I love that Gen Z always finds a way to make things fun.
Scammers are targeting teens – Warn your Gen Zer about these tricks
© Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com
I told you about the 14-year-old who 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 young people are especially vulnerable on the internet, but AI isn’t the only thing targeting them.
The fine folks at the FBI’s 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 it’s 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. It’s a big deal.
Under 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.
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 one 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, it’s a bad sign.
‘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.
Big things in small packages
These must-haves bring peace of mind to your family’s busy life.
- Protect little ones from sharp corners on furniture with a 12-pack of safety bumpers ($8).
- Tame your kid’s stuffed animals. A hammock (38% off) keeps them tidy and easy to grab.
- Ooh-la-la. a rotating jewelry box (20% off) with five drawers and 18 necklace hooks.
- Planning a trip? Order TSA-approved travel containers (23% off) now so you’re not panic-running to Target the night before your flight.
- Big sound, little earbuds, great price! Raycon’s earbuds (20% off) sound just like the fancy-schmancy pairs* but without the fancy-schmancy price tag!
- This compact travel document bag (20% off) has three layers of protection against fires and floods.
👜 Gen Z wishlist: What the heck do teens want? I’ve gotcha. Check out my list of stuff they’ll love.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The emojis you’re using all wrong
A thumbs-up doesn’t mean “great job” anymore. Here’s what Gen Z says your emojis really mean.
61%
Of employees have been backstabbed at work. The main culprits? Gen Z and millennials, who are twice as likely to throw someone under the bus to climb the ladder. One in four workers say their boss has set them up to fail. Coworkers by day, betrayal speedrunners by lunch.
Gen Z wants flip phones — April 26th, Hour 4
Forget the iPhone. Some Gen Zers are buying flip phones to unplug on purpose. Also: Siri’s getting dumber, a drone yells at you from the sky, and a Georgia woman loses $200K to a Bitcoin scam.
25%
Americans feel burned out before they turn 30. Many Gen Z and millennials say they’ve hit “peak stress” at 25. That’s way younger than the average of 42 years old when most folks start having a midlife crisis.
Gen Z is paying $20 just to talk
Putting down the phone is harder than ever. Now, some Gen Zers are so desperate for a real convo, they’re willing to shell out for it.
Gen Z vs. the bosses
Big names like Elon Musk, Jamie Dimon, and Trump are demanding employees return to the office. Some are complying, others are quitting. Is Gen Z about to be left behind?
Your DNA could soon be up for sale
You spit in a tube, and now 23andMe is thinking of selling your data after a massive hack tanked their value. So much for learning your ancestry. Meanwhile, Gen Z is going #desperate on LinkedIn, and Mazda’s charging $10 just to use remote start.
Bosses are firing Gen Z workers fast
Gen Z grads are getting the axe — 6 in 10 employers have already let them go. Plus, a massive security breach exposed the private info of millions. Find out how one guy spent $1K on Facebook Ads to find love and about a new law that could change your car radio.
How I avoided a $40K scam
Paul emailed me about a $39,500 invoice, demanding I pay up ASAP. The problem? I didn’t owe him a cent. Plus, AI is eyeing 60 million jobs, Gen Z is trauma dumping on TikTok, and a woman was rescued after falling 60 feet off a mountain thanks to her navigation app.
Is Google dying?
Eighteen years ago, “Google” became an official verb, but now Gen Z and Gen Alpha are moving away from it.
Are scammers using infidelity to manipulate you?
“Your spouse is cheating on you.” That’s the shocking line behind a new sextortion scam. The message includes a link claiming to offer “proof,” but it’s a trap to get you to click. Plus, Gen Z is moving away from Google, and strange science wins big at the Ig Nobel awards.
No. 1 on the App Store
For noplace, a Gen Z social app. It feels like a mix of Twitter and Myspace, with totally customizable profiles (just like back in the day!) and a Top 10 friends area, similar to the old Myspace Top 8.
Gen Z & millennials discover the flip phone
Flip phones are making a surprising comeback, with online searches skyrocketing over 15,000% as a new generation embraces their simplicity.
Guess who's coming to the Gen Z job interview?
About a quarter of Gen Z job candidates bring a parent to their job interviews. I cover the full story in this short podcast.
Ticketmaster hack exposes data of 560M customers
Got concert tickets? Your personal info might be on the market. Plus, why Gen Z is ditching driving, the latest malicious apps on Google Play, and how an international burglary ring is using Wi-Fi jammers.
What really happens when you hit ‘I'm not a robot’
You’re not just proving you’re human — you’re revealing your browser’s dirty secrets. We also talk to Jeff Johnson from The Trek Planner about using Google Earth to find ancient ruins. Plus, Gen Z brings parents to job interviews and human skills bots can’t replicate.
Gen Z and the perils of working 9 to 5
Everyone’s clocking back in at the office, but not all are thrilled — Gen Z’s got some thoughts.