Safety in a Digital World

How to protect ourselves and the people we care about

I got my first phone when I was 14, after months of begging my parents. I still remember my dad picking me up from school, reciting a string of nine numbers for me to memorize. That was my new phone number! Finally, I could be like the cool kids, because in 5th grade, popularity was determined by who had an iPhone and who didn’t. At 14, I thought I had it all figured out. Now, at 23, I realize how little I knew—and honestly, it scares me that the average age for getting a first phone is now just 11.

Phones open up a world of possibilities, but they also come with a lot of risks. If we’re not careful, we can get caught in situations that are hard to escape or even understand. And it’s not just younger girls who are at risk. Middle-aged women are seeing a rise in “romance scams,” and older women are being targeted by lottery and imposter scams. The digital world is full of threats. Social media, for example, can seriously mess with our minds. As a Gen Z woman, I never thought I’d say this, but after all the research I’ve done, I have to admit it’s rotting our brains. (Yes, Grandma, you were right.)

There’s also a rise in revenge porn, and many girls are unknowingly involved in producing child pornography. Whether it’s someone after your youth, your body, or your money, the pattern is the same: people pretending to be someone they’re not, willing to hurt women to get what they want.

So, what can we do about it? How do we protect ourselves and the people we care about? And for parents—how do you keep your daughter safe without making her feel smothered? That’s where our course, Online Safety and Social Media comes in. It’s designed to give you real tools and habits to stay safe, both online and offline.

What You’ll Learn in the Course

Our course is broken down into seven modules, each focusing on a key part of digital safety and personal well-being:

Securing Devices: Learn how to lock down your phone, tablet, and computer so your info stays private.
Phishing and Scams: Spot the tricks scammers use to steal your info, and know how to avoid them.
Social Media Safety: Get smart about what you share, who you connect with, and how to keep your accounts secure.
Blackmail, Sexting, and Control: Understand the risks, set boundaries, and know what to do if someone tries to use your personal content against you.
Artificial Intelligence: See how AI can be used for good and bad online, and learn to spot fake or manipulated content.
Mental Health and Wellness: Find out how to set healthy boundaries with your devices, manage screen time, and take care of your mental health in a digital world.
Knowledge to Action: Put everything you’ve learned into practice with real-life scenarios, and create your own safety plan.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence and skills to protect yourself and help others do the same. Remember: it’s not the device that’s dangerous—it’s how it connects you to the world. Always trust your instincts, stay alert, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your safety is worth it!