Instagram gets hacked, the teacher-student divide, and what Connecticut’s new law means for schools

A.I. isn’t waiting for schools to catch up. Here’s what happened this week — and what educators can do about it.

• Instagram’s A.I. support tool was exploited to hijack user accounts, exposing the limits of platform protections.
• New research shows most teachers believe A.I. will transform education — but most haven’t received any training on how to guide students through it.
• Connecticut just became one of the first states to require A.I. literacy instruction in public schools.

The Gist

Earlier this month, several Instagram users woke up to find their accounts were hacked. It wasn’t from a phishing link or a stolen password, but by Meta’s A.I. chatbot. Attackers appeared to be able to trick the A.I.-powered support assistant into adding a new email address to an Instagram account and resetting its password. The incident is a reminder that even the platforms students trust most can have blind spots. That’s why protecting your privacy isn’t just a tech platform’s responsibility. It’s a skill students need to build for themselves so they can make informed decisions, protect their personal information, and navigate social media with confidence.

What to Know

According to a TechCrunch report, hackers found a way to trick Meta’s A.I.-powered support assistant into helping them gain access to Instagram accounts they didn’t own. In some cases, they were able to add a new email address to an account, reset the password, and take over the account.

High-profile accounts were among those affected, including the inactive Obama-era White House Instagram handle, and the account of a U.S. Space Force official. While Instagram has fixed the issue, the incident highlights an important reality: as A.I. tools take on bigger roles in the apps and platforms students use every day, they’re not always able to catch mistakes or prevent bad actors from taking advantage of them. For educators, this story offers a timely opportunity to talk with students about privacy, account security, and how A.I. is increasingly shaping their online experiences.

TSI’s Take

When students are equipped with the skills to protect their privacy, they’re better prepared to navigate social media, respond to challenges online, and make informed decisions about their personal information. Educators can help students build these habits by:

• Encouraging students to regularly audit their account security settings, including turning on two-factor authentication.
• Opening a conversation about how A.I. tools can be manipulated, and helping students understand that even “official” support systems can have vulnerabilities.
• Teaching students what to do when something goes wrong: stop, screenshot, and talk to an adult before taking action.

Help students take ownership of their digital security with the #WinAtSocial Lesson, A.I. and Our Personal Data, where students learn about the benefits and risks of sharing personal data.

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The Gist

Nearly 3 in 4 K-12 teachers believe A.I. will have a bigger impact on education than the internet or computers, but only about 4 in 10 say their school has offered any training on it at all. That gap is showing up in classrooms. More than half of teachers say A.I. is making it harder for students to develop critical thinking skills, and nearly 6 in 10 say it’s eroding trust between students and teachers. As a new school year approaches, schools have a powerful opportunity to get ahead of the confusion and build a shared foundation before it becomes the norm.

What to Know

The NPR/Ipsos poll of 545 K-12 teachers paints a picture of educators who see A.I.’s potential but feel underprepared to guide students through it. Only 15% of students say they’ve received enough instruction on how to use A.I. appropriately, while nearly half of teachers say their school hasn’t provided clear guidance either.

But new research from Oxford University Press adds important nuance. In a survey of nearly 4,000 teenagers, nearly three-quarters of students who had access to an A.I. tool during a writing exercise chose not to use it. A third only use A.I. for homework when a teacher suggests it. And 73% identified specific skills their teachers have that A.I. can never replace, like empathy, personability, and human understanding among them.

TSI’s Take

The encouraging news from both studies is that students aren’t looking for A.I. to replace their educators. They’re looking for guidance on how to use it responsibly. And so are their educators. As a new school year begins, we have an opportunity to move the conversation beyond “Can students use A.I.?” and toward “How can students navigate it thoughtfully, responsibly, and in ways that support their learning?”

You can help build that foundation by:

• Co-creating expectations with students: Start the year by huddling with students about when A.I. can support learning, when it crosses a line, and how those decisions connect to school values.
• Teaching students to think with A.I., not for them: Encourage students to question, verify, and reflect on A.I.-generated content rather than accepting it at face value.
• Highlighting the human skills that matter most: Use discussions about A.I. to reinforce the qualities students themselves say technology can’t replace, including empathy, communication, judgment, and human connection.

Explore the #WinAtSocial Lesson, School Tech Policies: Devices, A.I., and Beyond, to help students understand what responsible A.I. use looks and build the habits that will help them all year.

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The Gist

Connecticut is taking a major step toward helping students navigate A.I. responsibly. A new law signed on June 2 requires public schools to include instruction on computer science, A.I., and emerging technologies, while also creating new training opportunities for educators and additional online protections for students. The new legislation reflects a growing belief that A.I. Literacy belongs alongside other essential skills students develop in school. As A.I. becomes more common in academics and our everyday lives, students need guidance on how to navigate it responsibly and effectively.

What to Know

According to GovTech, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Connecticut public schools will be required to provide instruction in computer science, including A.I. and emerging technologies. The law does not require a standalone A.I. course for every student, but it does require exposure at some point in a student’s academic career.

The legislation also includes new protections for minors online, including limits on late-night social media notifications, default daily time limits on social media use, and safeguards designed to prevent A.I. chatbots from fostering unhealthy emotional relationships with young people. In addition, the state is launching a Connecticut A.I. Academy that will provide training and resources for students, educators, and school leaders, while helping prepare students for an A.I.-enabled workforce.

Perhaps most notably, the law recognizes that preparing students for a future shaped by A.I. requires supporting educators, too. By investing in both student learning and educator training, Connecticut is signaling that A.I. Literacy is becoming an important part of how schools prepare students for life, learning, and work.

TSI’s Take

Connecticut’s new law recognizes something many educators are already experiencing: helping students navigate A.I. starts with giving educators the tools and confidence to guide those conversations. While legislation can create momentum, schools don’t need to wait for a mandate to start building the skills students need to navigate A.I. responsibly.

Educators can take meaningful steps right now by:

• Making A.I. visible: Help students identify where A.I. already shows up in the apps, tools, and platforms they use every day.
• Connecting A.I. to future readiness: Explore how A.I. is changing careers, workplaces, and the skills students will need beyond graduation.
• Building confidence through exploration: Create opportunities for students to discuss, test, and reflect on A.I. tools in a safe and supportive environment.

Help students learn to navigate A.I. with intention and purpose through the #WinAtSocial Lesson, A.I. That Works for Us, where students explore how to play to their core while navigating the opportunities and pressures A.I. brings into their lives.

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Hackers are exploiting the A.I. tools students trust. Educators are figuring it out alongside their students. Lawmakers are turning A.I. literacy into a requirement. The schools that will get ahead aren’t waiting — they’re building the skills before they’re needed and helping students understand that navigating A.I. confidently is one of the most important things they can learn right now.