039 - Deepfakes and Edited Images Are Increasing
“Photos and videos online can be manipulated to look real. Don’t assume every image or recording is authentic, especially if it’s designed to embarrass or provoke outrage.”
Not Everything Needs to Be Posted
You’re hanging out with your friends, someone does something absolutely hilarious (or incredibly embarrassing), and your instant reflex is to whip out your phone. You snap a quick video, open up your favorite app, and hover your thumb over the post button. It feels like just another funny moment to add to your story, but it’s time for a quick reality check: the internet has a permanent memory, and some things are better left offline.
The Virtual Tattoo
When you're constantly scrolling through perfectly curated feeds, it's easy to treat social media like a live television broadcast that people just watch and forget. But online, every photo, video, comment, and joke leaves a digital trail.
Think of your posts like a virtual tattoo. That screenshot of a messy group chat, a rant about a teacher, or a video showcasing a friend's worst moment might seem funny right now. But down the road, relationships change, and your future goals will too. College recruiters, employers, and even your family can dig up old posts. Once a piece of media is out there, you completely lose control over who saves it, who shares it, and how it gets used.
Your Before-You-Post Checklist
You don't need to delete your accounts or stop sharing your life. You just need to build a better internal filter before hitting send.
Try running through these quick questions next time you have your camera open:
The Hallway Test: Would you be totally fine if this photo or video was blown up on a massive poster and hung right in the main hallway of your school? If it makes your stomach drop, leave it in your camera roll.
Get Consent First: If you’re posting a picture or video of a friend, ask them if it’s okay first. Respecting your squad's privacy keeps the drama away.
Keep the Deep Secrets Secret: Never post your home address, your exact school schedule, or photos showing your house number or street signs.
Take a quick breath, think about the future you, and protect your digital footprint.
What Now
If you discover a deepfake, an AI-generated image, or a digitally manipulated video targeting you or a classmate, taking rapid action can stop the spread of misinformation and protect your digital reputation. Grounded in digital safety guidelines from prominent media literacy and youth advocacy non-profits like ConnectSafely and the Cybercrime Support Network, follow this five-step checklist:
Do Not Share, React, or Comment: If you spot a deepfake or a manipulated photo of yourself or a friend, resist the urge to reply publicly or forward it to others. Interacting with the post or sharing it out of shock boosts its visibility in app algorithms and accelerates the spread of the lie.
Document and Save the Evidence: Before the post can be deleted or modified, take high-quality screenshots or screen recordings of the fake media, the account posting it, the platform handle, and any text or captions associated with it. This documentation is essential proof for taking down the content later.
Report the Media Directly to the Platform: Use the built-in safety features on social apps (like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Discord) to flag the post. Most major networks have strict policies against non-consensual manipulated imagery, harassment, and deepfakes, and will take the content down once reported.
Utilize Removal Tools for Explicit Content: If the altered image is explicit, sexual, or intimate in nature, immediately use the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s free, anonymous tool Take It Down. This service assigns a unique digital fingerprint to the media to help participating online platforms automatically scan for and block it.
Loop in a Trusted Adult Immediately: Digital trickery and AI harassment thrive when victims stay silent out of fear or empowerment. Break the isolation by talking to a parent, caregiver, or school counselor who can offer emotional support and help you navigate the reporting process safely.
Local Resources
The Children's Center [https://www.thechildrenscenter.org/]
(360) 699-2244
Teen Talk (Clark County Community Services) [https://ccteentalk.clark.wa.gov/]
(360) 397-2428
Lutheran Community Services Northwest [https://lcsnw.org/office/vancouver/]
(360) 694-5624
