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March 7, 2025

Trending This Week: Spreading Rumors, A.I. for Wildlife Identification, and Confession Forums

A serious rumor about a college student is floating around TikTok and students are creating “confession accounts” on Instagram that allow users to share thoughts about their peers anonymously. Meanwhile, Google released SpeciesNet – an A.I. model that is enhancing wildlife academics and research. 

From Google releasing A.I. that can have a positive impact on student learning to social media confession accounts and TikTok rumors, digital trends are constantly shifting. That’s where we come in—we keep you informed on the latest student trends and equip you with the tools to help students think critically, make healthy decisions, and use technology responsibly. Together, we can empower students to surround themselves with positive role models, harness tech for good, and cyberback one another when challenges arise.

A harmful rumor circulating on TikTok highlights the importance of fact-checking sources

The Gist: Last week, a college student at Ole Miss became the face of contentious claims after what she says are partially and wholly edited screenshots, fake A.I.-generated videos, and manipulated photographs went viral on TikTok. The harmful rumor has resulted in extreme amounts of cyberbullying targeted toward the individuals involved and their friends and families. As a result, the families have filed a police report with campus police, local law enforcement, and the FBI. 

What to Know: The latest news on TikTok or Instagram may seem credible on the surface, but that’s not always the case. This is an important reminder for both adults and students to verify their sources and consider different perspectives before believing or sharing information that could potentially harm someone. 

And there’s good news! Students are learning and putting their fact-checking skills to real-life use. Bella Otte, a student at the Academy of Holy Names, is a teen fact checker for a digital newsroom run by MediaWise. This initiative, which is based at the Poynter Institute, empowers students to separate fact from fiction in a series that fact-checks popular TikTok videos. Through social media posts, the Teen Fact Checkers educate their peers on what needs to be considered when consuming information online.

TSI’s Take: When presented with information online, especially about a popular topic, it can be tricky for students to figure out what is true or not. Fact-checking sources is an important skill that is necessary in all parts of life – not just social media. How can we empower students to look beyond the headlines to form their own opinions and to surround themselves with credible sources and role models?  Here are a few strategies to guide students:

  • Ask why someone made the content – is it trying to teach you something or convince you of something else?
  • Learn about what A.I. can and cannot do so that it can’t trick you
  • Check to see if multiple credible websites say the same thing

Want to learn more about how to help students check their sources? Check out these #WinAtSocial Lessons by The Social Institute: 

A.I. for Good – Google launches A.I. tool that can help further scientific research into animals

The Gist: Google has released its newest A.I. model: SpeciesNet! This new technology is designed to identify animal species by analyzing photos from camera traps, which automatically take pictures when animals move. Researchers around the world use these camera traps as a valuable source of insight into wildlife populations. SpeciesNet will be an incredible tool for the academic space with its ability to classify images into one of more than 2,000 species labels. With this new tool, students will be able to take their science learning and projects to the next level!

What to Know: Many of the news headlines about A.I. often focus on its potential risks and challenges, highlighting concerns like job loss or privacy issues. But it’s important to remember that A.I. can be used for good, too! It can help us solve complex problems, improve efficiency, and, when used correctly, create a more connected and informed world. Technologies like SpeciesNet are awesome learning tools that can enhance education by making learning more interactive and data-driven. 

Last year, college students around the country formed teams and entered a competition that required them to use A.I to solve real-world problems. Penn State sent six teams, and their combined results awarded them $17,000 to continue to develop their projects. These projects covered a wide range of topics, including a program to minimize college expenses and degree completion time, a system to track invasive insect species that are hurting ecosystems, a recipe generator based on dietary restrictions and preferred cuisines, and an interactive storytelling tool that immerses young students in learning. 

TSI’s Take: Because A.I. is a relatively new technology, it’s easy to harp on the dangers it poses. However, it’s important to consider all of the amazing things it can do too! As educators, you can help students understand how A.I. works and how to use it responsibly. Rather than scare them away from it, we can empower and equip them with the skills they need to use their technology for good. 

Want to learn more about how to help students use A.I. responsibly? Check out these #WinAtSocial Lessons by The Social Institute: 

Are students using anonymous confession forums to cyberbully one another? 

The Gist: Middle school and high school students are coming across “confession accounts” on social media. These accounts are anonymous pages or profiles where people can post secrets, personal stories, or confessions, and they are usually specific to local communities (like schools). Students use these as an opportunity to anonymously share thoughts with their classmates, which often turns into cyberbullying. How can we turn this experience into a positive one and encourage students to cyberback (rather than cyberbully) each other?

What to Know: Confession accounts are popular worldwide and have become a source of concern for school communities due to the polarizing content that is often found on them. Any student on social media can make an anonymous account for their school. These accounts are often named after the school, followed by “_confessions,” so no one knows who is actually making the posts. From there, students can submit their stories, secrets, or opinions through a form or direct message, and it will be posted to the account anonymously. Followers and viewers can then like, comment on, or share the posts. 

One student in Pakistan shared her experience with these accounts: she found her commute route and address had been leaked on her school’s confession page. Despite her private information being posted, she couldn’t do anything about it because the individual who posted it did so anonymously. When something like this happens, it poses a number of challenges and dangers to students, including the spread of misinformation, cyberbullying and harassment, mental health impacts, privacy violations, and broken trust. 

TSI’s Take: As educators, we have the opportunity to equip students with skills that help them make high-character decisions online and offline. This includes empowering them to cyberback. Rather than use social media to hurt people’s feelings, we can encourage students to back each other up with positivity and encouragement. Here are a few strategies to guide students:

  • Control your mindset – if someone is saying hurtful things about you, it’s often because they have their own struggles
  • Confide in an adult you trust, whether that be a teacher, parent, or guardian
  • Standing up for someone is the right thing to do and makes you a leader
  • If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t post it

Want to learn more about how to help students cyberback? Check out these #WinAtSocial Lessons by The Social Institute: 

Helping students Find Their Influencers, use technology for good, and Cyberback one another

As educators, we can help students to navigate everyday scenarios – online and offline – in healthy ways. When we empower them to do so, they are more likely to use tech for good, like exploring new species with Google’s new technology, and less likely to make mistakes, like participating in confession accounts or spreading misinformation and rumors. 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 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.