Digital Street Smarts
Take it home.
What we practiced today, in five rules. Show this page to someone at home and talk about it.
Five rules to remember
- Trust Fall
Check before you trust.
Followers, photos and a school in the bio don't prove someone is who they say. Ask for something they couldn't fake, like a video of them holding up a word you pick. If a friend's account asks for something strange, check with them another way: text, call or in person.
- AI or Nah?
Looking real isn't proof.
AI can make videos, photos and voices that look and sound real. Staring harder won't settle it. Ask where it came from, and check whether a source you trust shows the same thing.
- Profiled
Small posts add up.
A practice time, a school name, a pet's name and a favorite spot each seem harmless. Put together, they tell a stranger where you'll be and when. Before you post, ask: does this show where I am, where I'll be, or who I'm with?
- Hang Up or Hold On
Hang up and check.
If a call or message wants money, a code, a password or a secret, stop. Tell an adult, then reach out on a number or app you already trust. Real companies, real prizes and real friends can wait.
- Every game
Never share a code.
A code sent to your phone is the key to your account. No real friend, game company or bank will ask you to read it to them. Turn on two-step login and use a different password for each app.
Digital Street Smarts: take these with you
Reset your feed
- Tap Not interested on stuff you don't want more of.
- Scroll past fast. Watching to the end counts like a like.
- Search for new things on purpose so it can't box you in.
Signs it's legit
- The exact official account. Check the spelling.
- A normal price.
- You buy in the real app or website, which you type in yourself.
Signs it's a scam
- Way too cheap, or "free" if you just pay first.
- Rush words: today only, 1 hour left.
- Pay with Cash App or gift cards, or log in from a link.
Before you tap
- Leave the post and look it up yourself.
- Never send money to someone you haven't met.
- Not sure? Ask an adult first.
Real or Fake?
Spot a fake account
Feeling like you know someone is not proof. Before you follow back or answer a DM, look for these:
Signs it might be fake
- New account, or only a few posts.
- Follows way more people than follow back, or follows almost everyone back.
- Bio says nothing you could check, or says "DM me" with a link.
- Every photo is just them: no friends tagged, no group pics.
- All the photos look like the same day or the same place.
How to check
- Ask a friend you actually know, in person, if they know them.
- Scroll to their oldest posts and their tagged photos.
- Read the comments. Real friends leave real comments.
- Still not sure? Don't follow back. Nothing bad happens if you wait.
Feed Me
Reset your feed
Check how it makes you feel.
If your feed leaves you angry, scared or worried, that's your sign to reset it. Those posts are made to keep you scrolling, and every second you stay tells the app to send more.
Every app
- Scroll past fast. Watching counts, even if you never tap like.
- Tap Not interested on stuff you don't want more of.
- Search for new things on purpose so the app learns something new.
- Unfollow or mute accounts that make you feel bad.
TikTok
- Press and hold a video, then tap Not interested.
- In Settings, look for Refresh your For You feed for a fresh start.
- Use Filter keywords to hide topics.
- Tap the three dots on a post, then Not interested.
- In Settings, look for Reset suggested content.
YouTube
- Tap the three dots, then Don't recommend channel.
- Clear or pause your watch history in Settings.
Menus change when apps update. If you can't find a setting, search the app's help page for "reset feed."
If something goes wrong
- Stop. Don't reply, don't pay and don't send anything else.
- Save proof. Take screenshots of the messages and the account name.
- Tell a trusted adult. A parent, a teacher or a counselor. You won't be the first kid this has happened to.
- Block and report the account in the app.
- Lock your accounts. Change your password and turn on two-step login.
If someone threatens to share a photo of you
It is not your fault, and you are not in trouble. Don't pay and don't send more. Tell an adult you trust right away. These free services help kids and families:
For families
- Ask your kids which game surprised them most today, and why.
- Pick a family code word. If someone calls sounding like a family member and asks for money or help, ask for the word.
- Agree that your kids can tell you about anything that happens online without losing their phone for it. Kids who fear punishment stay quiet.
- Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Want a session for your school, church or community group? Visit carolinabridgetech.com.