Is That Video Real? Teaching Kids How to Spot Deepfakes (Elementary+)

A video looks real, the voice sounds familiar, but something feels off. That gut check matters, and we turn it into a simple habit kids can use every day: pause, check, ask. We break down deepfakes in plain language, show how AI learns to mimic faces and voices, and teach a family-friendly game that trains kids to spot tricks without fear or extra screen time.

We start by explaining what deepfakes are and how pattern-learning lets AI copy smiles, speech, and movement. From there, we introduce Real, Trick, or Check—a quick activity any grown-up can run in the car, at home, or in class. Kids learn to look for practical red flags: videos that only exist on social feeds, clips that rush or scare, lips that don’t match words, flat robotic audio, super short edits, and sketchy new accounts. The goal isn’t to catch every fake with one clue; it’s to slow down and verify with a trusted adult before reacting or sharing.

Safety is stronger when families protect what AI can learn. We offer clear steps: post sparingly, lock down privacy settings, avoid untrusted sites, and be careful when texting photos or voice notes. We also cover what to do if a fake targets your child: you did nothing wrong, tell a trusted adult, save evidence, and report it. To stop impostors who use cloned voices, we share our favorite tool, a private code word that only you, your kids, and your classroom know. If a message can’t provide it, stop and verify through a known channel.

By the end, your family has a shared language for staying calm and curious around AI: protect your pictures and your voice, practice the game, and keep the code word handy. If something feels wrong, talk to a trusted adult right away. Enjoy the episode, then subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more families build smart tech habits.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Series Setup
• 1:33 What Deepfakes Are
• 2:30 How Deepfakes Work
• 3:05 Real, Trick, Or Check Game
• 3:55 Red Flags To Spot Fakes
• 4:52 Protect Your Photos And Voice
• 5:42 If Someone Fakes You
• 6:30 Family Safety Plan And Code Word
• 7:03 Key Reminders And Closing
• 7:51 Share, Subscribe, And Follow

Transcript

Amber Ivey: 0:30

Welcome to the AI for Kids Podcast, the podcast for moms, aunties, and teachers who want the kids they love to understand AI without more screen time. We keep it simple, safe, and fun. No tech degree required. Each episode breaks down AI ideas and includes activities to help kids use AI in ways that keep them curious and creative. No pressure, no overwhelm, no extra screens. Just clear, engaging learning you can feel good about. Let's get started. Hi friends, welcome back to AI for kids. This is our AI in real life series where we talk about how artificial intelligence shows up in things you see, hear, and use every day. Have you ever seen a video or heard a voice and thought? That sounds real, but something feels a little off. That feeling matters. Today we're talking about one way AI shows up in real life, especially online and on social media. It's called deep fakes. Have you ever heard of a deep fake? If so, shout out what it is out loud or tell someone nearby. A deep fake is when artificial intelligence makes a video, picture, or voice that looks or sounds like a real person, even though that person never actually did or said those things. If a computer uses AI to create something that looks real but isn't, that's called a deep fake. This is one of the ways AI shows up in real life. So here's how deep fakes work. AI learns by studying lots of pictures, videos, and voices. It looks for patterns like how someone talks, smiles, or moves. After it learns, it can copy those patterns and create something new. That means AI can make a video or voice that sounds just like a real person, even if that person never recorded it. Some defakes are made for fun, like silly videos or special effects, but others are made to trick people, confuse them, or spread information that isn't true. Deepfakes can trick kids, they can also trick parents and teachers. That's why this matters in real life and not just online. So let's play a game. It's called Real, Trick or Check. And you can play it at home, in the car, or in the classroom. Let's practice how to think through it using this game. A grown-up reads or describes something they saw online. It could be a video, a voice message, or a story. After you hear them talk about it, you choose one. Say real if it makes sense and comes from a trusted place. Say trick if it sounds fake, strange, or confusing. Say check if you're not sure yet and want an adult's help. There are no wrong answers. Choosing check is actually a smart choice, and I always recommend it if you don't know. This game helps your brain practice slowing down before believing or sharing something. So what do you need to look out for? When you see videos or hear voices online, here are some important clues. If you only see something on social media but you can't find it anywhere else, like a news site, a school message, or a trusted website, take a pause. If the message tries to rush you, scare you or make you panic or do something, take a pause. If the mouth doesn't match the words, or something looks a little weird, or the voice sounds strange or flat, or a really weird laugh that all the AIs keep doing for some reason, take a pause. If the video is super short and not very long, also take a pause. If you don't know who made it or the count looks new or confusing, take a pause. That pause is your brain helping you and allowing you to look at it and see if it's real, a trick, or something you need to check on with parents. So another thing I want to share with you all is that it's very important that you protect your pictures and your voice, especially in the age of AI. AI can only copy what it can see or hear. That means be careful where you post your videos or pictures. Don't upload photos or voice recordings to websites you don't trust, your parents don't trust, or you all have not agreed to use. Always ask a grown-up before signing up for a new app or site. Check privacy settings so only people you trust can see your posts. Also be careful when texting your pictures or videos to people because they could also be used to make deep fakes. Protecting your pictures and your voice helps protect you. Parents, also when you're posting your kids online, this is something else you have to be concerned about, especially if your websites are public. So, what do you do if someone makes a deep fake of you? This part really matters. If someone ever makes a fake video, picture, or voice of you, listen carefully. You did nothing wrong. This is not your fault. You are not in trouble. Tell a trusted adult immediately. A parent, a teacher, a counselor, or another grown-up you trust. If you can, don't delete it. Save it and take a screenshot so an adult can help report it. You don't have to handle this alone. Adults know how to help and protect you. Or if it's something that you're a little bit ashamed to share, still tell the adult and let them know because people will try to use that against you, and we want to make sure you get help immediately. Deep fakes can also trick adults. They aren't just used to trick kids. Sometimes people use AI to pretend to be a parent, teacher, or school. They might use a fake voice to ask for information or to try to cause confusion. That's why families in classrooms should always have a plan. One thing I suggest is that you create a secret code word or phrase that only you and your trusted adults know. If someone ever sends a message or voice pretending to be you, a parent, or a teacher, you can ask for the code word. If they don't know it, you know something isn't right. This helps families in classrooms stay safe in real life. So I hope you all learned more about deepfakes today and how to navigate them. As a reminder, a deep fake is when AI makes something look or sound real, even when it isn't. AI in real life means knowing when to pause, check, and ask for help. Most importantly, protect your pictures, protect your voice, protect your videos. And if something ever feels wrong, talk to a trusted adult, no matter how afraid or ashamed or scared you may be. You are never alone and you never did anything wrong by asking for help. Thank you for learning with me. I will see you all next time on AI for kids. Remember, stay curious, always check, always ask for adults' help. And I will see you next time. Bye bye. Thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Don't keep this adventure to yourself. Download it, share it with your friends, and let everyone else in on the fun. Subscribe wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube. See you next time on AI for Kids.