How to Spot Phishing Emails Becomes a Mandatory High School Class as AI-Driven Scams Surge in 2029
In a landmark move, the U.S. Department of Education announced today that "How to Spot Phishing Emails" will be a required, graded component of the national digital literacy curriculum starting next fall. The decision comes after a record-breaking 17 billion phishing attempts were blocked globally in the last quarter alone, with AI-generated, error-free scams now duping even cybersecurity experts. Educators revealed that the new coursework will train students to identify deepfake voice notes embedded in emails and spot "zero-day" psychological triggers, which scammers are now tailoring using stolen social media data. With ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure up 800% since 2026, one futurist warned: "Within five years, not knowing how to spot phishing emails will be as dangerous as not knowing how to cross the street." The move is already polarizing parents, who fear it formalizes the loss of digital privacy.