Social Media Savvy
Navigating social platforms safely: privacy settings, cyberbullying prevention, spotting fakes, and building a positive digital reputation. Five modules that turn anxiety about social media into real, actionable skills.
About this course
This is the age when most kids get their first social media accounts. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Discord, and group chats become part of daily life. The platforms are designed to be addictive, the social pressure is real, and the risks are not always obvious — even to adults.
Social Media Savvy gives tweens the critical thinking tools they need to navigate these platforms without getting hurt. This is not a “social media is bad” course. It is a “social media is powerful, and you need to know how to use it wisely” course. We cover privacy settings, digital reputation, fake accounts and scams, group chat dynamics, and how to stand up to cyberbullying.
Each module includes real-world scenarios your child will recognize from their own life, a video lesson, a hands-on activity, and a family discussion prompt. Kids finish with a Personal Social Media Safety Plan they can reference every time they log on.
Lessons
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Key Idea: Social media apps are businesses. They do not charge you money because you are not the customer — you are the product. Their real customers are advertisers who pay to reach your attention. Everything about these apps — from the infinite scroll to the notification sounds to the like counts — is designed to keep you on the app longer.
Let’s Learn
Every time you open TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, an algorithm goes to work. An algorithm is just a set of instructions that decides what to show you next. It watches what you like, what you comment on, what you share, how long you watch each video, and even when you pause. It learns what keeps you hooked, and it feeds you more of it.
This is called the attention economy. Your attention is valuable. Companies pay billions of dollars for it. The longer you stay on the app, the more ads you see, and the more money the platform makes. This is why the feed never ends — the infinite scroll is not a feature. It is the whole business model.
When you get a like or a notification, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine. It is the same chemical released when you eat something delicious or get a hug. Apps use this on purpose. Every red notification badge, every “someone liked your post,” every streak counter is designed to make you come back for more. Understanding this does not mean you have to quit social media. But it does mean you can use it on your own terms instead of letting it use you.
Try This
Open your favorite social app and scroll for two minutes. But this time, be a detective. Count how many posts are from real friends versus influencers, brands, suggested content, or ads. Write down what the algorithm seems to think you like. Is it right? Is it showing you things that make you feel good, or things that make you feel anxious or jealous?
Check Your Understanding
- If you do not pay for a social media app, who is the real customer?
- What is an algorithm and how does it decide what to show you?
- What is dopamine and why do apps use it?
Talk About It
Ask a parent: “What social media or technology did you have when you were my age? How is it different from what I use now?”
Vocabulary: Algorithm, attention economy, dopamine, engagement, influencer, infinite scroll
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Key Idea: Everything you post, like, comment on, or share becomes part of your permanent digital footprint. Colleges, employers, coaches, scholarship committees, and future friends can all find it. Build a reputation you are proud of — starting now.
Let’s Learn
Imagine writing something on a piece of paper, making a thousand copies, and handing them to strangers all over the world. Then imagine trying to get every single copy back. That is what posting online is like. Even if you delete a post, someone might have already taken a screenshot. Even a disappearing Snapchat story can be screen-recorded. The internet never truly forgets.
Here is a simple test called the Grandparent Test: before you post anything, ask yourself, would I be comfortable showing this to my grandparent? To my teacher? To a future boss? If the answer is no, do not post it. It is that simple.
Privacy settings matter. On every platform you use, take ten minutes to lock down your settings. Make your account private. Turn off location sharing. Review who can tag you. Turn off the ability for strangers to message you. These settings exist for a reason — use them. We will walk you through exactly how to do this on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube in the video lesson.
Try This
Do a self-audit. Google your own name (or, with permission, ask a parent to help you Google your name). See what comes up. Then open one of your social media profiles and scroll through your last twenty posts. Would all twenty pass the Grandparent Test? Delete or archive anything that does not reflect the person you want to be.
Check Your Understanding
- Why does deleting a post not mean it is gone forever?
- What is the Grandparent Test?
- Name three privacy settings you should check on every social media platform you use.
Talk About It
Ask a parent or guardian: “Have you ever posted something online that you later regretted? What happened? What do you wish you had done differently?”
Vocabulary: Digital footprint, privacy settings, audit, reputation, archive, Grandparent Test
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Key Idea: Not everyone online is who they say they are. Fake accounts, phishing scams, AI-generated images, and viral misinformation are everywhere. Learning to verify what is real protects you, your accounts, and your family.
Let’s Learn
Fake accounts do not always look fake. Scammers have gotten very good at looking real. But there are red flags you can learn to spot. A profile with no photo, very few followers, a recent creation date, generic comments like “Great post!”, or messages that seem too good to be true — these are all warning signs.
Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving away your password or personal information. They might send you a message that looks like it is from Instagram or your bank, saying your account has been compromised and you need to log in immediately. The link they give you goes to a fake login page that steals your password. Never click a link in a suspicious message. Go directly to the website or app yourself instead.
Misinformation spreads six times faster than the truth on social media. Why? Because it is usually more surprising, more emotional, or more outrageous than the truth. Before you share something, verify it. Ask: who posted this? Is there evidence? Have other reliable sources reported the same thing? If you are not sure, do not share it.
Try This
Find three posts in your feed that might be fake, misleading, or sponsored without disclosure. Use a fact-checking site like Snopes.com or the MediaWise Teen Fact-Checking Network to verify one of them. Write down what you found.
Check Your Understanding
- Name four red flags of a fake social media account.
- What is phishing and how can you avoid it?
- Why does misinformation spread faster than truth?
Talk About It
With a grown-up, find a viral post or video that turned out to be fake. Discuss: why did people believe it? What would have helped them spot it sooner?
Vocabulary: Phishing, verification, misinformation, disinformation, sponsored content, red flag
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Key Idea: Group chats and social media can make friendships stronger, but they can also become toxic fast. Knowing how to handle drama, exclusion, and the comparison trap keeps your mental health strong and your friendships healthy.
Let’s Learn
Group chats move fast. Messages fly in faster than anyone can think. There is no tone of voice, no facial expressions, no body language — just words on a screen. This is a recipe for misunderstandings. Someone makes a joke that does not land. Someone stays silent and people assume they are mad. Someone gets left on read and panics.
Then there is the comparison trap. You open Instagram and see everyone smiling, on vacation, looking perfect. Your brain tells you: everyone else has a better life than me. But here is the truth: people post their highlight reel, not their behind-the-scenes. Nobody posts the fight they had with their parents or the three hours they spent crying. Comparing your whole life to someone else’s carefully edited three seconds is a losing game every time.
Boundaries are not mean. They are healthy. It is OK to mute a group chat that is stressing you out. It is OK to leave a conversation that makes you uncomfortable. It is OK to say, “I need a break from my phone tonight.” Real friends respect boundaries. People who get angry at you for setting a boundary are people who benefited from you having none.
Try This
Look at your group chats. Is there one that consistently makes you feel stressed, anxious, or left out? Write down three ways you could set a boundary: mute the chat for 24 hours, leave it entirely, or talk to one friend privately instead of the whole group. Try one of these this week and notice how you feel.
Check Your Understanding
- Why do group chats create more misunderstandings than in-person conversations?
- What is the comparison trap and why is it misleading?
- Name two healthy boundaries you can set in a group chat.
Talk About It
Ask a parent: “Have you ever been in a group chat or online situation that made you feel excluded? How did you handle it?”
Vocabulary: Boundaries, comparison trap, exclusion, mute, mental health, highlight reel
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Key Idea: Cyberbullying is serious, but you are not powerless. There is a proven four-step response that works. And being an ally to someone who is being targeted is one of the bravest things you can do online.
Let’s Learn
Cyberbullying is not the same as a disagreement or a single mean comment. It is repeated, intentional harm using digital tools. It can be public — like posting embarrassing photos or spreading rumors — or private, like sending threatening messages or creating group chats just to exclude one person.
If it happens to you, remember the four-step response: Stop (do not reply — the person wants a reaction, and giving them one feeds the fire), Screenshot (save the evidence before it can be deleted), Block (use the block feature to cut off all contact), and Tell (tell a trusted adult — a parent, a teacher, a coach, a school counselor). You do not have to handle it alone.
If you see it happening to someone else, do not be a bystander. Be an ally. You do not have to confront the bully directly — that can make you a target too. Instead, send the person a private message of support. Report the bullying content to the platform. Refuse to share, like, or laugh at mean content. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply say, “I saw what happened. It was not OK. Are you all right?”
And what if YOU are the one who said something hurtful? It happens. We all make mistakes. Own it. Apologize sincerely — not “sorry you felt that way” but “I was wrong to say that and I hurt you. I am sorry.” Delete the post. Learn from it. And do better next time.
Try This
Write a short script for what you would say to a friend who is being bullied online. Practice saying it out loud so you are ready if it ever happens. Then write a script for what you would say if YOU needed to apologize for something you posted.
Check Your Understanding
- What are the four steps to respond to cyberbullying?
- What is the difference between bullying and a single mean comment?
- Name three ways to be an ally without becoming a target yourself.
Talk About It
Discuss with your family: What would each of you do if you saw someone being bullied online? Make a family plan so everyone knows what to do.
Vocabulary: Cyberbullying, ally, bystander, evidence, report, de-escalation