Shards are a currency within the app. 

Shards can be collected in many ways and can then be exchanged for gems.

How to earn shards?

Shards can be gained by making gem choices in stories, by reading certain stories, in book clubs and by doing survey rewards.

Shards can also be gained in Gumball where there is also a possibility of winning a shard multiplier that gives 2x shards for a limited time.

Shard exchange

To exchange shards for gems, click on the shards icon at the top right of the app and then you can exchange the shards for gems.
The exchange rate for shards to gems is 1:100 (1:25 for players with a VIP subscription)