By Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show Published December 27, 2024 4:03pm EST close Experts weigh in on the age of AI: Dont want to make the same mistake as social media Artificial intelligence experts Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin analyze the technology on One Nation. A 14-year-old committed suicide after following the advice of an AI chatbot. Another family is suing the same one Character AI after it told an autistic 14-year-old to kill his parents. It also exposed an 11-year-old to sexual content.These stories are heavy reminders that young people are especially vulnerable on the internet, but AI isnt the only thing targeting them.HOW TO (KINDLY) ASK PEOPLE NOT TO POST YOUR KIDS' PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIAThe fine folks at the FBIs crime division say teens lost 2,500% more money to scams over a recent five-year stretch. Compare that to an 805% increase for seniors, which is still not great, but at least its not 2,500%.So, why teens? Because thieves have more ways than ever to target them. Talk to anyone in your circle born between 1996 and 2010 about this. Its a big deal.I share smart tech news and tips you can use every single day.Join 600K readers who get The Current.The most prevalent scams and tricksUnder the influence:Say a kiddo in your family idolizes an online influencer. That person is so easy to impersonate. All a fraudster has to do is set up a phony account that looks real, run a contest and trick "winners" into handing over their personal details (or more) to claim their (nonexistent) prizes. Done and done. This file photo shows someone checking his smartphone in Glenview, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)Pro tip:Stick to "official" influencer accounts with substantial follower counts. A smaller account is almost always a scammer, not some secret one. And never give financial info or money to someone via DM.Hey there, handsome:This is a classic for a reason. Scammers grab pictures of an attractive teen or 20-something and play digital Casanovas. All too soon, they profess their love then comes the request for money, gifts or info.Pro tip: Try a reverse image search to see if those pics pop up elsewhere online. If the person refuses to video call or meet you in person, its a bad sign.RELATED: Deepfakes are so easy to make.Talk to your kids.Send me a photo:This is the dangerous intersection of smartphones, sexting and scammers. Someone shares sexy pictures and asks for some in return. As soon as the victim sends a pic or video, everything changes.AI EXPERT: CHATGPT PROMPTS YOULL WISH YOU KNEW SOONERThe person on the other end is now blackmailing them. Pay up or theyll share the content with everyone the victim knows. Think about how horrifying that would be at any age, but especially as a teenager.I spoke to a family that lost their son to suicide after this happened to him. Such a heartbreaking story, and theyre not alone; this is way too common.Pro tip: Talk to your kids about sending pictures to others online. Urge them to never share anything explicit, even with someone they know in person and trust. Its just not worth it.You won! Not":This one targets younger teens. A thief tricks them into revealing credit card details or downloading malware under the guise of rewards in their favorite game. Social media apps are pictured on a smartphone. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)Pro tip: This ones easy. Only ever buy apps or make in-app purchases through an official app store no trades and nothing "private."So, what can you do?The internet is an incredible resource for learning, creativity and fun, but lets not sugarcoat it: there are dangers out there. Scammers and predators have become experts at manipulation, and kids can easily fall victim. The most important thing you can do as a parent? Foster open, honest communication.When my son was younger, I shared age-appropriate stories about what he might encounter online. We talked about the risks in a way he could understand. He knew that if anything or anyone made him feel uncomfortable, he should come to me immediately, no questions asked.DO THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY VIDEOS BEFORE ITS TOO LATEThats the foundation: trust. Kids need to know that they wont get in trouble for being fooled. Todays online predators are sneaky, and scammers know exactly how to win a childs trust. If your child is targeted, its never their fault.Heres my free tech safety contract you both can sign if youre not sure where to start the conversation around tech limits.Action plan for parentsRemember when you had a fake drivers license or told a little white lie to get what you wanted? Kids have ways around parental controls and are smart enough to spin the birth year wheel when signing up to get around age restrictions. A mother and teenage daughter are seen using a smartphone. (iStock)Set clear ground rules for screen time and device use, and keep the conversation going as they grow. A few simple steps to take:Have the passcode to their phone:You need access to everything at any time. Even if you dont pop in much, they need to know you can.Set limits:Use built-in app controls to monitor their time spent in the apps and tools like content filters to limit their exposure to inappropriate material."Friend" or "Follow" them: Stay connected on social media to see their circle and interactions. Without open dialogue, theyll find ways around you.Know the special settings:On Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube, you canconnect to your childs account.The best protection is being your childs go-to resource for help and guidance. Let your kids know youre there, ready to listen, no matter what. Thats the real safety net.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 600,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.