From fake floods to TikTok tourism, social media is influencing students’ news, health, and travel
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How to help students navigate medical misinformation and sensationalized tragedies
The Gist: Recent floods in India and Pakistan displaced thousands, but many of the most dramatic flood videos circulating online turned out to be A.I.-generated or recycled from past disasters. At the same time, TikTok is managing claims that it is fueling an “infodemic” of health misinformation, from misleading ADHD “tests” to dangerous DIY cures. These stories highlight how quickly falsehoods spread online and how important it is to equip students with the skills to sort fact from fiction.
What to Know: News outlets confirmed that some of the most viral clips, such as trains trapped in rising water or helicopters rescuing stranded passengers, were A.I. creations. Other posts recycled old flood footage from past events in Iran and Australia, miscaptioned as “breaking news.” Similarly, medical misinformation and falsehoods are spreading on TikTok, with research finding that about half of ADHD related TikToks are misleading. And false health content about cancer cures and weight loss drugs often outpace accurate medical guidance. These examples show how algorithms reward novelty, not accuracy, making it easier for dramatic falsehoods to go viral.
TSI’s Take: By equipping students to identify A.I.-generated content and spot misinformation, educators can help students navigate A.I. and social media apps with confidence. Modern life skills like critical thinking help students question sources and cross-check claims with a trusted source. Educators can even introduce prebunking strategies that teach students the tricks used in misleading posts before they encounter them. When students understand how misinformation spreads, they are better prepared to lead conversations with facts and use their voices to slow the spread of falsehoods. Ready to help students stop the spread of misinformation? Share these strategies with your students today:
- If a fact seems sensationalized, double-check it against a credible source
- Teach the ‘Sift” strategy for spotting misinformation: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace the claim to its original source
- Teach prebunking techniques that help students recognize misinformation before it spreads
As A.I. tools become more powerful and misinformation spreads faster, students need skills that help them stay grounded in truth. Schools have an opportunity to coach young people to question what they see, check their sources, and practice critical thinking in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. Interested in a positive approach to helping students navigate misinformation and A.I.-generated content? Preview the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Vetting videos and articles online to make sure they’re real.
TikTok Tourism: Turning Viral Visits Into Positive Impact
The Gist: In England, the picturesque village of Bourton on the Water has been overwhelmed recently by TikTok tourists flocking to film content at this now-viral village. Local leaders worry about litter, congestion, and the rise of “fast tourism,” where people come for clicks instead of culture. Still, the attention reveals how one viral video can put a small town on the global map and offers lessons in responsible content creation.
What to Know: Officials report that the surge of visitors has left residents frustrated, especially when tourism brings trash, traffic, and occasional tension with locals. Streets and public spaces that were once quiet and manageable now feel crowded, and small communities struggle to accommodate the surge of people eager to capture viral content.
Yet, there is another side to the story. Tourism also provides meaningful economic benefits, supporting local businesses, artisans, and restaurants that rely on visitors to thrive. Beyond commerce, these viral moments can shine a global spotlight on the community’s beauty, history, and culture that may have previously gone unnoticed outside of the region.
How can we strike a balance so that social media can be leveraged to attract visitors in ways that respect residents, preserve local traditions, and benefit the community, while still fostering excitement and global awareness? By encouraging students to think critically about the impact of viral content on communities and cultures, students can understand how online actions have real-world consequences and opportunities.
TSI’s Take: Instead of seeing TikTok tourism as only negative, schools can use it as an opportunity to help students think critically about their digital footprint. How can they represent places online with respect and empathy, while also discovering new communities and experiences? What responsibilities come with going viral? Educators can help students use their mics for good to highlight culture, support communities, and build meaningful connections through social media. Here are a few tips to get started:
- Huddle with your students on how content creation impacts communities
- Share examples of positive digital storytelling that benefit local businesses and cultures
- Encourage empathy by asking students how they would want their own community to be represented online
Social media can shine a spotlight on hidden gems and amplify local voices when used thoughtfully. By teaching students to see themselves as digital leaders, schools can help them use their platforms not just for clicks but to strengthen communities and foster meaningful connections. Ready to start equipping students today? Preview the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Reflecting our values in the content we share or consume.
WhatsApp’s Privacy Upgrade: Students in the Driver’s Seat
The Gist: WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, recently released a new “Advanced Chat Privacy” feature. But instead of helping people feel more secure, it is sparking confusion. Posts have gone viral that falsely claim that Meta A.I. can read private conversations unless the new setting is enabled. In reality, chats remain encrypted, and the new feature simply adds extra controls for users to manage how their information is shared.
What to Know: Advanced Chat Privacy allows users to block the ability to export chats, prevent automatic media downloads, and disable certain Meta A.I. features. By default, it is off, and anyone in a group chat can turn it on or off unless the group admin locks permissions. While the feature does not change the fact that regular chats are end-to-end encrypted, it does provide more control over how conversations and media are managed, making it harder for entire chat histories to be saved or shared without consent.
TSI’s Take: For students, this is a powerful reminder that privacy does not just happen automatically; it requires action. Schools can coach students to treat digital privacy like they would physical safety drills: regular, practical, and empowering. By showing students how to use tools like Advanced Chat Privacy and explaining why these settings matter, educators give them the skills to take ownership of their personal information. When students practice protecting their privacy, they gain both safety and confidence, learning to lead their tech lives instead of letting technology lead them. To encourage online privacy skills, educators can:
- Walk students through privacy settings on messaging apps and explain what they do
- Role-play scenarios where students practice making privacy choices in group chats
- Emphasize that privacy is not about fear, but about gaining confidence and control
When students understand and practice digital privacy, they are better prepared to take control of their online interactions. By normalizing these conversations in schools, educators can empower students to build strong habits that will protect them now and in the future. If you’re looking for proactive ways to huddle with your students about online privacy, preview the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Polishing your privacy settings on go-to apps, browsers, & devices.
From fake floods and fast tourism to new privacy tools, how will you meet the moment to empower students to navigate social media trends in positive ways? As educators, we have the power to turn these trends into teachable opportunities. By huddling with students on how to question viral content, represent communities with respect, and take charge of their privacy, educators can help them practice modern life skills that matter far beyond the classroom. Ready to dive in? Request a demo of The Social Institute’s positive and proactive approach to teaching these life skills.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students, families, and educators with modern life skills to impact learning, well-being, and students’ futures. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we integrate teacher PD, family resources, student voice insights, and more to empower entire school communities to make positive choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes, incorporating timely topics such as social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in supporting student health, happiness, and academic success.