What your child will learn
Identify the 5 deepfake tells: lip-sync mismatch, unnatural blink rate, lighting inconsistency, ear/jaw artifacts, and reverse-image search
Classify audio clips as real or AI-cloned using breath rhythm, consonant aspiration, and prosody patterns
Spot visual artifacts in AI-generated images: finger anomalies, text rendering errors, background inconsistencies
Apply the SIFT protocol (Stop, Investigate, Find better coverage, Trace claims, Back up) before sharing any media
Build a family emergency code-word system to protect against future voice clone calls
How this mission works
A 5-scene interactive lab on deepfake detection for middle schoolers (Grades 6–8). Scene 1: Voice Forensics — classify 6 audio clips as real or AI-cloned using breath patterns and prosody analysis. Scene 2: Image Artifacts — analyze AI-generated images for finger anomalies, text errors, and background inconsistencies. Scene 3: Grandma Call — respond to a voice-clone urgency call using the callback verification technique. Scene 4: Source the Clip — apply the SIFT protocol on a viral clip before sharing. Scene 5: Family Code-Word — build an emergency code-word system to protect against future voice clone calls. Pass: 4/5 scenes.
What students actually encounter
"Your mom calling from an unknown number — she sounds worried and needs gift card codes RIGHT NOW." Is it really her?
A viral video of a celebrity saying something shocking — the jaw doesn match longer words. Real or deepfake?
A "breaking news" screenshot with no source. How do you verify it before sharing?
Try the full Phishing Inbox Detective mission right now — no account needed.
Cipher is with them the whole way
When a student gets stuck on Deepfake Detective, Cipher appears with a mission-specific nudge — no spoilers, just a hint toward the right thinking. Make a wrong choice, and Cipher explains the real-world consequence. Finish the mission, and Cipher generates a personalized performance debrief based on exactly how the student played it.
ISTE alignment
Students evaluate the accuracy and validity of digital information and manage their digital identity in an era where AI-generated media can deceive at scale.