I almost got hacked too!

It started with a DM that looked harmless. My friend had received a message from someone she knew—a close friend, actually. The message said something like, “Hey! I just entered an art competition, can you vote for me?” with a link attached. It looked genuine. Why wouldn’t it be?

She clicked.

Within seconds, her Instagram account was locked. She was logged out, couldn’t get back in, and the same message started getting sent to her entire contact list, from her account. She called me immediately to warn me. A minute later, I received the same message, this time from her. Same wording. Same link.

I didn’t click.

Instead, I put up a story warning mutual friends not to click either, and she started the process of recovering her account.

This isn’t a post about blaming anyone. It’s more about how easy it is to fall for things that look familiar. We hear about phishing and scams, but most of us think of them as emails from some “King” or suspicious lottery messages. Not a casual DM from a friend you trust.

But that’s the thing: cyber threats aren’t always loud. Sometimes they wear the face of someone you know.

Digital literacy isn’t just about knowing how to use a phone or app—it’s about knowing what to trust. Clicking a link, logging in on a weird page, or giving access to one “harmless” browser extension can give someone control over your digital identity.

And recovery isn’t always easy. Social media platforms often take time to respond. In the meantime, the hacker might change your password, email, and even your recovery options.

We need to start treating our data and access like we treat our house keys. Would you give your house keys to a random person who said they were “sent by a friend”? Probably not.

So here’s what I learned:

• If something feels even a little off, it’s okay to pause.

• Always verify through a second channel. If you get a strange message, call or text the person directly.

• Use two-factor authentication.

• And never log in through random links. Go to the website or app directly.

  
  

Digital literacy starts with knowing how to protect yourself and then passing that awareness on to others.