The 3C Rule For Families: Click, Check, Confirm (A Kid-Safe Definition Of Digital Literacy)

Introduction 🧠📱

Digital literacy isn’t “being good with gadgets”—it’s the thinking habit that helps kids decide what to trust, what to ignore, and what to ask about. In real life, misinformation spreads fast because our brains like quick, confident answers, especially when something feels surprising or emotional 😮⚡. The 3C Rule turns digital literacy into a simple routine your family can repeat anywhere: Click, Check, Confirm ✅.

The 3C Rule (Click, Check, Confirm) 🔁

Think of the internet like a giant mall: anyone can set up a “store,” and the signs can look professional even if the product is fake 🏬. The 3C Rule teaches kids to slow down, look for “store details,” and verify before they believe or share 🔍. You’re not teaching paranoia—you’re teaching proof 🧩.

How To Use 3C During Co-Viewing 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎥

Co-viewing works best when you model curiosity instead of judgment, because kids copy your tone as much as your rules 🙂. Keep it light and consistent: you’re building a reflex, not giving a lecture. The goal is progress—moving from “I saw it” to “I checked it” to “I confirmed it” 🌱.

Click: Pause Before Tapping ⏸️👆

Kid-friendly goal: “Stop for 3 seconds before you like, share, buy, or believe.”
Quick parent scripts:

• “Let’s do a 3-second pause—what’s this trying to make you feel?” 🤔
• “If it’s making us mad or shocked, we slow down extra.” 😤➡️⏸️
• “Before we share, we ask: would we bet our allowance on it?” 💸

Mini habit: Put a tiny rule on the family: No sharing on the first read 🚫🔁.

Check: Who Made This + Why + When 🧾🕵️‍♀️

Kid-friendly goal: “Find the maker, the reason, and the date.”
What to check together:

• Who: Is there an author, organization, or clear source name? 👤
• Why: Is it teaching, selling, persuading, or stirring drama for clicks? 🛒🎭
• When: Is it old, reposted, or missing a date? 🗓️

Quick parent scripts:

• “Who made this, and what do they get if we believe it?” 🎯
• “What would a fair source include—names, dates, details, or evidence?” 🧩
• “If it has no source or date, we treat it like a rumor.” 🗣️➡️❓

Confirm: Prove It With A Second Source (Or A Trusted Adult) ✅🔎

Kid-friendly goal: “One place says it, two places support it.”
Easy confirmation options:

• Check another independent source for the same claim 🧠
• Look for original evidence (full quote, full video, full study— not chopped clips) 🎬
• Ask an adult: “Can we verify this together?” 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Quick parent scripts:

• “What would prove this is real?” 🧪
• “If we can’t confirm it, we don’t repeat it.” 🚫📣
• “Let’s find the original, not the repost.” 🔁➡️📌

A 60-Second 3C Routine You Can Repeat Daily ⏱️🌟

• Click: Pause + name the feeling (surprised, angry, excited) 😮😡😁
• Check: Who/Why/When in one sentence 🧾
• Confirm: One more source or one adult check ✅