A few episodes ago, we talked about how social media algorithms work. But here's the thing: all of that assumes what you're seeing is real. And increasingly? It's not."

Schnelle dives into deepfakes—AI-generated videos and images so convincing you cannot tell they're fake. This isn't future technology. This is happening now, and it's getting scarier by the month.

What are deepfakes? Videos, images, or audio created using AI to make it look like someone said or did something they never actually did. The technology is now so sophisticated that even experts struggle to identify them.

Why this matters now: Your kids are seeing this content on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram right now. And unless we teach them to question what they see, they're going to believe it.

The creepy celebrity deepfakes: Tools like Sora (from OpenAI) generate incredibly realistic video from text descriptions. People are creating videos of dead celebrities—Tupac, Robin Williams, Marilyn Monroe—in new content.

Schnelle finds this deeply unsettling. Not just ethically (these people can't consent), but because it normalizes the idea that videos aren't real. If everything can be fake, then nothing has to be real.

How convincing are they? Early deepfakes had tells—weird blinking, unnatural movements. Now? Indistinguishable from real footage.

Kids believe videos of their favorite influencers without question. Adults share content confirming their beliefs immediately. Elderly folks are especially vulnerable.

Nobody is immune. Schnelle admits she's been fooled—and she teaches this for a living.

What makes deepfakes dangerous:

• Emotionally convincing (you react before thinking)
• Exploit confirmation bias
• Weaponized for political manipulation, scams, bullying, misinformation

What we can do:

Teach skepticism, not cynicism – Verify before believing vs. "nothing is real"

Introduce verification – Check multiple sources, find the original, look for reputable reporting

Talk explicitly about deepfakes – Show kids examples, discuss what makes them hard to spot

Teach the pause – Before sharing dramatic content, ask: "Do I know this is real?"

Understand vulnerability – If someone can deepfake a celebrity, they can deepfake you

Looking ahead: Next episode: Scams in 2026—deepfakes are just one tool scammers use. AI voice cloning, fake video calls, personalized manipulation.

Perfect for: Parents teaching media literacy, educators addressing misinformation, anyone needing to understand that seeing is no longer believing.

Digital literacy workshops covering deepfakes, AI, scams & more:

📧 Email: contactus@bamdigitalmedia.info
🗓️ Schedule: https://bamdigitalmedia.info
Virtual programs nationwide for students, educators, parents & seniors

Episode 6: When the Expert Feels Lost Too (Honest Talk About Parenting and Phones)

"I need to be honest with you about something. I have 14 years of digital marketing experience. I teach digital literacy workshops across New York City. I know how algorithms work, the psychological tricks, the data collection practices. And I am still overwhelmed and scared as a parent."

This is the most honest episode of the season. No expert tips from someone who has it all figured out. Just real talk from a mom who feels lost sometimes—even with all the insider knowledge.

Schnelle shares what keeps her up at night: Kids seeing inappropriate content. Mental health impacts from social media. Online predators. Watching her kids struggle to put devices down. Data privacy violations. Misinformation, deepfakes, scams. The impossible balance of protection vs. independence.

And here's the confession that makes this episode powerful: She paid good money for a monitoring app. Her oldest kid deleted it.

That moment became a turning point—a choice between doubling down on surveillance or building trust.

What doesn't work (from her own experience):

• Waiting until kids are older (not realistic for many families)
• Monitoring everything (made her anxious, her kid resentful, didn't actually work)
• Just saying no to everything (isolates kids from peers and learning)
• Ignoring it (doesn't feel right either)

Five things she's actually doing instead:

1. Having ongoing conversations (not one big talk) – Small, constant check-ins making tech talk normal, not scary.

2. Teaching them to recognize manipulation – Using her marketing expertise to name the tactics so kids can spot them.

3. Creating phone-free spaces (not phone-free lives) – Dinner table, bedrooms at night, family activities. Same rules for parents.

4. Knowing she can't (and shouldn't) see everything – Accepting kids will make mistakes. Her job is making sure they know they can come to her when things go wrong.

5. Focusing on building judgment, not just setting rules – Asking questions when kids want new apps: "What is it? Why do you want it? What would you do if someone made you uncomfortable?"

The truth about "enough": Schnelle admits she's probably not doing enough by some standard. Her kids have more screen time than recommended. They've probably seen content she wishes they hadn't. She's been too controlling sometimes and too hands-off others.

But she's trying. She's learning. She's doing her best with incomplete information in a constantly changing situation.

This episode gives you permission: You don't have to have it all figured out.

Perfect for: Any parent who's ever felt overwhelmed trying to "do technology right" with their kids. Any educator struggling with the same questions. Anyone who needs to hear that even the expert doesn't have perfect answers.

This won't give you a foolproof system. It will give you solidarity, practical strategies one real parent is trying, and permission to not have it all together.

Because if the person who teaches this for a living is still figuring it out—you're doing just fine.

Want support navigating these conversations?

Schnelle offers digital literacy workshops for parents, educators, and families—covering algorithms, AI ethics, and practical strategies for managing technology at home.

📧 Email: contactus@bamdigitalmedia.info
🗓️ Schedule: https://bamdigitalmedia.info

Not all kids have the same relationship with technology—and blanket screen time rules are failing neurodivergent children.

Digital literacy educator Schnelle Acevedo explores why individualized approaches matter for kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and other neurodivergent traits.

Topics covered:

Self-Regulation & Screen Time

• Why some kids naturally limit device use while others struggle
• How ADHD affects dopamine regulation and makes algorithms more addictive
• Why "just put the phone down" doesn't work for all kids

When Algorithms Actually Help

• How neurodivergent kids use technology as assistive tools
• YouTube tutorials for kids with executive function challenges
• Discord and gaming communities for autistic kids
• AI apps designed specifically for neurodivergent children
• Apps for anxiety and emotional regulation

What Individualized Approaches Look Like

• Questions parents should ask instead of universal time limits
• How schools can differentiate digital support (like IEPs)
• Recognizing when apps are tools for functioning, not just entertainment

Inspired by meeting an entrepreneur developing AI for neurodivergent kids, Schnelle challenges blanket phone bans and screen time rules. Instead: What does this specific child need to thrive with technology?

Perfect for: ✓ Parents of neurodivergent children ✓ Special education teachers ✓ School administrators creating inclusive policies ✓ Anyone interested in disability justice and digital equity

Related topics: ADHD and screen time, autism and technology, assistive technology, inclusive digital policies, executive function support, digital wellbeing for neurodivergent students

Hosted by Schnelle Acevedo, founder of BAM Digital Media LLC (certified MWBE), former digital marketer for Disney/Netflix/Amazon, and digital literacy educator.

Inclusive digital literacy workshops available:

📧 Email: contactus@bamdigitalmedia.info
🗓️ Schedule consultation: https://bamdigitalmedia.info
Virtual programs nationwide for students, educators, and parents