The Internet’s Memory is Longer Than Yours
When I was a kid, ruining your reputation took serious effort — crashing your bike into the principals car, getting caught with a love note in math class, or making a fool of yourself at the school dance. Even then, most folks forgot after a few months.
Today? A kid can blow up their entire future before breakfast — all thanks to the magic rectangle in their hands. Social media gives them a global stage, but no manual, and one bad post can stick to them longer than a bad tattoo. Not only that it opens them up to scammers and even worse.
Our job, as parents who grew up in the dial-up era, is to help these digital natives understand that every snap, post, and video isn’t just a fleeting moment — it’s a brick in the permanent house of their reputation. And someday, their future boss, college, or even their own kids might walk through that house.
And I will be even more blunt in the next five years, criminals will focus in child identity theft, AI generate child porn, AI social engineering child trafficking and even extortion. I can show plenty of this already, but it is going to get worse. And YOU are the way to prevent your kids falling for it. DO I have your attention now. And you have to start when they first can get a Social Security Number, you can’t wait to puberty any more.
🛡️Every Post Tells a Story — Make It a Good One
Teach Them the 3 Golden Questions
Before they post, text, or comment, have them ask:
- Would I say this to someone’s face?
- Would I be okay with my mother/father, grandma, future mate or future boss seeing this?
- Does this make me look like someone people would trust, respect, or want to hire?
If the answer isn’t a clear yes, it’s probably a bad idea. You know every company know looks at social media and does background checks on everyone they hire, and yes even credit reports.
📚 The Digital Resume — Like It or Not, They’re Building One
Colleges, employers, and even future dates will Google your kid’s name someday. Every funny video, angry comment, or overshare contributes to that digital first impression.
Help them see that it’s not just about avoiding mistakes, but about using social media to build a story they’re proud to tell. Encourage posts about:
✅ Hobbies, talents, creative work
✅ Volunteering or school projects
✅ Achievements and passions
It’s not about being fake — it’s about being thoughtful.
🎥 TikTok: Fun Today, Awkward Forever?
TikTok feels harmless — a quick laugh, a silly dance, a trending prank. But remind them:
- Private doesn’t mean safe. Friends can screenshot and share.
- Viral doesn’t mean good. Attention isn’t always the kind you want.
- Trends fade, but the internet remembers. That funny dance might not seem so funny when a future boss stumbles across it.
Teach them to think twice before following trends that could make them look mean, reckless, or just plain foolish. TikTok fame is fleeting — but search results last forever.
🔐 The Invisible Threat: Child Identity Theft
While your kid’s busy building their online brand, scammers are busy building fake identities using their Social Security number. Kids’ clean credit histories are goldmines for criminals, who use stolen SSNs to:
- Open credit cards
- Take out loans
- Rent apartments
- Even commit crimes — leaving your child with bad credit or a criminal record before they turn 18.
Signs Your Child’s Identity Has Been Stolen
🚨 Pre-approved credit card offers in their name
🚨 Collection calls for debts they never incurred
🚨 Denied for student loans or benefits due to “existing accounts”
Funny this happen to me in 1980, I lost my first year grant because there was someone with my name with a criminal record and even though they were 40 years old it tool six months to prove it to the government and lost my first years grant because of it.
🛡️ Locking Down Your Child’s Credit — Your First Line of Defense
The best way to stop child identity theft? Freeze their credit with all three credit bureaus. It’s free, it’s easy, and it blocks anyone from opening accounts in their name.
How to Freeze Your Child’s Credit
You’ll need:
- Child’s birth certificate and Social Security card
- Your ID and proof you’re their parent/guardian
- A bill showing your current address
Credit Bureau Addresses
📍 Equifax
Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
📍 Experian
Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
📍 TransUnion
TransUnion
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Send requests certified mail with return receipt, and keep copies for your records. I can send you a copy of the letter if you want it, just ask me for it.
👀 Privacy Settings Aren’t Bulletproof — Teach Them That Too
Even with locked-down privacy settings, once something’s online, it’s out of their control. Friends share. Screenshots happen. Hackers dig. Privacy is an illusion if they don’t think before they post. It would not be the first time that settings got reset in Facebook or Gmail.
💬 Keep the Conversation Going (Not a One-Time Lecture)
This isn’t a “one-and-done” talk — it’s an ongoing conversation. Every time a viral story breaks about a kid losing a scholarship, a job, or their dignity over an old post, that’s a teaching moment.
- Praise good choices, not just bad ones.
- Share real stories, not just rules.
- Stay involved — not as a spy, but as a coach.
🤝 The Trust Factor — Be Their Safety Net, Not Just Their Judge
Kids need to know they can come to you if they mess up online. If they’re too scared of punishment, they’ll hide the problem until it’s a disaster.
Be the safe place where they can admit mistakes, ask questions, or just say, “I’m not sure if this is okay to post.”
📜 Conclusion: The Future You is Watching
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to scare kids off social media. That’s like trying to convince them air is optional. Social media is where they live — it’s how they laugh, cry, brag, and figure out who they are.
The goal is to help them understand that the internet isn’t just for now — it’s forever. Every post, every video, every comment is a note in their permanent record, read by colleges, bosses, and future versions of themselves.
So teach them this:
Every post is a choice.
Every comment is a clue.
Every video is a piece of the story they’re writing — and someday, someone important is going to read that story.
Make sure it’s one they will be proud to own for the rest of their lives.
And if they ever forget, remind them of the greatest truth of the digital age:
The internet never forgets.
WATCH these videos…. The first one is how these Doctors got their images and voice stolen to sell products.
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This video is just quick one made from a single picture. Notice the facial expressions.
These are a little more racy to show what can be done… Everything in these videos is fake AI generated.
EXTRA CREDIT
Reward your child for their good behavior, open a 529 account for them and watch it grow.
Absolutely! Here’s a clear and simple breakdown of 529 accounts, how they work, and why they might be useful (or not) for saving for education.
📚 What is a 529 Account?
A 529 account is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. These plans are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions, but you can typically open one regardless of where you live.
🔑 Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Tax Benefits | Earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals are also tax-free if used for qualified education expenses. |
| Flexibility | Funds can be used for college, K-12 tuition (up to $10,000/year), and even student loan repayment (up to $10,000 lifetime). |
| Ownership | Typically owned by a parent (or grandparent), but the funds are for a named beneficiary (the student). |
| Investment Options | Plans usually offer a mix of stock and bond funds, similar to a 401(k), with choices based on risk level. |
| Contribution Limits | There’s no annual contribution limit, but contributions over $18,000 per year (2024 gift limit) could trigger gift tax reporting. Total limits vary by state, often exceeding $400,000. |
| Anyone Can Contribute | Parents, grandparents, friends, even the student can contribute. |
🎓 What Counts as Qualified Expenses?
You can withdraw money tax-free for these:
✅ Tuition and fees (college, vocational, some K-12)
✅ Room and board (if enrolled at least half-time)
✅ Books, supplies, computers, software, and internet access
✅ Special needs equipment
✅ Student loan payments (up to $10,000 lifetime per beneficiary)
⚠️ What Happens If the Money is Not Used for Education?
- You can withdraw the money at any time, but you’ll pay:
- Income tax on the earnings.
- A 10% penalty on the earnings (not the contributions).
- Exceptions to the penalty include:
- The beneficiary gets a scholarship (you can withdraw up to the scholarship amount penalty-free, but you’ll still pay income tax on earnings).
- The beneficiary attends a U.S. Military Academy.
- The beneficiary becomes disabled or passes away.
🧩 Who Controls the Account?
- The account owner (parent, grandparent, etc.) controls the money, not the child.
- You can even change the beneficiary to another family member if the original child doesn’t need the funds.
🏛️ Types of 529 Plans
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| 529 College Savings Plan | Investment account where money grows based on market performance (similar to a retirement account). Most common. |
| 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan | Lets you prepay tuition at today’s rates for select public/state schools. Fewer states offer these now. |
📊 Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Tax-free growth & withdrawals for education | Non-education withdrawals are penalized |
| High contribution limits | Limited investment options (depends on the plan) |
| Anyone can contribute | Could affect financial aid eligibility (but minimally) |
| Flexibility to transfer to other family members | State-by-state rules vary |
💰 What if My Child Gets a Scholarship?
If your child gets a scholarship, you can withdraw up to the amount of the scholarship without the 10% penalty (but you’d still owe regular income tax on the earnings portion of the withdrawal). Or, you could save the funds for grad school or transfer the account to another child.
🗺️ Are 529 Accounts State-Specific?
- Each state has its own 529 plan, but you can usually invest in any state’s plan, regardless of where you live.
- Some states offer state tax deductions or credits if you invest in your home state’s plan.
💼 529 Plans and Financial Aid
- 529 accounts owned by parents are considered parental assets for FAFSA.
- This means only a small percentage (up to 5.64%) is counted against financial aid eligibility.
- 529s owned by grandparents used to have a bigger impact, but recent FAFSA rule changes reduced the impact of grandparent-owned 529 withdrawals on aid eligibility.
🚀 Final Tip
Even if you don’t know where your child will go to school, a 529 is still a great tool because you can transfer unused funds to other siblings or family members, or even yourself if you decide to go back to school.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments and I will try to answer them for you.
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