Social Media Simulator
Teach your kids to spot misinformation and manipulation in a safe and controlled environment.
Education Website
★★★★★I'm working though the pages with my grade 5 class and they are having a great time trying to figure out the problems and logical fallacies in the posts. I...— Paul V.
★★★★★I love this. You've gamified critical thinking in a way that's not just smart, it's essential. If we're going to raise a generation capable of surviving...— John Furr
★★★★★Over two nights, [my sons and I] went through 8 lessons, and they loved it. They are 16 and 17, so they were more likely to hit on the right answers, but they...— Rifki
A kid-friendly mock social media feed that teaches children and teens how to spot misleading and manipulative posts.
The Simulator mimics different social media formats, including Instagram, TikTok, and X feeds, as well as DMs. Each example is followed by a short lesson that helps students think more carefully about what they see online.
Estimated duration: 10 hours.
Recommended for ages 9 and up.
Topics Covered
The Simulator helps students recognize misleading, manipulative, or unsafe social media content, including:
- Emotional manipulation
- Unsupported claims
- Unsafe trends
- Clickbait
- Misleading statistics
- Hidden advertising
- Scams
- Privacy risks
For Parents
Although kids can explore the simulator on their own, parents can turn this into a family activity. Sit down with your child and go through the feed together, discussing claims that seem suspicious or exaggerated. Ask questions like, “What makes this headline misleading?” or “Why do you think someone would post something like this?” By getting involved, you’ll open up important conversations about online safety and responsible digital citizenship. When your kids are old enough to get on real social media, have regular conversations about it, asking questions like: “Did you see any misleading claims today?”
For Teachers
Critikid offers classroom subscriptions that allow educators to give course access to an unlimited number of students. These subscriptions also include the supplementary teaching materials. To learn more, visit the For Schools page.
Why should kids use a social media simulator?
Research from UC Berkeley (Orticio et al., 2024) shows that controlled exposure to misinformation helps kids become more diligent fact-checkers. Banning kids from social media entirely may not be the best way to prepare them for their online future. However, some parents are, very understandably, hesitant to allow their kids to get on social media. This mock social media feed lets children develop the critical thinking skills they need to rationally navigate social media in a safe and controlled environment.
What types of posts are in the social media simulator?
The social media simulator features a variety of posts designed to teach kids how to spot common misinformation tactics. These include examples of logical fallacies, fear-mongering, pseudo-psychology, clickbait, sensationalized headlines, and AI-generated images. After each post, there’s a short explanation reel that breaks down why the content is misleading and how to identify similar posts in the future.
Is it safe for kids to go through this on their own?
Yes, it is safe for kids to explore the simulator independently. Each problematic post is followed by a short lesson. However, I encourage turning it into a family or classroom activity. The next FAQs have some suggestions on how to do this.
Can kids comment on posts in the social media simulator?
No.
Does this course align with Common Core standards?
Yes. The Social Media Simulator aligns with a few Common Core ELA standards.
View the alignments by grade:
For writing standards with subsections, teachers and parents can guide the open-ended writing prompts toward particular skills within a standard for more targeted practice.
Does this course align with CASEL competencies?
Yes. Social Media Simulator supports CASEL competencies in Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. Students practice examining bias, recognizing social pressures and system influences, evaluating online impacts, and making reasoned decisions about digital behavior.
Can I use ESA funds to buy this course?
Critikid is an approved Education Service Provider with the New Hampshire Children’s Scholarship Fund. Learn more.
What are the usage rights for this course? Is it reusable?
When you purchase this course, it’s tied to the email address used at checkout (unless you click "Buy as a Gift"). This means you get access for one person, but they can run through the course as many times as they want. If you’d like a school license with multiple passes for multiple teachers/students, visit the For Schools page.
