Federal Trade Commission | ftc.gov/livinglifeonline
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Parents and teachers often talk about helping you stay safe, online and off. 

They try to teach you to think critically about what you see and hear, and make sure you have the skills you need to succeed 

in the 21st century. But the truth is that being a good citizen these days requires the same skills it always has: being honest 

and respectful of others, and treating other people the way you want to be treated. So whether you are texting or talking, 

posting photos or playing games, this guide has information to reinforce those citizenship skills that work online and off.

About the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is the nation’s consumer 

protection agency. Its job is to watch out for unfair, 

deceptive, or false business practices in the marketplace – 

and to give people information to help them spot, stop, and 

avoid scams. It’s the agency that makes sure companies 

follow the law, too; if any person or company breaks the law, 

the FTC can go to court to stop them. 

The FTC was created in 1914; it’s an independent agency 

within the executive branch of the federal government, 

although it also reports on its activities to Congress, the 

legislative branch. It is run by five Commissioners who 

are nominated by the President and confirmed by the 

Congress. Each Commissioner serves for seven years. The 

President chooses one Commissioner to serve as Chairman. 

No more than three Commissioners can be from the same 

political party.

Have you seen a scam? Do you think an ad is making a 

claim that isn’t true? Have you gotten an email offer that 

promised more than it delivered? Consumers like you file 

more than a million complaints a year with the agency online 

(ftc.gov/complaint) or by phone (1-877-FTC-HELP). All the 

complaints are entered into a database that is monitored 

by investigators at the FTC and by local police and law 

enforcement agencies across the nation; when they detect 

patterns and trends, they follow up by getting in touch with 

the company, bringing an enforcement action, or publicizing 

consumer information that’s relevant to the issue. 

You in the World

Your life is hectic: you go to school, spend time with your 

family, do your homework, hang out with friends, and carve 

out some time for yourself. As you live your life online and 

off, some behaviors can help you be more successful: asking 

questions to help you figure out what’s real and what’s hype; 

thinking about things to do – or 

not – that can help you keep 

safe; figuring out ways to act 

that can help you treat others 

the same way you’d like to be 

treated. Reading this guide 

and doing the activities can 

help you navigate your worlds 

more safely.
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You text, you play games, you share photos and video. You update your status, 

you post comments, you may spend some time in a virtual world. 

Being connected online is how you live your life. And as you spend more and 

more of your time there, it can be easy to over-share, embarrass yourself, mess 

up your computer, and possibly get messages from creepy people. The truth is 

that there are some risks involved in socializing, playing, and communicating 

online. 

Whether you connect through a computer or your phone, the best tool you have 

to help avoid risks online is your brain. When you’re ready to post or send a 

message or a photo, download a file, game or program, or shop for something – 

stop for a second. Think about things like: 

•	 Do you know and trust who you’re dealing with – or what you're sharing or 

downloading? 

•	 How will you feel if your information ends up somewhere you didn’t intend?

Asking a few key questions first can help you protect yourself, your friends, and 

your computer. Keep reading to find out about a few things to stop and think 

about before you click and connect.

Your Life 

Online

DID YOU KNOW? 

Teens text 50 messages a 

day on average, five times 

more than the typical adult 

(who sends or receives 10 

text messages a day). 

SOURCE: Cell Phones 

and American Adults, Pew 

Internet and American Life 

Project, September 2010.

Dear Expert,

I posted a really funny picture 

today of my best friend and me. 

But she thinks she looks bad, and 

now she’s mad because it’s there 

forever. At least, that’s what her 

mom said. But that’s totally not 

right, right? I took it down, so it’s 

down. Who’s right?

Your friend’s mom is right. Even when 

you take something down from a 

webpage or a social networking site, 

it’s possible that someone else has 

already downloaded it. And there are 

ways that some people can find out 

what a particular page used to look 

like, even if it has been changed. That’s 

why posting something really is forever. 

So it’s important to think twice – or 

three times – before posting a photo or 

a comment. Look at it this way: Things 

you thought were cute or cool back 

when you were younger don’t seem 

so cute or cool to you now. Would you 

want your friends now to see some crazy 

family vacation picture of you when 

you were a kid? Probably not. It’s also 

not a great idea to post pictures of your 

friends without their OK. They might 

not be happy about what you post – and 

it could get them in trouble with their 

parents, their coach, or 

someone else. Visit 

OnGuardOnline.gov

for more about 

socializing

online. 

Visit ftc.gov/livinglifeonline
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Sharing Well With Others

The next time you’re online, 

think about what you share 

with others. Do you forward 

pictures or videos of your 

friends from your phone? Do 

you have a profile on a social 

network, or a blog? You have 

tons of opportunities to share all kinds of information – 

about yourself, your family, and your friends – when you’re 

online. Before you do, keep in mind:

Your online actions can have real-world consequences. The 

pictures you post and the words you write can affect the 

people in your life. Think before you post and share. 

What you post could have a bigger "audience" than you think. 

Even if you use privacy settings, it’s impossible to completely 

control who sees your social networking profile, pictures, 

videos, or texts. Before you click send, think about how you 

will feel if your family, teachers, coach, or neighbors find it.

Once you post information online, you can’t take it back. You 

may think that you’ve deleted information from a site – or 

that you will delete it later. Know that older versions may 

exist on other people’s computers. That means that your 

posts could be living somewhere – permanently. 

Get someone’s okay before you share photos or videos they’re 

in. Online photo albums are great for storing and sharing 

pictures of special events, and camera phones make it easy 

to capture every moment. Stop and think about your own 

privacy – and other people’s – before you share photos and 

videos online. It can be embarrassing, unfair, and even 

unsafe to send or post photos and videos without getting 

permission from the people in them.

Dilemma

Your best friend forwards a message from another 

friend, saying mean things about someone in your 

class. Do you forward it to someone else? Tell your best 

friend that it’s not cool to forward mean messages? Do 

you ignore it? How would it feel if it happened to you?

You may have heard stories at school or in the 

news about people sending nude photos from 

mobile phones – called “sexting.” Don’t do it. 

Period. People who create, forward, or even save 

sexually explicit photos, videos, or messages put 

their friendships and reputations at risk. Worse 

yet, they could be breaking the law.

Sexting

?
5

Minding Your Manners

As you talk to people online, remember that texting, IMing, 

or emailing really is no different than talking with someone 

in person. If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, it’s not 

OK to type it. Before you type, consider this:

Politeness counts. Texting is just another way for people 

to have a conversation. Texters are just like those who 

are talking face-to-face or on the phone: they appreciate 

“please” and “thank you” (or “pls” and “ty”). 

Tone it down. In online conversations, using all CAPS, 

long rows of exclamation points, or large bolded fonts is the 

same as shouting. 

Use "Cc:" and "Reply

all:" sparingly. Before 

you hit "send" on an email, stop and think about whether 

everyone needs to see that message. 

Avatars are people too. When you’re playing a game or 

exploring an online world where you can create a character 

and interact with others, remember that real people are 

behind those characters on the screen. Respect their feelings 

just like you would in person. Remember that your character 

or avatar is a virtual version of you – what does it tell people 

about you and your interests? 

Don’t impersonate. It’s wrong 

and can be hurtful to create sites, 

pages, or posts that seem to come 

from someone else, like someone 

in your class or a teacher at your 

school. 

Speak up. If you see something 

inappropriate on a social 

networking site or in a game or 

chat room, let the website know 

and tell an adult you trust. Using 

“report abuse” links can help 

keep sites fun for everyone.

Don’t stand for bullying –

online or off. Treat others the 

way you want to be treated – 

whether you’re interacting with 

them online, on your phone, or in 

person. 

Cyberbullying is bullying that happens online. It can happen in 

an email, a text message, an online game, or on a social networking 

site. It might involve rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or 

passed around for other people to see. 

You know that, right? So you know that cyberbullying is a lose-lose 

proposition: it often makes the person being harassed feel bad – and 

it always makes the bully look bad. It also might lead to punishment 

from school authorities or the police.

What to do if you witness cyberbullying? Tell the bully to stop. 

Most kids don’t bully, and there’s no reason for anyone to put up with 

it. This mean behavior usually stops pretty quickly when somebody 

stands up for the person being bullied. 

What to do if someone harasses you online? Keep a cool head, 

and don’t respond in kind. Most people realize that bullying is wrong. 

Sometimes you can stop bullying if you ignore or block the person. 

You also can report abuse to the website where it’s taking place. If it 

continues, save the evidence and ask for help from an adult you trust. 

Cyberbullying
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DID YOU KNOW?

Girls between ages 14 

and 17 text more than 

any other group of kids, 

averaging 100 messages 

a day. 

SOURCE: Teens and 

Mobile Phones, Pew 

Internet and American Life 

Project, April 2010.

Dear Expert, 

I might be in trouble. I was playing on my 

dad’s computer and downloaded some 

stuff. (It was free, or I wouldn’t have.) 

Now he says his computer’s really slow 

and goes places he doesn’t want it to. 

Am I in trouble?

Are you in trouble? That’s up to your dad. Is the 

computer in trouble? Probably. Some people 

claim to offer free stuff online – like videos, 

games, or ringtones – but when you download 

it, they secretly put harmful programs on your 

computer. It’s called spyware. Spyware could 

search your computer looking for your credit 

card numbers or your bank account information. 

Or, it might copy everything you type in – even 

personal stuff – and send it back to a crook. And 

who wants that? So when you’re thinking about 

downloading something on to the computer, talk 

it over with your dad first. Think about 

whether it might be spyware in disguise. 

Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more on 

protecting your computer from spyware. 

Looking Both Ways 

There are lots of ways to be safe, and you’ve probably heard 

most of them: Look both ways before you cross the street. 

Don’t take candy from strangers. Don’t run with scissors.

Versions of those warnings exist for your life online, too. 

No, not Don’t text with scissors or Look before you type. 

(Though neither is a bad idea.) You can do things to protect 

yourself, protect your information (and your family’s), and your 

computer. 

Protecting yourself

Use privacy settings to restrict who can see and post on your 

profile. Many social networking sites, chat rooms, and blogs 

have privacy settings. Find out how to turn these settings on, 

and then do it. 

Limit your online friends to people you actually know. 

Learn about social mapping. Many mobile phones have GPS 

technology, and there are applications that allow you to find 

your friends – and allow them to find you. Use GPS and social 

mapping apps only with people you know personally and trust. 

Take advantage of privacy features in apps and on your phone. 

Trust your gut if you feel threatened or uncomfortable because 

of someone or something you find online. Tell someone who 

can help you report your concerns to the police and other 

people who can help.

Protecting your information

Some information should stay private. Your Social Security 

number and family financial information – like your parents’ 

bank account or credit card numbers – should stay in the 

family. 

Keep your passwords private. The longer your password, the 

harder it is to crack. Don’t share your passwords with anybody, 

including your best friends or your boyfriend or girlfriend.

Don’t reply to text, email, or pop-up messages that ask you 

to reply with personal information – even if the message 

looks like it comes from a person, 

company, or organization 

you know or threatens that 

something bad will happen 

if you don’t reply. These 

messages may be fakes, sent 

to steal your information.
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?

Dilemma

You’re online and an ad appears for a free game. It’s a game you’ve been wanting 

to buy, but you hadn’t saved up enough money yet. And here it is – for free. What 

do you do? Click download (because that would be so easy) and start playing? 

Check with your parents before you click? Skip it because it’s probably some

kind of scam anyway?

Protecting your computer

Learn about security software and how your home computer 

is protected.

Be cautious about opening attachments or clicking on links. They 

may contain viruses or spyware. 

Remember that sometimes, “free” stuff – like games, ring tones, 

or screen savers – can hide viruses or spyware. Don’t download 

unless you trust the source and scan it with security software.

Use peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing services with caution. 

Make sure you install file-sharing software properly, and scan 

downloaded files with security software before you open or play 

them – or you could be sharing information your family expects to 

keep private – like financial records.

Applying yourself

Do you download apps to your phone or social network page? 

If you do, you might be giving the app’s creator access to your 

personal information – maybe even info that's not related to the 

purpose of the app. For example, say you download an app that 

lets you make a drawing out of a photo, but the app’s developer 

gets access to your entire contact list. The developers might share 

the information they collect with marketers or other companies. 

You can try to check what information the app collects – if it tells 

you – and check out your own privacy settings. Both may help 

you figure out what information the app can access. You also 

can consider whether getting that app is really worth sharing the 

details of your life. 

Meet Shock... 

Bill Shock

If your parents have ever met Bill Shock, you’d 

probably know. 

Mr. Shock isn’t a who – it’s a what: bill shock is 

what happens when your family cell phone bill 

is much higher than it’s supposed to be. Or than 

your parents thought it would be. For example, it 

can happen if your plan limits text messages to 

500 a month – and you send (and get) that many 

in a week.

There have been news stories about parents 

opening cell phone bills and seeing a balance of 

$18,000. That’s not a typo. Eighteen. Thousand. 

Dollars. OK, maybe that doesn’t happen most of 

the time. But imagine having to explain a $500 

cell phone bill because you went a little over on 

the texting.

What can you do about bill shock? Most phones 

or carriers have a way to track the number 

of messages you’ve sent – and the number 

of minutes you’ve used. Check your phone’s 

manual, or the carrier’s website, to find out how, 

and then check it! There may be a way to turn off 

service when you reach your monthly maximum.
Take this 

quiz and 

find out.

1.	 The very first thing I do when I wake up is:

A. Check my sundial for the time and put a kettle of 

porridge on the campfire.

B. Brush my teeth and grab a good breakfast to power up 

for the day.

C. Log on. 

2.	 My parents holler at me from downstairs. I:

A. Have the butler deliver a note on my behalf.

B. Yell back “Whaaa-aaat?” until I remember that’s kind 

of rude, so I go down to see what they want.

C. Text ’em.

3.	 The total number of texts I

send in a day is about:

A. None.

B. Somewhere between 20 and 200.

C. How many zeroes are in a zillion?

4.	 My favorite app is:

A. Appendix? Appalachian? Apple? Um, sorry, not 

following.

B. The one I just downloaded.

C. Please. I beg you. I can pick my favorite friend, my 

favorite food, my favorite group. But don’t make me 

pick my favorite app.

5.	 When my hilarious friend gives himself a mustard

mustache in the cafeteria, I:

A. Hire an artist to paint a portrait for the gallery.

B. Take a picture for a scrapbook I'm making at home.

C. Snap a pic on my cameraphone and send it to the 

whole class within 10 seconds.

6.	 My best friend just told me she’s moving to

another country. The last thing I say before she

leaves is:

A. Farewell, old friend. May destiny lead our paths to 

cross again soon.

B. Have a safe trip and call me as soon as you can!

C. omg gg ttyl :(
Mainly As – You’re an Olde Timey Type. 

Wake up and smell the 21st century.

Mainly Bs – You’re a Power User. 

You use technology, but it doesn’t use you.

Mainly Cs – You’re a Tech Victim. 

 Dude! Back away from the touchscreen

 every now and then.

7.	 Some people at my school have been spreading

lies about me online. My strategy is to:

A. Challenge them to a duel.

B. Ignore them – bullies are 

usually just looking for 

attention – and talk it over 

with my mom, my dad, or a 

teacher.

C. Dig up some dirt about them and go viral with it. 

8.	 I got an email from a friend who’s mad at me 

about something that happened at school. The 

best way to work through our disagreement is:

A. Jousting.

B. Approaching them in person so we can talk it out.

C. FLAMING THEM BACK IN ALL CAPS WITH A 

DOZEN !!!!!!!!!!!! AND DID I MENTION THE CRAZY 

OVERSIZED PURPLE FONT?

9.	 When I like someone, I:

A. Break out my quill and ink to compose a poem declaring 

my undying love. 

B. Text, text, text. I need to see if he/she has said anything 

to anyone about me. 

C. Spruce up my avatar. 

10.	Before I fall asleep, I:

A. Don my sleeping cap and blow out the candle on my 

nightstand.

B. Tuck my phone in with me – don’t want to miss any latenight updates.

C. Check my email. Text a few friends. See if anyone’s 

online. Check my email again. Oh, new texts to respond 

to. What time is it, again?

11.	When I need to talk to my friend right away, I:

A. Walk the three miles to their house to see if they’re home. 

B. Call them and tell them what’s up.

C. Send a bunch of text messages until they respond.
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Maybe you’ve heard that from time to time. But when it comes to things you 

read and see, it pays to think critically. Everything that’s written is written by 

someone for a reason. Every media message you see – whether it’s a news story 

or an ad on television – was created by someone for a purpose.

Do you believe everything you see? Probably not. 

But how do you decide what’s true and whether to 

believe it? Try this:

You see a picture of an athlete in an ad. This quote 

is beside the picture:

“This shoe lets me run faster and jump 

higher. Come with me.” 

Do you believe him and buy the shoe? Why or why 

not? Would it matter if the athlete was paid to 

say this?

You care about the environment, and see yourself as “green.” 

You see an ad that suggests that buying bamboo clothes 

makes you eco-friendly. But you know that most “bamboo” 

clothes are really rayon. Do you believe this ad? 

When you see a message in any medium – a news article, 

a commercial, a story online, even your textbooks – ask 

yourself these three questions:

Who’s responsible for the message?

What is the message actually saying?

What does it want me to do?

Once you know the answers to those three questions, you 

can decide if you might believe and trust the message – or 

whether you need to keep looking for more information. 

Go Ahead – 

Be Critical

“Don’t be so critical.”
11

Ad it Up

What is advertising? You see it every day – you might even be wearing an ad 

now. If you look for it, you can probably spot ads nearly anywhere you go:

•	 online (in games, on social networking sites, on web pages...)

•	 in your house (packaging of food, posters, logos...)

•	 outside (billboards, buses, people wearing logos...)

•	 in print (magazines, newspapers...)

•	 in your video games (ads on the roadside in a driving game, for example)

•	 on TV and radio (TV commercials – but also on TV programs)

Advertising is a tool to get your attention and make 

you interested in something – maybe a product, an 

idea, or an issue. Ads try to get you to do, buy, or think 

something – whether it’s a product, idea, issue, or 

service. All of them are created by someone, and all of them have a purpose: to 

get you to do, buy, or think something.

Do you take all ads at face value? Will you automatically believe that this cereal 

tastes the best, or that face wash can’t be beat? Probably not. Maybe your 

experience tells you that the cereal really does taste the best. But you’ll want 

to think critically about the information you get in ads. You can start with three 

key questions. If you spot an ad, ask yourself:

Who’s responsible for the ad?

What is the ad actually saying?

What does the ad want me to do?

Once you know who’s behind the ad, you’ve deciphered what the ad is saying 

in words and images, and thought about what the ad wants you to do, then you 

can better decide for yourself what you think.

d

g

Dear Expert,

I love watching women’s soccer – 

and I play – so I read a lot about 

the players. I just saw an article 

about how my favorite player trains. 

Then I saw an ad saying how she 

uses this one sports drink. But in 

the article, she said she drinks a 

different one. I thought that was 

strange. Is one of them lying? 

It’s great to follow the careers of 

athletes who are at the top of their 

game. But advertisers often pay famous 

people to use their products – like 

foods or drinks or sporting goods 

– so that they’ll talk about it or be 

photographed using it. The advertiser 

hopes we’ll associate their product with 

the stars we like. There’s nothing wrong 

with that, but the law says that the 

athlete really has to use the product. 

And it’s important to remember that 

the athlete is getting paid to appear in 

the ad. Success 

on the soccer 

field relates to 

hard work and 

talent, not a 

sports drink. 

 Visit ftc.gov/livinglifeonline to print this worksheet.
12

1.	Who’s responsible for the ad? Look for the logo, which is the symbol representing the brand. When you find it, ask 

yourself what you know about the brand. Do you like it? Does it have a good reputation? In this case, Zed is responsible 

for this ad. It’s the company that picked everything in the ad to convince you to buy its products.

2.	What is the ad actually saying? Remember to look at more than words. Everything in an ad is a message to you: the 

pictures, the colors, the feel – and the words. In this ad, you could find a bunch of messages: if you wear Zed clothes, 

you’ll be hip; you can dress well for not a lot of money; if you buy these new, stylish clothes, you won’t feel guilty; if 

you wear these clothes; you’ll be happy and have cool friends; if you buy Zed, you’ll be cool like these kids. Basically, 

whatever you think the ad is saying to you is right.

3.	What does the ad want me to do? Buy clothes from Zed.

There are more questions about an ad that might give you other useful information: 

4.	Who do you think this ad is for? Probably girls, maybe ages 12-20.

5.	What do you see that makes you think that? The pictures of high school or college girls (though there are two 

guys, so they may sell guy’s clothes, too). And the logo has a kind of flowery pattern, which might be more for girls.

Try it out Here’s one that’s taken apart, and one to take apart, 

or deconstruct, on your own.
13

Who’s responsible for this ad?

What is the ad actually saying?

What does the ad want me to do?

Who is the ad for?

What do you see that makes you think that?

Now it’s your turn

DID YOU KNOW?

What you do online affects the 

kinds of ads you’ll see. Businesses 

can track the sites you visit and 

what you search for; then, they 

show you related ads. If you’re 

searching for sports scores, and 

visiting lots of team sites, you’ll 

see more sports-related ads than 

someone who looks up, say, 

science fiction books. That means 

the ads you see on your social 

network page may be different 

than the ads your friends see.

Answer these questions to deconstruct this ad:

 Visit ftc.gov/livinglifeonline to print this worksheet.
14

It’s All About the 

Technique 

Advertisers don’t just shove things into ads. They study 

what people like and then try to design an approach that 

will appeal to their target audience. When it comes to what 

goes into an ad, advertisers have a long list of techniques 

to choose from. They can decide whether you might like a 

funny ad better than a touching one, or whether it might 

work best to get you to see their product as the solution to 

something you fear (acne or body odor, for example).

Here are some of the most common techniques advertisers 

use to convince you to buy or do something. Look around – it 

won’t be hard to find an ad that’s an example for each.

Association: Using images (like a cartoon character or the 

American flag), in the hope you’ll transfer your good feelings 

about the image to the product.

Call to action: Telling you what to do – “Buy today!” or 

“Vote now” – removes all doubt about next steps.

Claim: Informing you about how the product works 

or helps you.

Games and activities: Putting a commercial into the form 

of a game can be a fun way for you to get to know more 

about a product and spend more time with it.

Humor: Using ads that make you laugh can catch your 

attention and be memorable.

Hype: Using words like amazing and incredible make 

products seem really exciting.

Must-have: Suggesting that you must have the product to 

be happy, popular, or satisfied.

Fear: Using a product to solve something you worry about, 

like bad breath.

Prizes, sweepstakes, and gifts: Using a chance to win a 

prize to attract attention.

Repetition: Repeating a message or idea so you remember it.

Sales and price: Showing or announcing a discounted 

price can make a product look better.

Sense appeal: Using images and sounds to appeal to your 

senses: sight, touch, taste, etc.

Special ingredients: Promoting a special ingredient may 

make you think the product works better than others.

Testimonials and endorsements: Featuring someone, 

like a celebrity, saying how the product worked for them 

can be convincing.

Name that Technique 

1.	A movie star talks about his favorite food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

2.	An ad connects lipstick with a beautiful model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

3.	An ad for a fast-food restaurant shows a close-up of a sizzling burger . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

4.	An ad asks you to go online to learn more. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

5.	An ad for an exercise product promises “amazing results” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

6.	An announcer repeats a product slogan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . __________________________________

answers upside-down at bottom...

endorsement 2. association 3. sense appeal 4. call to action 5. hype 6. repetition 1. 

Visit ftc.gov/livinglifeonline to print this worksheet.
15

Product Target Audience Ad Placement

New song download Stylish moms Outdoor magazine

Skateboard Handy dads Video website

Nail Polish Little kids Home repair tv show

Power tools Sporty girls Fashion Magazine

Teddy bear video game Hip boys Cereal box

Ready, Aim...

In case you didn’t know it, you’re a target. For advertisers, that is. A target 

audience is who advertisers think will buy or use their product. Advertisers create 

their ads to persuade the target audience to buy, think, or do something; and they 

put their ads where the target audience is likely to see them.

Match a product to its target audience and where it would 

be advertised. 

Dear Expert,

I saw this online ad for a cool remote-control airplane 

that flies up to 100 feet in the air. I bought it, but it 

doesn’t really fly. Maybe I could throw it that high, but 

it doesn’t fly around like in the ad. What’s the deal? I 

want my money back, but I really want to know this: 

isn’t the ad supposed to be true since it’s online? 

Don’t people make sure of that?

“It’s online – or on TV – so it must be true,” right? Not 

so much. Yes, the law says that advertisers are supposed 

to make sure that what they say about their products is 

truthful, but some companies don’t always live up to 

that standard. That’s why if something you buy 

doesn’t work like they said it would, visit ftc.gov

and file a complaint with the Federal Trade 

Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer 

protection agency. If companies don’t tell the 

truth about what their stuff can do, the FTC can go to court 

to try to get them to change their ways. OK, maybe it’s not 

as exciting as some of the court shows you see on TV, but 

the idea is the same: The FTC makes its case. The advertiser 

responds. And the judge rules.

Sometimes the judge may make the advertiser give money 

back to the people who bought the product, but that can 

take a long time – and it’s not a sure thing. So you’re smart 

to contact the company and the store where you bought the 

plane directly. Don’t be mean about it, but be firm: Tell them 

that you bought the plane because they said it could fly – 

and you want your money back because it doesn’t.

When you buy something that doesn’t live up to the 

promises in the ads, do two things: 1) contact the 

company that made the product and the store where 

you bought it; and 2) file a complaint at ftc.gov.
.

At Admongo.gov, kids learn critical thinking skills and apply them to understanding advertising, 

asking three essential questions: Who’s responsible for the ad? What is the ad actually saying? 

and What does the ad want me to do?

Find free resources for teachers at Admongo.gov. Get free lesson plans and bookmarks 

at bulkorder.ftc.gov.

FREE RESOURCES

from the Federal Trade Commission

for Kids and 

Teachers!

As kids spend more time online, they need to know how to stay safe – and the 

adults in their lives need to know how to help them. These free resources can help:

Heads Up is a guide for kids themselves, helping them navigate topics from 

sexting to bullying. Net Cetera helps teachers and parents talk with kids about 

those issues and more. The Community Outreach Toolkit has everything 

someone might need to do a presentation to help keep kids safe online. 

Find all these free resources at OnGuardOnline.gov/NetCetera. Or, order free 

copies – in English and Spanish – at bulkorder.ftc.gov. 

At the virtual mall at ftc.gov/YouAreHere, kids can learn to 

be smarter consumers. By playing games, they learn how to 

protect their privacy, how to spot and avoid frauds and scams, 

how advertising affects them, and how they benefit when 

businesses compete.

Check out the FTC’s 

Bulk Order Site to 

get hundreds of 

FREE resources. Visit 

bulkorder.ftc.gov

to order materials in 

English and Spanish.

Visit ftc.gov/livinglifeonline

Living Life Online

This guide helps kids ages 8-14 be better digital citizens. Turn it over to check out short 

articles, activities and quizzes. Kids will learn to develop critical thinking skills, stay 

safer online, understand the ads they see around them, and think about cell phone 

etiquette. Order free copies at bulkorder.ftc.gov.