How students can navigate misinformation in the wake of deepfake political content generated by AI
Be sure to check out the NEW #WinAtSocial LIVE Lesson that empowers students to Navigate the first US election where AI tools can create false content that seems real.
The World Economic Forum recently ranked “misinformation and disinformation” as the greatest global risk for the next two years– specifically concerning the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in disrupting election outcomes. AI tools can generate misleading videos, images, and messages of other candidates doing or saying things that never happened. For example, Republican presidential candidate Ron Desantis used AI to make a video of former President Trump and former Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci embracing each other without a disclaimer stating the interaction in the video was made by AI. Having a disclaimer that a campaign post has AI-generated content is essential for viewers so they’re aware that what was shown or said may not be real and, therefore not a reliable source of information.
As political information starts to make its way onto social media this election season, it’s essential that students are equipped with the skills to discern fact from fiction. As many high school seniors are first-time voters in 2024, educators can empower students to follow reliable influencers online and navigate the role of misinformation.
How concerned should we be about AI’s impact on elections?
According to a new poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and AP-NORC research, 58% of adults are concerned about candidates using AI to increase the spread of false information during the 2024 presidential election. With no federal rules for AI use in political campaigns, viewers are left to discern the truth of election ads for themselves. And with the current advancements in AI technology, developing fake ads and testimonials is now easier than ever before.
For high school seniors, first-time voters this year, and younger students seeing political content online for the first time, taking false ads as fact can lead to uninformed decision-making. This is something to look out for because if large groups of students make poor voting decisions or further spread misinformation, they may elect officials that do not work in their best interest, negatively impacting them in the long run.
Carolina Klint, Chief Commercial Officer for Europe at consultancy Marsh McLennan, discusses concerns for political content on social media, warning that “AI can build models for influencing large populations of voters in a way that we haven’t seen before.” With a Stanford Study finding more than 80% of the 7,800 students they surveyed vulnerable to fake news, there is significant concern among adults that student voters will be swayed in elections by misinformation and disinformation on social media.
As we inch closer to the next federal election, educators play an important role in equipping students with the skills to find reliable influencers and navigate misinformation so they’re empowered to make smart, responsible decisions that impact their futures and those around them.
Helping students navigate political misinformation
Since AI contributing to misinformation is a relatively new global concern, fairly few regulations are in place to help students avoid false information online. Washington State, California, and Michigan have laws requiring candidates to disclose if they create inauthentic content to depict other candidates falsely. Congress also has 4 acts that require disclaimers on AI-generated political content, but none of these acts prevent a politician from using AI to promote misinformation. These are the AI Disclosure Act of 2023, the AI Labeling Act of 2023, the REAL Political Advertisement Act, and the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act.
Since the regulations focus on disclosure instead of prevention, we need to equip students to evaluate the political content they see carefully. That means looking for disclaimers and signs that an ad is AI-generated, as not all politicians may put a disclaimer despite it being the law. For educators, empowering your class to navigate political misinformation is important for creating responsible decision-makers and successful adults.
Here are some ways educators can help their students navigate misinformation and disinformation while finding positive influencers to follow:
- Remind students to look for unnatural movements and qualities in political videos: Since there is no requirement to use disclaimers on AI-generated political ads, it’s important for students to look for signs that a video ad or testimonial isn’t real. This could be deviations in someone’s voice, unnatural imagery, or computer-generated human movements. The Better Business Bureau also provides even more tips and examples for spotting AI, such as the image below:
Source: Pablo Xavier
- Encourage students to fact-check the information they see from influencers: A great way for students to do this is to see if multiple news sources back up the information they see on social media. If other sources aren’t promoting the same information, tell students they should unfollow the account or report the post for misinformation.
- Share fact-checking tools with your students: Introduce students to fact-checking websites and tools that can help them verify the accuracy of information. Fact-checkers like Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact can be valuable resources.
- Promote the importance of Media Literacy in the classroom: Huddle with students on the impact of social media on our well-being and discuss the importance of recognizing and reporting misinformation. When students are empowered to make responsible decisions in the classroom, they’re empowered to make them online.
Equipping students to navigate misinformation is bigger than empowering them to make smart choices online. It’s part of a larger picture where students have strong decision-making and critical thinking skills. As educators, we can build up these traits in our students. In #WinAtSocial’s new LIVE lesson, Navigating the first US election where AI tools can create false content that seems real, we empower to understand the impact of AI-generated political content and understand strategies to identify it and so much more.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
While AI can be an excellent tool for generating images and videos that before we could only describe with words, politicians have begun to use AI to create misleading political videos. This is an issue for students, especially first-time voters this year because these videos could convince us to make uninformed decisions that may negatively impact ourselves and others. It’s essential that students can spot AI-generated misinformation and not spread it. So, how can you tell if a post contains AI-generated misinformation, and what do you do if you see it? Do you report the post? Block the account? Share what you would do in this situation.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.