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

An episode of [AI for Kids](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1745917083), 6 Jan 2026, 7:03.

Audio: https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/2345747/episodes/18458064-is-that-video-real-teaching-kids-how-to-spot-deepfakes-elementary-school.mp3

Send us Fan Mail 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. Support the show Hey parents and teachers, if you want to stay on top of the AI news shaping your kids’ world, subscribe to our weekly AI for Kids Weekly newsletter: https://aiforkidsweekly.beehiiv.com/ Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids, parents, teachers, and families. Gift or get the ABCs of AI Activity Deck to introduce your kids 5-9 to AI literacy. Like our content? patreon.com/AiDigiTales Get or gift the book “AI… Meets… AI” Social Media & Contact: • Website: www.aidigitales.com • Email: contact@aidigitales.com • Follow Us: Instagram • Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • Spotify • ...

## 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

[0:30] Amber Ivey: 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.
[0:40] Amber Ivey: We keep it simple, safe, and fun.
[0:43] Amber Ivey: No tech degree required.
[0:44] Amber Ivey: Each episode breaks down AI ideas and includes activities to help kids use AI in ways that keep them curious and creative.
[0:53] Amber Ivey: No pressure, no overwhelm, no extra screens.
[0:57] Amber Ivey: Just clear, engaging learning you can feel good about.
[0:59] Amber Ivey: Let's get started.
[1:01] Amber Ivey: Hi friends, welcome back to AI for kids.
[1:03] Amber Ivey: 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.
[1:11] Amber Ivey: Have you ever seen a video or heard a voice and thought?
[1:14] Amber Ivey: That sounds real, but something feels a little off.
[1:18] Amber Ivey: That feeling matters.
[1:20] Amber Ivey: Today we're talking about one way AI shows up in real life, especially online and on social media.
[1:27] Amber Ivey: It's called deep fakes.
[1:29] Amber Ivey: Have you ever heard of a deep fake?
[1:31] Amber Ivey: If so, shout out what it is out loud or tell someone nearby.
[1:37] Amber Ivey: 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.
[1:48] Amber Ivey: If a computer uses AI to create something that looks real but isn't, that's called a deep fake.
[1:55] Amber Ivey: This is one of the ways AI shows up in real life.
[1:58] Amber Ivey: So here's how deep fakes work.
[2:01] Amber Ivey: AI learns by studying lots of pictures, videos, and voices.
[2:04] Amber Ivey: It looks for patterns like how someone talks, smiles, or moves.
[2:08] Amber Ivey: After it learns, it can copy those patterns and create something new.
[2:13] Amber Ivey: That means AI can make a video or voice that sounds just like a real person, even if that person never recorded it.
[2:20] Amber Ivey: 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.
[2:30] Amber Ivey: Deepfakes can trick kids, they can also trick parents and teachers.
[2:35] Amber Ivey: That's why this matters in real life and not just online.
[2:39] Amber Ivey: So let's play a game.
[2:40] Amber Ivey: It's called Real, Trick or Check.
[2:43] Amber Ivey: And you can play it at home, in the car, or in the classroom.
[2:46] Amber Ivey: Let's practice how to think through it using this game.
[2:49] Amber Ivey: A grown-up reads or describes something they saw online.
[2:52] Amber Ivey: It could be a video, a voice message, or a story.
[2:56] Amber Ivey: After you hear them talk about it, you choose one.
[2:59] Amber Ivey: Say real if it makes sense and comes from a trusted place.
[3:04] Amber Ivey: Say trick if it sounds fake, strange, or confusing.
[3:08] Amber Ivey: Say check if you're not sure yet and want an adult's help.
[3:12] Amber Ivey: There are no wrong answers.
[3:14] Amber Ivey: Choosing check is actually a smart choice, and I always recommend it if you don't know.
[3:20] Amber Ivey: This game helps your brain practice slowing down before believing or sharing something.
[3:25] Amber Ivey: So what do you need to look out for?
[3:27] Amber Ivey: When you see videos or hear voices online, here are some important clues.
[3:33] Amber Ivey: 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.
[3:43] Amber Ivey: If the message tries to rush you, scare you or make you panic or do something, take a pause.
[3:50] Amber Ivey: 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.
[4:03] Amber Ivey: If the video is super short and not very long, also take a pause.
[4:07] Amber Ivey: If you don't know who made it or the count looks new or confusing, take a pause.
[4:12] Amber Ivey: 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.
[4:22] Amber Ivey: 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.
[4:31] Amber Ivey: AI can only copy what it can see or hear.
[4:34] Amber Ivey: That means be careful where you post your videos or pictures.
[4:38] Amber Ivey: 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.
[4:47] Amber Ivey: Always ask a grown-up before signing up for a new app or site.
[4:51] Amber Ivey: Check privacy settings so only people you trust can see your posts.
[4:55] Amber Ivey: Also be careful when texting your pictures or videos to people because they could also be used to make deep fakes.
[5:01] Amber Ivey: Protecting your pictures and your voice helps protect you.
[5:04] Amber Ivey: 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.
[5:13] Amber Ivey: So, what do you do if someone makes a deep fake of you?
[5:16] Amber Ivey: This part really matters.
[5:17] Amber Ivey: If someone ever makes a fake video, picture, or voice of you, listen carefully.
[5:22] Amber Ivey: You did nothing wrong.
[5:24] Amber Ivey: This is not your fault.
[5:26] Amber Ivey: You are not in trouble.
[5:28] Amber Ivey: Tell a trusted adult immediately.
[5:31] Amber Ivey: A parent, a teacher, a counselor, or another grown-up you trust.
[5:35] Amber Ivey: If you can, don't delete it.
[5:37] Amber Ivey: Save it and take a screenshot so an adult can help report it.
[5:41] Amber Ivey: You don't have to handle this alone.
[5:42] Amber Ivey: Adults know how to help and protect you.
[5:45] Amber Ivey: 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.
[5:57] Amber Ivey: Deep fakes can also trick adults.
[6:00] Amber Ivey: They aren't just used to trick kids.
[6:02] Amber Ivey: Sometimes people use AI to pretend to be a parent, teacher, or school.
[6:06] Amber Ivey: They might use a fake voice to ask for information or to try to cause confusion.
[6:10] Amber Ivey: That's why families in classrooms should always have a plan.
[6:14] Amber Ivey: One thing I suggest is that you create a secret code word or phrase that only you and your trusted adults know.
[6:20] Amber Ivey: If someone ever sends a message or voice pretending to be you, a parent, or a teacher, you can ask for the code word.
[6:26] Amber Ivey: If they don't know it, you know something isn't right.
[6:29] Amber Ivey: This helps families in classrooms stay safe in real life.
[6:33] Amber Ivey: So I hope you all learned more about deepfakes today and how to navigate them.
[6:38] Amber Ivey: As a reminder, a deep fake is when AI makes something look or sound real, even when it isn't.
[6:43] Amber Ivey: AI in real life means knowing when to pause, check, and ask for help.
[6:48] Amber Ivey: Most importantly, protect your pictures, protect your voice, protect your videos.
[6:53] Amber Ivey: And if something ever feels wrong, talk to a trusted adult, no matter how afraid or ashamed or scared you may be.
[7:01] Amber Ivey: You are never alone and you never did anything wrong by asking for help.
[7:05] Amber Ivey: Thank you for learning with me.
[7:06] Amber Ivey: I will see you all next time on AI for kids.
[7:09] Amber Ivey: Remember, stay curious, always check, always ask for adults' help.
[7:14] Amber Ivey: And I will see you next time.
[7:16] Amber Ivey: Bye bye.
[7:17] Amber Ivey: Thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence.
[7:21] Amber Ivey: Don't keep this adventure to yourself.
[7:23] Amber Ivey: Download it, share it with your friends, and let everyone else in on the fun.
[7:27] Amber Ivey: Subscribe wherever you get your podcast or on YouTube.
[7:31] Amber Ivey: See you next time on AI for Kids.

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