In this powerful and honest episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan uses storytelling to unpack one of the most important digital safety topics of our time: catfishing and online predators. Guided by Nicole’s personal story and professional insight as a UX researcher, this episode explores how to recognize red flags, set boundaries, and protect your mental, emotional, and physical safety online. Listeners will learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to build their own digital safety toolkit—one that empowers them to make safer and smarter choices online.

📌 Show Notes:

In this episode:

• Nicole shares her early experiences navigating the internet alone
• The group explores what it means to be “catfished” and how to spot a fake profile
• Mothers and daughters discuss how to protect personal information and recognize red flags
• Nicole shares safety checklists and real-life scenarios for identifying online predators
• AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are used to simulate safety drills and draft personal response strategies
• Girls and their guardians co-create a “Social Media Shield” to display at home

🛡 Key Takeaway: You are not powerless online. With knowledge, critical thinking, and open communication, you can stay safe, build boundaries, and support others in doing the same.

📝 Reflective Questions:

1. What does catfishing mean, and why is it so dangerous?
2. What’s one sign that someone online might be pretending to be someone else?
3. How do you protect your personal information online? What could you do better?
4. How can you tell if an online friend is trustworthy?
5. What would you do if someone online made you feel weird, pressured, or scared?
6. What are your “non-negotiables” when it comes to internet safety?
7. How can you talk to a trusted adult if something uncomfortable happens online?
8. If you had to teach a younger cousin about online safety, what would you say?
9. What rule or phrase would you keep in your “Catfish Defense Kit”?
10. What’s one commitment you’ll make to protect your online peace?