Day 17 — Don’t Believe Everything

“The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.”

— Proverbs 14:15 (BSB)

The internet is full of information. Some of it is true, helpful and good. But a lot of it isn’t. There are fake pictures, false stories, edited videos, scams and people pretending to be someone they’re not.

Proverbs describes two kinds of people. The “simple” person “believes every word.” She sees something online and believes it right away. She trusts anyone who’s nice to her. She doesn’t stop to think.

But the “prudent” person “watches her steps.” Prudent means careful and wise. She thinks before she believes something. She’s careful about who she trusts. She pays attention.

As you grow up and spend more time online, being prudent becomes really important:

Don’t believe everything you see. Pictures and videos are often edited. People online show only their best moments. Not everything that claims to be true is true.

Be careful who you trust. People online aren’t always who they say they are. Someone who says they’re a girl your age might not be.

Protect your personal information. Never share your full name, address, school, phone number, passwords or pictures with people you don’t know.

Never meet someone in person that you only know online.

Watch out for flattery. If someone online is super nice, gives you lots of compliments, wants to talk to you privately or asks you to keep your friendship secret, that’s a warning sign.

Tell a trusted adult right away if anyone online asks you for pictures, asks you to keep secrets, makes you uncomfortable, or pressures you in any way. You won’t be in trouble.

Think before you post. Once something is online, it can be very hard to take back.

Being prudent doesn’t mean being afraid. It means being wise. God wants His daughters to be smart and careful, so they can enjoy good things and stay safe.

Think about it: Have you ever believed something online that turned out not to be true? What happened?

Try this: Sit down with your mom or dad and make a family plan for staying safe online. Agree on what to do if something ever feels wrong.

Dear God, help me be prudent, not simple. Help me not to believe everything I see online, and help me be careful about who I trust. Keep me safe, and help me always tell a grown-up if something doesn’t feel right. In Jesus’ name, Amen.