video about cats. “This is browsing data,” Mira said. “It shows what you like to watch and helps the internet suggest more videos you might enjoy.”
Omar was fascinated. “So, the internet collects all these bits of data to learn about me?”
“Yes,” Mira said. “And there’s more! When you play games, the internet can see how often you play and what levels you reach. This is called activity data. It helps the game understand what you enjoy and how to make it more fun for you.”
The mirror showed Omar playing his favorite game and reaching a new level. “This is activity data,” Mira explained. “It helps the game know what you like to do.”
Omar thought for a moment. “So, the internet is like a big, magical world where everyone has a digital copy made up of all these data bits?”
“Yes, that’s a great way to think about it,” Mira said with a smile. “And just like in any world, you have to be wise and protect yourself.”
With a flick of her wand, Mira made the mirror disappear. “Always remember, Omar, the internet can be a wonderful place to learn and have fun, but it’s important to stay safe and be mindful of your digital self.”
Omar nodded, feeling a little wiser. “Thank you, Mira! I’ll make sure to be careful with my data.”
And with that, the AI Fairy disappeared in a sparkle of light, leaving Omar with a newfound understanding of the magical world of the internet and his digital twin.
