Week 17: Life Skills Social Networks

In today's digital world, social media has become an essential way to stay connected with family, friends, and communities. However, it's also become increasingly complex to navigate safely and confidently.  During this week's lesson, we're going to explore how social media really works behind the scenes, and most importantly, how to use it safely while avoiding common scams and fraudulent schemes.  Our class will include four parts:

• We will demystify how social media platforms decide what content to show you  using algorithms

• We will then look at social media influencers 

• We will also cover practical safety skills on common scams targeting older adults

• Finally,  we will look at a current event which is battling a social media platform (TikTok)

By the end of this lesson, you'll feel more confident using social media, better equipped to spot potential scams, and know exactly what steps to take to protect yourself online. We'll take things at a comfortable pace, and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. 

The algorithm pays attention to five main things:

What You Do:

- Every time you 'like' a post

- How long you pause to look at something

- Which posts you comment on

- What you share with friends

- Which videos you watch all the way through

When it sees these actions, it's like you're telling it, "Yes, I want more content like this!"

Who You Know:

The algorithm prioritizes posts from:

- People you regularly interact with

- Family members you've identified

- Friends whose posts you frequently like or comment on

Think of it like sitting at a dinner table - you naturally pay more attention to conversations with people closest to you.

The timing of the post:

- New posts usually get shown first

- Popular posts from while you were away might appear at the top of your feed

- The algorithm tries to keep content fresh and relevant

Content Type:

Different platforms favor different types of content:

- Facebook currently loves video content

- Instagram pushes short videos called "Reels"

- Pinterest emphasizes visual content like photos

Filter Bubble affect

Personalization can make your social media experience more enjoyable.  However,  it can also create what we call a "filter bubble."  For example, you might be interested in gardening. You start seeing lots of posts about organic gardening, and you interact with them. Soon, most of your gardening-related content is about organic methods. You might never see posts about other gardening approaches, even though they exist. It's like only reading books from one section of the library.

Understanding social media influencers:

Think back to when you were younger. Remember how there were certain people in your community whose opinions seemed to carry extra weight? Maybe it was the local shop owner who always knew which products were reliable, or the neighbor everyone trusted for gardening advice. Social media influencers are the digital version of these trusted voices, but with a much larger reach and, importantly, with financial motivations we should understand.

Who are the social media influencers? 

Social media influencers are people who have built a following online by sharing content about specific topics. They might share cooking recipes, gardening tips, fashion advice, or financial guidance. Imagine them as digital-age celebrities, but instead of appearing in movies or on TV, they create content directly for social media platforms.

These influencers come in different sizes, kind of like stores in your community:

• Think of mega-influencers like department stores (over 1 million followers) - these are often celebrities

• Macro-influencers are like your local shopping mall stores (100,000 to 1 million followers)

• Micro-influencers are like specialty boutiques (10,000 to 100,000 followers)

• Nano-influencers are like small family shops (fewer than 10,000 followers)

How do they make money?

Influencers make money in several ways:

• Sponsored Posts: Imagine if your neighbor, who everyone trusts for gardening advice, started getting paid by a garden tool company to recommend their products. That's essentially what sponsored posts are. Influencers get paid to showcase products to their followers.

• Affiliate Marketing: Think of this like the old referral system where you'd get a small reward for recommending a business to a friend. When influencers share special links or discount codes, they get a percentage of any sales made through those links.

• Their Own Products: Many influencers create their own product lines - similar to how a trusted local baker might start selling their own cookbook.

Watching out for scams

Not all influencers have our best interests at heart.Here are some things that you would want to look out for:

• The Investment Scheme: Imagine someone you follow online starts talking about an amazing investment opportunity that's "guaranteed" to make money. They might say something like, "I made $10,000 in just one week with this cryptocurrency!" This is often a red flag.

• The Miracle Product: An influencer might claim a product can cure multiple health conditions or help you lose weight instantly. Remember the old saying: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• The Urgent Deal: "Only 10 minutes left to buy!" "Limited time offer!" These pressure tactics are often used to make you act before you can think it through.

Protect yourself

Before Making Any Purchase:

• Research the product on independent websites

• Look for reviews from real customers, not just influencers

• Check if the website is secure (look for 'https://' at the start)

• Use a credit card rather than a debit card for better protection

Red Flags to Watch For:

• Promises of guaranteed returns on investments

• Pressure to act quickly

• Requests to pay through unusual methods like wire transfers

• Products that seem too good to be true

• Direct messages about investment opportunities

Understanding scam prevention tools

Think of digital safety tools can act as our own personal security team, with each member watching out for different threats.  Here are some examples:

Financial Protection Watch Guards: Your bank likely already provides some of these services. They work like a vigilant bank teller who knows your usual spending patterns and notices when something seems unusual. For example, if you typically shop locally in Chicago, and suddenly there's a large purchase in London, these tools will flag that activity and often send you an alert asking if you made the purchase.

Credit Monitoring Services: These services act like security guards watching over your credit report. Just as you might have a neighbor watch your house while you're away, credit monitoring services watch your credit report for any suspicious changes. The three main services are:

• Experian

• Equifax

• TransUnion

You can access free credit reports at: www.annualcreditreport.com

Identity Protection Services Think of these as your personal bodyguards in the digital world. They watch for anyone trying to use your personal information. Popular services include:

• Identity Guard

• LifeLock

These services monitor things like:

• If someone tries to open new accounts in your name

• If your personal information appears on suspicious websites

• If someone tries to change your address with the postal service

Email Safety Systems: Most email services now come with built-in security features. Gmail and Microsoft Outlook, for example, have sophisticated systems that work like a careful secretary, screening your incoming mail for suspicious content. They look for:

• Emails asking for personal information

• Messages with suspicious links

• Requests for urgent financial transactions

New technologies using AI to combat scams

One exciting new tool is AI-powered scam detection. Norton has recently introduced their Genie Scam Detector (https://us.norton.com/products/genie-scam-detector), which works like having a tech-savvy friend looking over your shoulder while you're online. It can:

• Analyze messages in real-time

• Spot potential scam patterns

• Alert you to suspicious requests

• Help identify fake profiles

Steps for using these tools:

1. Check Your Existing Protection First, contact your bank and ask about what security features they already provide. Many people don't realize they already have access to powerful protection tools through their existing accounts.

2. Set Up Alerts Most financial institutions can send alerts to your phone when:

• Large purchases are made

• Your balance falls below a certain amount

• Someone tries to access your account from a new device

3. Use Government Resources The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers excellent free resources:

• Visit https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/fraud/ for updated information

• Download their fraud protection guide: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_fraud-protection-tool-for-justice-involved-individuals_handout.pdf

4. Enable Built-in Protection Make sure the security features in your email and social media accounts are turned on. These are free tools already available to you:

• Gmail's spam filter

• Facebook's security checkup

• Microsoft Outlook's junk mail protection

Remember, these tools work best when used together, creating multiple layers of protection. Just as you might have both locks on your doors and outdoor lighting for security, using several types of digital protection tools gives you the best coverage.

HOW THIS AFFECTS CONSUMERS

For TikTok Users:

• If you currently have TikTok installed on your phone, you might be able to keep using it for a while

• You won't be able to download TikTok from app stores after January 19 if no sale happens

• Your existing TikTok data might be affected, though it's not yet clear exactly how

For Everyone: This situation reminds us of several important things about social media:

• The apps we use might be controlled by companies in other countries

• Our personal data can be valuable and potentially vulnerable

• Social media platforms that seem permanent can face disruption or closure

• It's wise to be careful about what personal information we share online

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Whether you use TikTok or not, this is a good time to:

• Review what apps have access to your personal information

• Check your privacy settings on all social media platforms

• Be thoughtful about what data you share online

• Consider having backup ways to stay in touch with friends and family who primarily use TikTok

Summary:

The TikTok situation shows us that in our connected world, social media isn't just about sharing videos and photos – it's also about data privacy, national security, and international relations. As we continue to use these platforms, staying informed and being careful with our personal information becomes increasingly important.

While this situation might seem distant if you don't use TikTok, the underlying concerns about data privacy and security apply to all social media platforms we use. It's a reminder to stay vigilant about our online presence and personal information, regardless of which platforms we choose to use.