HackShield
HackShield is equipping children with the critical skills to safely navigate today’s ever-changing digital landscape. Through their engaging online game, children learn to identify digital risks and protect themselves and their communities from online harm. HackShield’s game builds digital resilience early and encourages children to share their learnings with parents and caregivers. Active in six countries, HackShield has registered over 600,000 children, and more than 300,000 have completed their digital safety training. HackShield has ambitious plans to scale, and is on track to impact 10 million children within the next five years.
The Problem
As technology rapidly evolves, tools to keep children safe online are falling behind. Parents and teachers, whose childhood experiences were vastly different, often lack the knowledge to help their children navigate the internet safely. As a result, children are left vulnerable to online cyberbullying, financial extortion, and sexual exploitation. Online child sexual exploitation or abuse is the fastest-rising form of sexual harm in the world, with an estimated one in 12 children falling victim. Additionally, formal policies mandating child protection online have yet to materialize, while technology companies are failing to take responsibility for cybercrime.
The Solution
HackShield prepares children to recognize, avoid, and combat digital risks through their online game, Future Cyber Heroes. As children play the game, they answer questions and complete tasks, learning how to protect themselves online. Players are encouraged to share their learnings with parents and caregivers to progress in the game, earning badges and pins to incentivize knowledge-sharing behavior. HackShield places children at the center of learning by empowering them to teach adults, making it a unique and powerful contribution to current efforts combating online harm.
Future Cyber Heroes is intentionally designed for children aged seven through 12 to instill digital resilience before the age when online harm is most prevalent. The game is continuously evolving to keep up with the everchanging digital landscape, regularly adding new content and materials.
HackShield’s primary distribution channel is through municipalities, which has generated strong interest from mayors, many of whom are now referring the game to other mayors, promoting their nationwide expansion. The game is also offered as interactive lessons in schools, a channel that is growing even faster.
Impact
More than 600,000 children have created a HackShield account, and over 300,000 have completed HackShield’s digital safety training. HackShield aims to reach more than 10 million children by 2030.
HackShield collaborates with 215 municipalities in the Netherlands.
Leadership
Emily Jacometti
Emily, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, is a pioneering entrepreneur and speaker in the fields of gamification and digital education. She has dedicated her career to creating social impact through the power of play and storytelling. Emily is a board member of the Dutch Games Association.
Tim Murck
Tim, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, is a dynamic professional with a diverse background in acting, storytelling, and applied gaming. He is passionate about harnessing the power of narratives and gamification to drive social change and enhance learning experiences.