S1.1 - Be Seen, Not Exposed

✍🏽 Reflect & Write Questions: Practicing Safe Behavior Online

1. Why do you think it’s risky to post your birthday or who you live with on social media? How could someone use that information in a bad way?
   
2. Think about the last picture you posted or shared. What was in the background? Could anything personal be seen?
   
3. Have you ever seen a picture online with someone’s car and license plate showing? How did that make you feel? What could go wrong if that information got into the wrong hands?
   
4. Why might family pictures sometimes reveal more than we expect? Give an example of a photo that might seem harmless but could share too much.
   
5. Imagine a stranger is looking at your photos or posts. What parts of your home would you not want them to see? Why?
   
6. What’s something simple you can do before posting a picture to make sure it’s safe to share? Write down one or two steps you will take from now on. 
   
7. What would you do if a friend posted a photo of you that shared too much personal info (like your house or school name)? How would you talk to them about it?
   
8. Write a message to your future self reminding you how to stay safe online when sharing pictures or videos. Start your message with:​ "Hey future me, before you post, remember..."

A professional portrait of an African-American woman with meticulously styled Bantu knots, showcasing her expertise as an Education Data Security Analyst.

Education Data Security Analyst 🏫🔐
Works with schools and universities to protect student records, grades, and personal data. Ensures compliance with laws like FERPA and prevents data breaches involving student information.

Community Workshop in a Church Fellowship Hall – “Digital Safety & Smart Posting”
​Setting: A small group of moms and daughters sit in folding chairs arranged in a circle. A sign near the front reads: "Be Seen, Not Exposed – Protecting What Matters Online." Ebony stands at the front with a digital tablet and a warm smile. There's a table with water bottles, notepads, and mini cupcakes nearby.

Ebony: Thank y’all for being here. I know your Saturdays are busy, so I promise to keep it real and keep it moving. We’re here to talk about what we post, how we post, and why it matters.

Ebony (holding up her tablet): Let’s start with a quick one. If I took a selfie in my kitchen right now and posted it to Instagram… what’s something in the background that could cause a problem?

Mia (14): Ooo, like your address on a package or something?

Ebony: Exactly. That’s detail in the background. I saw a girl post a “clean with me” video and forgot she had her school ID on the fridge. Some creep found out what school she went to.

Mrs. Allen (mom of 13-year-old twins): That’s crazy! These apps are cute until somebody shows up in your real life. I tell my girls all the time: check the background like you check your teeth in the mirror--every time.
(Everyone chuckles.)

Ebony (laughing): Yes, Mrs. Allen! That’s going on a T-shirt.

Naima (16): My friend posted a family BBQ video last summer, and her little cousin’s birth certificate was in the shot. I was like, “Girl… take that DOWN!”

Ebony: Whew! Y’all are proving my point better than I could. Your home is sacred. What’s in it—who’s in it—those things are for you, not the internet.

Jazlyn (12): Wait… so family pictures too?

Ebony: Yes, ma’am. Even family photos can give clues. A t-shirt with your school name, the view outside your window, a trophy with your last name on it—it all adds up. Folks zoom in.

Mrs. Rivera (quiet but firm): Can I say something? Last year, my niece posted a birthday photo of her new car. Her plates were showing. A week later someone tried to follow her home from the gas station.
(The room goes silent.)

Mrs. Rivera (voice rising): I was livid. Not at her—for not knowing. But at how fast it happened. That car picture was up for ten minutes. Ten.

Ebony (gently): Thank you for sharing that. That anger? That’s real. But so is the power we have when we know better. That’s what this space is for. No shame. Just lessons.

Tamara (15): So like… you shouldn’t even post your birthday?

Ebony: Here’s the deal—your birthdate, your address, who you live with—those are identity markers. Companies ask you those questions for a reason. And if someone’s trying to guess your password or fake your identity? That info helps them.

Mia (playfully): What if I just post “It’s my birthday!” but no year?

Ebony (smiling): Smart! That’s a safer move. Celebrate without the receipts.

Mrs. Allen (smirking): Okay, but what about us mamas? Sometimes we post y’all in pajamas with the house address on the mailbox. I’m guilty.

Ebony (grinning): We love y’all, but yes—even parents gotta check the frame! Your love can still be private and powerful.

Naima: So it’s not just about what we post—but what’s in the post?

Ebony: Exactly. What you post, what’s around you, what’s in the background—it all tells a story. The question is, who are you telling it to—and do they deserve the story?

Tamara (softly): I think I overshare sometimes. Not on purpose, but just… not thinking.

Ebony: We’ve all done it. But you just had your “ah ha” moment. That’s how we grow.

Mrs. Rivera: Can we get a checklist or something? Like “Before You Post: Did You…”

Ebony: Yes, ma’am! I got y’all. We’re gonna build that together. Before we wrap, let me leave you with this: Everything you post is a piece of you. Make sure every piece is safe, strong, and sacred.

Scene Closes
The room fills with a hum of conversation, a few hugs, and some thoughtful silence. Ebony walks over to Mia and quietly hands her a sticky note: “You’re more powerful than your posts. Use that power wisely.”

✅ Before You Post: Did You…?
 
🔵 Girls: Think Before You Post

• Avoid showing your school name or uniform.
• Keep birthdate, location, and driver's permit private.
• Don’t post bedroom or bathroom selfies.
• Ask permission before tagging a friend.
• Don’t post “in the moment” (share later if it’s safe).

🔴 Moms: Lead by Example

• Avoid posting children’s full names and school details.
• Blur or block home addresses/license plates in photos.
• Don’t overshare family routines or schedules.
• Respect teens' privacy—ask before posting their pics.
• Avoid "first day" signs that reveal school grade & teacher.

🟣 Both: Be Seen, Not Exposed

• Check the background before posting (no IDs, documents, mail).
• Use privacy settings and review your audience.
• Ask: “Would I want a stranger to know this?”
• Think long-term: Will this post still feel okay in 5 years?
• Delete and report anything that feels unsafe or inappropriate.

🔍 Interactive Activity: “Spot the Scam & Secure the Bag”

Objective: Strengthen awareness of fraud risks and prevention strategies related to online financial transactions, PII, and digital visibility.

🧠 Overview
In this session, participants will:

• Identify PII vulnerabilities in payment apps & social profiles
• Learn to recognize scams involving Cash App, PayPal, Zelle, and Venmo
• Conduct live research using trusted sources
• Create a fraud prevention toolkit as a family or accountability team
• Simulate a safe online money transfer scenario

🧾 Materials Needed

• Smartphone or laptop
• Internet access
• Digital journal, notepad app, or worksheet
• Sample cash transfer app screens (real or printed screenshots)
• Optional: Review videos from ShyFraudTv [linked] YouTube Channel or TikTok

🗂️ Part 1: PII Heat Check — “What’s in Your Feed?” (15 mins)
Instructions:

1. Open your favorite social media profile or post archive.
2. Look for anything that may reveal financially sensitive PII, such as:
   • 📅 Full birthdate
   • 📷 Screenshots with visible credit/debit cards
   • 💸 Payment usernames (e.g., $YourName, @YourPayPalHandle)
   • 🧾 Receipts or order confirmations
   • 🧍 Tagging of family members ("My mom paid," "Dad's card")

Prompt:
In your digital notepad, write:

• 🔐 What surprised you most?
• 🧽 What did you delete, edit, or blur out?
• 🎯 How would a scammer use that information?

💻 Part 2: Scam Sleuths — “Search It to Believe It” (20 mins)
Instructions:
Search engines ready! As a team, complete this research challenge. Use .gov, .org, or official app websites only. Answer these prompts in your notebook:

1. 🔍 Search: “Top Cash App scams teens should know”
   → Write down 3 red flags from your findings.
2. 🔍 Search: “Zelle fraud protection tips”
   → Find one thing Zelle does not do to protect users.
3. 🔍 Search: “How to report fraud on PayPal”
   → Write down the steps to take if someone sends you a fake request.
4. 🔍 Search: “Safe ways to accept money online as a student”
   → List 3 best practices.
5. Bonus: Use Google or DuckDuckGo to search:
   “What is phishing?” + “Examples of payment scams on Instagram/TikTok.”
   → Summarize a real-world example and how it could’ve been prevented.

🛠️ Part 3: Build Your Family Fraud Toolkit (20 mins)
​Instructions:
With your partner, complete the Fraud Prevention Toolkit together. Discuss and document:
✅ Create a rule for:

• When to share or request payment
• What apps you use for different purposes
• When to delete messages or block senders
• What to do if you accidentally send money to the wrong person

✅ Set up:

• Strong passwords for payment apps
• Two-step verification for your accounts
• Nicknames instead of real names in payment apps

✅ Make a “NEVER DO THIS” list:

• Don’t send money to strangers
• Don’t click unknown links to claim money
• Don’t post your handle with: “Send me $5 and I’ll double it”

💬 Reflection Prompts (To Close the Session)

• What’s something new you learned today about online payments?
• What would you tell your best friend or younger sibling after this session?
• Do you feel more confident spotting a scam? Why or why not?

✨ Optional Extension: Role-Play + Toolkit Share-Out (15 mins)

• Choose a sample scam and act it out: one person plays the scammer, the other protects themselves.
• Share your Toolkit tips with another pair and exchange ideas.