Parents versus kids challenge: Who knows more about protecting personal information? - From the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
This will be a relatively quick one - saw an e-mail this AM from the Federal Trade Commission about ways to talk to kids about online safety. That e-mail came right after a webinar I attended over lunch on (among other things) online investing scams and the continued rise of scams in general. So thought I would pass a few things on.
Jay LeBlanc
8/6/20251 min read
This post is mostly going to be links - first, some focusing on this "Parents versus Kids Challenge" and other resources for dealing with online safety for students/kids. Second, some general resources from the FTC that teachers might have a use for. Everything from them (like most government agencies) is free - the challenge tends to be find what you need (which hopefully I can help with)!
Parents versus Kids Challenge (and other online safety resources):
Link to the post from this morning (if you are subscribed, they send posts like this directly to your e-mail) - https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/parents-versus-kids-challenge-who-knows-more-about-protecting-personal-information
A direct link to the FTC's "Heads Up: Stop. Think. Connect." brochure. If you want a classroom set (25 or more) you can order free printed copies (also shipped for free). If you just want 1 or 2 for yourself or your family, download or print the PDF version on the page. - https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/publications/heads-stop-think-connect
An earlier article and video from the FTC on "How to use parental controls to keep your kid safer online" - https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/04/how-use-parental-controls-keep-your-kid-safer-online
Be Internet Awesome (a website built by/with Google to teach online safety). If you need activities, check out their Roblox activities building internet safety into the games. - https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us
The FBI's Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge - uses an online game to teach 3rd - 8th graders more about becoming better digital citizens. - https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/outreach/safe-online-surfing-sos-program
More general resources from the FTC for teachers/parents:
The FTC's "Consumer.Gov" site - Get the basics on how to make a budget, use credit, avoid scams, and more. https://consumer.gov/
General consumer alerts (presented with the most recent at the top). Beyond helping you stay safe, it is a good way to find out what the "hot trends" are in scams to discuss with students. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts
Teacher Resources for Consumer.gov Note particularly the link for "Order Free Resources" - lots of free classroom sets of bookmarks and booklets in both English and Spanish (and a few in various Asian languages). https://consumer.gov/resources