Blog 5
AI and Social Media
AI is becoming a bigger part of education and social media, creating opportunities and challenges. It can help make learning more accessible by providing support, generating ideas, and helping find resources. However, it can also spread misinformation and make it easier for people to rely on technology without thinking for themselves.
One concern I was thinking about is how AI can create realistic images, videos, and posts that are spreading misinformation (I fall for these videos all the time). These can spread quickly on social media and influence public opinion because people are never really doing background checks on online sources; they just see it and believe it. The Media Literacy Week article highlights how important it is for people to question what they see online and think more about the sources they use and interact with.
Because of AI, media literacy is more important than ever. Students need to learn how to identify trustworthy sources, fact-check information, and recognize when content may have been created or changed using AI. A simple classroom activity could involve comparing real and AI-generated social media posts and discussing how to tell the difference. I myself have been getting a lot of AI video on my social media pages. I now have semi-gotten used to it, so I always check for an AI-generated label to be sure.
Privacy is another important issue. Educators need to think about whether online platforms are collecting personal information appropriately and whether students understand how their data is being used. Especially for young student I think there should be heavy guidelines set on how and when to use AI, otherwise this could lead to a violation of privacy and put students in danger!
I do think AI can be a useful tool when used responsibly, and more as a support, not a resilience. As a future teacher, I hope to help students develop the skills they need to learn without the use of AI, and use technology in a safe way
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