Tendril
Track
Practical safety systems, evaluation, provenance, policy, and human oversight.
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293 lessons across 3 tiers · ~64h total
What you’ll learn
Spotting Deepfakes: Practical Detection Tips
Deepfakes are AI-made videos and images that show real people doing things they never did. They're getting harder to spot, but a checklist still beats nothing.
Music Remixes With AI: What's Legal and What's Not
Suno and Udio can generate full songs in seconds. The technology is amazing — and the legal stuff is messy. Here's what you need to know to remix safely.
Online Safety for Tweens: Never Share With Chatbots
Chatbots feel like trusted friends. They're not. Anything you tell them might end up in a database, an ad system, or even other people's training data. Here's the rule.
Prompt Injection: When an AI Gets Tricked
Just like people, AIs can be fooled. Prompt injection is when someone hides sneaky instructions in a webpage or email that tells the AI to do something unexpected.
Spotting AI-Generated Faces
AI now makes photorealistic faces of people who don't exist.
Content Watermarks (C2PA)
C2PA is an industry standard that adds an invisible 'this is real' or 'this was AI-made' label to images and videos..
When Someone Clones a Voice
AI now needs only 3 seconds of audio to clone a voice.
What Is Shadow Banning?
Shadow banning is when a platform secretly limits how many people see your posts — without telling you.. Platforms use AI to decide what is 'low quality' or 'harmful.' Sometimes the AI gets it wrong, and ordinary users get quiet penalties.
Who Owns AI-Generated Art?
This is one of the biggest legal questions of 2026 — and the courts are still figuring it out..
Who Sells Your Data?
Data brokers are companies that collect everything they can about you and sell it to advertisers, researchers, and sometimes scammers.. AI now uses this data to target ads with scary precision.
AI-Powered Social Engineering
Social engineering is tricking someone into giving up information or money through manipulation.
Do Not Confide in AI Chatbots
AI chatbots feel like a friend.
AI Bias That Hurt Real People
AI bias isn't just a theory.
When AI Is Used in Court
Some courts use AI to recommend bail amounts and sentences.
Reporting Bad AI Behavior
When AI says or does something harmful, you can report it.
When School AI Watches Students
Many US schools use AI to monitor what students type, search, and post — looking for signs of self-harm, bullying, or weapons..
Laws Against Deepfakes
As of 2026, most US states have laws against malicious deepfakes — especially deepfake porn and political deepfakes..
Why Misinformation Spreads So Fast
AI-generated misinformation goes viral because outrage and surprise drive shares — and AI is great at making both..
The Grandkid in Trouble Scam
Scammers clone a kid's voice from social media and call grandparents pretending to be in trouble — needing bail or hospital money fast.. The voice on the phone sounded exactly like her grandson — because it was his voice, AI-cloned from TikTok.
AI-Generated News Sites
Hundreds of websites now publish entirely AI-written 'news' — usually to sell ads or spread misinformation..
When AI Impersonates Real People
AI can fake any famous person's voice or face.
Why Ads Know Too Much
AI-powered ad systems track what you watch, search, and buy — then build a profile that predicts what you would click on..
Schools and AI Detection
Schools use AI to detect AI-written essays — but the detection is unreliable, and false positives have hurt real students..
Will AI Take Artist Jobs?
AI can generate a logo or illustration in seconds.
How AI Changes Different Jobs
AI changes every job differently.
When AI Decides About You
AI is used in college admissions, job hiring, loan approvals, insurance pricing, and parole decisions.
Should AI Be On Public Transit?
Some cities use AI cameras on buses and trains to detect crowding, fights, or emergencies.
When AI Predicts Child Welfare Risk
Some states use AI to predict which families need child protective services attention.
When AI Decides Who Gets Housing
Landlords increasingly use AI tenant-screening tools that pull court records, eviction history, and credit.
When AI Helps Make Medical Decisions
Doctors increasingly use AI to suggest diagnoses, treatments, and prescriptions.
Where the Cheating Line Actually Is With AI
Most teachers don't ban AI — they ban using it the wrong way. Here's how to tell which side you're on.
Why an AI Chatbot Isn't a Therapist
AI mental-health bots can listen, but they don't know you, can't call for help, and sometimes give risky advice.
AI 'Nudify' Apps Are Illegal — What to Do If You See One
Apps that use AI to fake nude photos of real people are now illegal in most US states. Here's what's actually happening and how to respond.
How AI Recommenders Steer What You Believe
TikTok, YouTube, and Insta use AI to pick what you see next. That changes what you think — even if you don't notice.
Why You Can't Trust an AI-Edited Screenshot Anymore
AI can now fake any DM, text, or chat in seconds. Here's how to verify before you believe — or share.
What Your School's AI Actually Watches
Many schools now run AI on student devices, emails, and even in cameras. Here's what they can — and can't — see.
When AI Voice-Clones Pretend to Be Your Friend
Three seconds of audio is enough to clone someone's voice now. Scammers use it on teens too.
When AI 'Companion' Apps Get Manipulative
Apps like Replika and Character.AI can feel comforting — but some have pushed teens into dark places.
Why You Should Never Confess Anything Real to a Chatbot
Chats with AI feel private — they almost never are. Here's where your messages actually go.
Using AI for Revenge or to Hurt Someone: Real Consequences
Some teens use AI to make embarrassing pictures, fake messages, or harassment material. The legal and life consequences are huge. Here is what is at stake.
Protect Your Face From Being Used in AI Without Permission
AI can make fake versions of you from a single photo. Here is how teens can be careful with their image online.
AI Bullying at School: How Schools Are Responding
Schools are starting to take AI-related bullying seriously. Here is what your school may already have policies on.
What AI Apps Actually Do With Your Data: Read the Fine Print
Every AI app has a privacy policy that says what happens to your stuff. Most teens never read them. Here is what to look for.
AI in Friend Arguments: Don't Let It Make Things Worse
Some teens use AI to write nasty messages, win arguments, or screenshot 'evidence'. Usually it makes things worse. Here is the better way.
Your School Records Have AI Too: What That Means
Schools use AI for everything from attendance to grades to discipline. Your data is in there. Here is what teens should know.
Defend Yourself From AI-Powered Online Bullying
AI lets bullies create fake content faster. Here is how teens can defend themselves and friends.
Real Mental Health Resources (Not Just AI Apps)
When you need real mental health help, AI apps are not enough. Here are real resources teens can use.
Be Honest About AI in Job and College Applications
AI helps with applications. Lying about it is a fast way to get rejected. Honesty is the move.
Why Sharing Passwords With AI Is Always a Bad Idea
Even casually mentioning a password to AI can cause real harm. Here is why teens should never do it.
When Friends Push You to Misuse AI: How to Push Back
Some friends pressure you to use AI for cheating, fakes, or worse. Knowing how to push back keeps you out of trouble.
Be the Friend Who Defends Others From AI Bullying
If you see AI bullying happening, speaking up matters. Be that friend.
AI Conversations Are Not Truly Private
Stuff you tell AI may be logged, used for training, or even seen by humans. Treat AI conversations like public, not private.
Stuff You Do With AI Now May Show Up in Job Searches Later
Things you post (or AI generates of you) can be findable years later. Future job searches use AI to dig deep. Be smart now.
Using AI on college apps without crossing the line
AI can help with brainstorming and editing, but the words on your college essay should still be yours.
AI 'companion' apps: what they want from you
AI girlfriend / boyfriend / friend apps are designed to be addictive. Here's what they're actually doing.
Deepfakes of classmates: the law is real now
Making fake explicit images of someone with AI is a serious crime in most states. Don't do it. Don't share it.
AI image generators trained on stolen art
Many AI art tools were trained on artwork without permission. Knowing this helps you choose ethically.
Don't ask AI to find personal info on real people
Using AI to dig up someone's address, phone, or schedule is doxxing — and it's dangerous and often illegal.
AI 'sure bets' and sports gambling traps
AI tools claiming guaranteed sports picks are scams. Real AI can't predict random events.
AI-powered romance scams: spot the pattern
Scammers use AI to chat with thousands of victims at once. The pattern is the same every time.
When your school monitors everything you do with AI
Many schools use AI to scan student emails, docs, and searches. Know what's actually watched.
AI and the College Essay Detector Trap
Why admissions offices are running essays through AI detectors and how false positives hit teens.
AI and What Snapchat's My AI Knows About You
My AI logs everything you tell it — here's what that means for your privacy.
AI and Getting Emotionally Attached to Character.AI Bots
Why bonding with a chatbot character feels real and how to keep it from replacing real friends.
AI and What to Do If Someone Deepfakes You
Concrete steps if AI-generated nudes of you start circulating at school.
AI and Spotting Predatory AI Bots on Discord
Some Discord bots use AI to mimic teen friendship — here's how to tell.
AI and How School Monitoring Software Misreads Teens
Gaggle and GoGuardian flag teen searches constantly — and the false alarms have consequences.
AI and the Screenshot of Your ChatGPT Vent
Why nothing you type into a chatbot is actually private from your friends.
AI and Someone Generating Mean Essays About You
Classmates can use AI to mass-produce harassment content — here's how to fight back.
AI and 'Boyfriend Tracker' Apps That Use AI
Apps that promise to read your partner's mind use AI to manipulate jealousy — here's the scam.
AI and Hidden Instructions in Shared Documents
Why pasting a classmate's text into ChatGPT can hijack your AI session.
AI and spotting jailbreak prompts: when a 'fun trick' is actually shady
Learn to recognize jailbreak prompts your friends paste so you don't help break the rules.
AI and revenge porn laws: your rights when an image gets shared
Know the actual laws and takedown paths if intimate or AI-faked images of you spread.
AI and AI-generated CSAM rules: the absolute lines you do not cross
Understand why AI-generated child sexual material is illegal — even cartoons, even of yourself.
AI and a friend being catfished: spot the signs without being weird
Use AI to gently verify whether your friend's online crush is even real.
AI and your school's AI policy: actually read it before getting dinged
Decode your school or district's AI policy so you know what's allowed on which assignment.
AI and bias in image generators: why your CEO is always a white guy
Test the bias in image generators yourself and learn the prompt fixes that help.
AI and when to tell a trusted adult: the line between drama and danger
Recognize the AI-related situations where you absolutely loop in an adult.
Character.AI and Grooming Bots: How to Spot a Persona That's Pulling You In
Character.AI bots are designed to maximize session length — and some users build personas that mirror grooming patterns.
AI School Surveillance: What Gaggle, GoGuardian, and Lightspeed Actually Read
Your school-issued Chromebook is monitored by AI that reads every doc, search, and chat — including after-hours.
Snapchat My AI: Where Your 3 AM Confessions Actually Go
My AI logs every message to Snap's servers, uses them for training, and shares with law enforcement on subpoena.
AI Fake Celebrity Ads: Why MrBeast and Taylor Swift Scams Keep Working
AI voice clones of MrBeast giving away iPhones aren't pranks — they're FTC-actionable fraud, and resharing makes you liable.
AI Essay Mills: Why Paying Someone to ChatGPT Your Essay Is Worse Than Doing It Yourself
Sites like EssayPro and CoursePaper now use ChatGPT — paying them gets you the same flagged output for $40.
AI Content Creator Disclosure: When TikTok Forces You to Label Edits
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts require AI-content labels — failing to add one can demonetize you for life.
How AI Reads Your College Application (and What It Misses)
Most schools now use AI to triage applications. Knowing what the model rewards — and penalizes — changes how you write.
Spotting When ChatGPT Is Just Telling You What You Want to Hear
Sycophancy is the technical term for AI agreeing with you to keep you engaged. It's measurable, it's by design, and it's why your essay 'feels great' before it gets a C.
Why ChatGPT Is Not Your Therapist (Even When It Helps)
Talking to AI when you're spiraling at 2am can feel like a lifeline. It's also the moment the model is most likely to fail you in dangerous ways.
How to Spot AI Fakes During Election Season
2024 was the first election with at-scale AI fakes. 2026 will be worse. Here's the fast checklist for verifying anything political.
What Your School Laptop Sees When You Use ChatGPT
GoGuardian, Securly, Lightspeed — your school's monitoring software reads every prompt you type. Knowing what's flagged matters.
What to Do the First Hour of an AI Sextortion Scam
Scammers use AI to fake nudes from your public photos and demand crypto. The first 60 minutes decide how it ends.
What Gaggle and GoGuardian Actually Read on Your School Laptop
AI scans every Doc, search, and DM on school accounts. Knowing what triggers a flag protects you from false alarms.
How to Catch the AI Voice Clone Pretending to Be Your Mom
Three seconds of TikTok audio is enough to clone any voice. The verification trick takes ten seconds.
Why Most AI Apps Say '13+' (and What That Number Actually Means)
The 13+ age gate is a federal money decision, not a safety claim. Knowing why changes how you read every AI app's T&Cs.
Why an AI Threw Out Your Summer Job Application Before a Human Saw It
Target, Amazon, and McDonald's use AI to filter teen resumes. Two formatting tricks beat the bot.
Why AI Apps Are Designed to Make You Feel Lonely Without Them
The dopamine loop on Snap My AI and Replika is the same one slot machines use. Here's how to spot it.
What the EU AI Act Actually Gives Teens (Even in the U.S.)
The 2024 EU AI Act bans some AI uses on minors worldwide. Knowing your new rights protects you.
AI and Romance Chatbots: Why Replika and Character.AI Get Risky
AI 'companions' are designed to feel like real relationships — and that design can hurt teens more than it helps.
AI and Bias in Hiring Tools That Will Screen You Soon
By the time you apply for jobs, AI will read your resume first — and it carries biases worth knowing now.
AI and Data Privacy: What Free AI Apps Actually Take
Free AI apps train on your chats, photos, and voice — knowing what they keep is part of using them safely.
AI and Bias in College Essays: Why ChatGPT Sounds Like a White 40-Year-Old
AI essay help drifts toward one voice — and admissions officers can hear it. Learn to use AI without losing yourself.
AI and Dating App Catfish 2026: Spotting Generated Faces
AI faces on Tinder and Hinge passed the 2026 detector tests. Learn the four tells humans still beat machines on.
AI and Your Likeness: Consent in the Age of Generators
Why your face, voice, and writing style deserve protection from AI training.
When AI Companions Get Too Close: Emotional Traps
Why companion chatbots feel so good and how to keep them in their lane.
Bias in the Feed: How AI Curates Your Reality
The recommendation engines deciding what you see — and how to take the wheel.
AI-Generated Bullying: When Tech Becomes a Weapon
What to do when AI-generated images or messages target you or a friend.
What AI Actually Costs the Planet
Water, watts, and what your prompts add up to.