Trending This Week: A.I. Generated Instagram Comments, $19 Strawberries, and a student social media experiment goes viral
Key points summarized
|
Instagram recently introduced a new A.I. tool that can generate captions and comments. Meanwhile, a single strawberry is selling for $19 and is the source of trending content on TikTok, and UNC Chapel Hill is going viral for fostering positivity among its student body. What does this mean for students, and how can we guide them through it all? Let’s dive in.
Could A.I.-generated Instagram comments interfere with real human connection online?
The Gist: Social media is meant to connect people, whether they are sharing pictures and videos, sending messages, or commenting on posts. However, could a new Instagram feature take away the human aspect of social media? Instagram recently released an A.I. tool that allows users to let A.I. create captions and comments for them, similar to what we see with suggested responses in emails and Google Gemini.
What to Know: There are two sides to consider when thinking about the implications of A.I.-generated comments. A 2021 study found that 83% of participants reported the primary reason they use social media is to stay connected to friends and family. Could A.I.-generated comments interfere with this real human connection online? On the other hand, many students feel that an important part of their friendships is to leave meaningful comments on each other’s posts. This can be stressful to keep up with. Could A.I. comments alleviate some of that pressure to always have something meaningful or funny to say?
In her blog, student Taylor Kissinger reflects on having to re-acclimate to social media expectations within friendships after taking a long break from the internet for a semester at sea. She notes how her brother threatened to unfriend her after losing their Snapchat streak (a title achieved for snapping someone for at least three days in a row) and how she’s pretty sure he was only “semi-joking.” One of her friends also became offended when Taylor didn’t comment on her Instagram post after liking it, especially when the friend had commented on Taylor’s last post. As these unspoken expectations are common among students and beyond, how do we find the line between genuine connection and the pressure to keep up?
TSI’s Take: While this new feature could help generate ideas, it may interfere with our ability to be authentic with those around us. It’s also a good rule of thumb to always review anything that A.I. generates for you to avoid saying something that doesn’t align with your values. A.I. can be a great tool, but we should prioritize real interactions whenever possible. Want to learn more about how to help students handle the pressure? Check out the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Overcoming the fear of missing out on texts, apps, and time with friends.
A $19 strawberry is viral on TikTok – and highlights the importance of students surrounding themselves with positive influencers online
The Gist: Erewhon, an upscale grocery store in Los Angeles, California, is selling a single strawberry from Japan for $19. The gimmick: “It’s the best strawberry you’ve ever eaten.” Influencers are posting videos trying it, which has created a whirlwind of honest reviews, not-so-honest reviews, pranks, and parodies.
What to Know: According to some content creators, this strawberry might actually be worth $19. The berries come individually packaged from a luxury Japanese fruit vendor in Kyoto, Japan, and are known for being super sweet and having a heart-shaped profile when cut down the middle. While some influencers think the price is worth it, others aren’t so sure. Some influencers admit that the strawberry is delicious, but they also acknowledge that the price tag isn’t necessarily justified.
Influencers are always pushing the next “it” products for viewers to buy – just like this $19 strawberry. In this case, they are likely incentivized to post about it because the strawberry is a popular topic that will get them lots of views and maybe even more money. However, they also push products through sponsorships, where brands pay them to advertise to their followers. Influencers who constantly review expensive products (that many students can’t afford) can foster unrealistic expectations, jealousy, and financial pressure among their followers.
TSI’s Take: With an online space where anything can be posted (real or fake), it’s important that students find positive influencers to surround themselves with. Rather than focus on accounts that prioritize their own profits, we can empower students to find creators that post real, helpful, inspiring, and uplifting content.
Here are a few strategies to guide students:
- Encourage critical thinking: Remind students to ask themselves: “Is this influencer promoting products just to make money?”
- Highlight positive role models: Share examples of creators who inspire happiness, resilience, or fun hobbies, and how these things are beneficial to students
- Emphasize the power of unfollowing: Show students how much power there is in curating a feed that makes them feel GOOD, rather than insecure
Want to learn more about how to help students find their influencers? Preview the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Recognizing how much we’re influenced by online influencers.
UNC-Chapel Hill is going viral for a campus-wide video encouraging student connection through positivity
The Gist: At UNC-Chapel Hill, a group of students set out to spread positivity by setting up a microphone and camera in the heart of campus with a prompt that said, “Tell me something good that happened today.” One by one, students stepped up to share their moments of joy, no matter how small. Their words were shared in a captivating video that went viral, reaching over 5 million views.
What to Know: This simple social media experiment that invited students to share something good about their day demonstrates how authenticity and simplicity resonate online. By providing a space for students to be authentic and unscripted, the initiative engaged millions online and reinforced a sense of belonging and connection. The overwhelming response is a good reminder to students to build a community, both online and offline, around authenticity rather than highly curated content.
As educators, we can learn from this viral moment as well: technology in schools can go beyond instruction and announcements. It can amplify student voices and build meaningful relationships. When used with intention, social media can create an inclusive, supportive environment that celebrates the small wins of student life. By embracing authenticity, schools can harness technology to strengthen communities and school culture.
TSI’s Take: This student-led initiative is just one example of students using their mics for good and is a reminder that technology isn’t just for entertainment. It can be a tool for spreading positivity, building community, and amplifying student voices. Imagine how your school’s culture could benefit by integrating this approach and empowering students to create content that inspires and connects, rather than tear down or hurt others.
Here are a few strategies to empower students to use social media positively:
- Create your own “Positivity Mic” Project: Set up a standing mic in the classroom or at school events where students can share good news or express gratitude. Use the recordings to create a class podcast or a schoolwide social media campaign.
- Encourage Thoughtful Storytelling: Teach students to craft messages that uplift, inform, or inspire their audience. Have them analyze examples of viral content to understand what makes an authentic and meaningful impact.
- Promote Digital Responsibility: Discuss the ethical implications of using microphones and social media. Encourage students to consider how their words affect others and to use their voices to create safe, inclusive, and constructive conversations.
Want to learn more about how to help students use their mics for good? Check out the Use Your Mic For Good #WinAtSocial Lesson, Promoting student wellness and self-care at our school.
Helping students handle the pressure of social media, find inspiring influencers, and use their mics to spread positivity and foster connections within their school community
As educators, we get to help students make high-character decisions online and offline. When we equip students with the tools they need to be well-informed consumers of media, we can empower them to handle the pressure of social media and authentic human interaction, curate their feeds with content that makes them feel inspired, and foster connections through the spread of positivity. Want to help students sharpen their digital instincts and take control of their online world? Stay ahead of the latest trends impacting students by subscribing to The Huddle — our expert breakdown of social media, tech, and current events shaping students — online and offline.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students to navigate learning & well-being in a tech-fueled world. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we empower students, educators, and families to make high-character 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.