Fake Profiles & Manipulation Back to LARA

TFCSEA Module 2 · Ages 14 to 18 · About 35 minutes on your own

Fake Profiles & Manipulation

Essential question: How can I tell when an online connection is risky, even when it feels friendly?

You will Watch Sort behaviors Explore 8 scenarios Write a safe reply Take a quiz

This is Module 2. Module 1 covers healthy relationships offline, online, and boundaries and consent. Next: Oversharing, Privacy & Digital Footprint.

Watch first

Identity, secrecy, speed, pressure: a short animated introduction, with captions built in.

What this lesson is about

Not every online risk looks scary. Sometimes it starts with attention, flattery, and someone who seems almost too perfect. This lesson helps you spot patterns early: a profile that doesn’t add up, trust that grows too fast, pressure to keep secrets, and small tests of your boundaries. It is not about fearing everyone online. It is about noticing when something is off.

By the end, you will be able to

  • Recognize clues that a profile may be fake or misleading, and why the pattern matters more than one clue.
  • Spot manipulation: flattery, fast intensity, gifts, constant contact and secrecy.
  • Explain why moving the chat, disappearing messages and small boundary tests increase risk.
  • Know four steps when something feels off: pause, save it, block or report, tell someone.

Your answers stay on this device. Nothing you type here is sent to anyone. We only count how many people open this lesson.

Key words

Try to define each word in your head, then tap the card to check.

Activity 1 of 6

Warm up

Think about the people you talk to online: in games, apps and group chats. How many have you actually met?

Activity 2 of 6

Lower risk, warning sign, or high risk?

Remember four words: Identity. Secrecy. Speed. Pressure. One message rarely decides everything: the pattern does. Safer behaviour leaves you room to choose. Riskier behaviour adds secrecy, pressure and control. If someone manipulates you, it is never your fault.

Where does it go?

Pick a zone for each behavior.

Activity 3 of 6

Scenario explorer

Read each situation, decide whether it is lower risk, a warning sign or high risk, and think about what the person could do. Then check your thinking.

Lower risk, warning sign, or high risk?

Activity 4 of 6

Slow it down

You don’t owe anyone online an explanation: “I’m not comfortable with that.” “I don’t keep secrets from my family.” “I’m staying on this app.” Pick a scenario, write a short reply for the character, then the next step they could take.

Your plan will appear here as you type.
  • Slows things down or says no, without insults
  • Short: you don’t owe an explanation
  • The next step saves, blocks, reports or tells someone

My online safety habits: which do you already have?

    Activity 5 of 6

    Quiz

    Five questions. Pick an answer to see whether it's right and why.

    0 of 5 answered

    Activity 6 of 6

    Reflect

    If something feels off

    You don’t need proof that it is “serious enough” before you protect yourself. Feeling confused is not overreacting. You are not in trouble, and you are not alone.

    Teaching this in class?

    Everything you need to run this lesson with a group of students in about 50 minutes. All files are A4 PDFs, ready to print.

    Classroom pack

    For parents and caregivers

    A one-page guide on fake profiles and manipulation, with conversation starters, tips and what to do if something feels off.

    Where to get help

    If something in this lesson made you think of your own situation or a friend's, talk to a trusted adult or your school counselor. These lines in Lebanon can also help.

    1564National Lifeline for emotional support, 24/7
    LARAEmail for support and guidance:laraa@laraa.org
    112Internal Security Forces, if someone is in danger or threatening you

    Take It Down: free help to remove private images taken before you turned 18. The image never leaves your device.