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Trending This Week: Students and A.I. fighting cybercrimes, being “very online,” and the Chipotle bankruptcy rumor

From college students using A.I. to strengthen cybersecurity to K-12 students sorting facts from fiction online about a favorite TexMex chain, technology is reshaping how young people learn, connect, and engage with the world. Keeping up with these changes can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here to support you with expert strategies for fact-checking, critical thinking, and fostering meaningful digital interactions. By helping students build A.I. literacy alongside these essential skills, we can prepare them to navigate their online world responsibly and become future-ready leaders in a tech-driven society.

How students are helping universities in the fight against cybercrime

The Gist: Universities frequently face attacks from cybercriminals, facing challenges such as hacking, identity theft, and data breaches. However, they have new secret weapons in the fight against cybercrime—Microsoft’s new generative A.I. tool and their students. Universities and colleges across the U.S. are hiring students to be analysts while implementing A.I.-powered programs from Microsoft. These efforts strengthen college security operations centers while empowering students to use A.I. for good and gain valuable hands-on experience.

What to Know: Universities are often at the center of cybercriminals’ attention because they store vast amounts of sensitive information, including the personal data of students and faculty, financial records, intellectual property, and research. Universities are experiencing a significant increase in cyberattacks, and according to Check Point Research, they faced an average of 3,086 cyberattack attempts per week in 2024. 

Universities like Oregon State University, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee are enhancing their security operations centers while creating future-ready students by teaching them to use A.I. in real-world settings. Students help full-time employees analyze incident reports, investigate suspicious activity, and combat cyber threats. Students are trained to use A.I. programs, such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender XDR, to identify and eliminate cyber threats automatically. 

TSI’s Take: A.I. is here to stay. Whether it is ChatGPT or more complicated cybersecurity A.I., students need to learn about it as they navigate an ever-evolving world of technology. While it’s inspiring to see universities across the U.S. demonstrating how students can utilize generative A.I. programs for good, we don’t have to wait until students get to college to help them build these skills.

Here’s how K-12 educators can prepare students for a future of A.I.:

• Encourage students to use A.I. to brainstorm ideas, summarize readings, or generate practice questions, but require them to analyze and refine the output rather than copying it.
• Incorporate discussions on A.I. ethics, bias, and misinformation into classroom activities. Challenge students to cross-check A.I.-generated responses with credible sources before using them.
• When students ask A.I. for an answer, prompt them to explain why it’s correct and how they reached their conclusion.

Want to learn more about how to help students protect their privacy? Check out this trending #WinAtSocial Lessons by The Social Institute: Protecting our personal information from A.I.

The age of being “very online” is very over

The Gist: A few years ago, different internet memes, jokes, and trends were exclusive to small groups of people who considered themselves “very online.” But it’s harder to make that claim today. Social media is an integral part of students’ lives, with 95% actively engaged on these platforms and half online “almost constantly.” Despite the widespread use of social media, many students struggle to connect with like-minded groups or friends. Why? The increase in sponsored and suggested content on social media could have something to do with it.

What to Know: Instagram’s algorithm recommends content and posts based on user engagement, but with 1 in 5 posts being ads, many users feel like their feeds are overrun with sponsored content rather than what they actually enjoy or their friends’ posts. While people still spend a significant amount of time online, the increasing presence of ads and algorithm-driven recommendations makes it harder to connect with like-minded individuals and build meaningful connections. 

Having genuine conversations and building meaningful communities with friends is becoming increasingly challenging, especially for students. However, educators can help students navigate their changing social landscapes by equipping them with the knowledge of how algorithms function and encouraging them to foster meaningful connections while striking a balance between online and offline activities. 

TSI’s Take: With a growing number of ads and suggested posts pushed by algorithms, online interactions can feel less personal and less focused on the content that students genuinely enjoy. Educators can help students build meaningful connections online by equipping them with the skills to understand their online habits and balance online and offline activities.

Here are some tips that educators can implement in the classroom:

• Share the Screen Time Pyramid: While passive viewing, such as scrolling on social media, is one form of technology use, there are many more invigorating and beneficial ways students navigate social media. The Social Institute’s Screen Time Pyramid shows that not all screen time is created equal and how students can balance time online to connect, socialize, learn, and relax.
• Promote offline activities: Encourage students to engage in offline activities that promote physical and mental well-being. Emphasize the importance of hobbies, sports, and spending time in nature. Provide opportunities for students to unplug and recharge away from screens.
• Ask students for advice on striking a balance: Huddle with your class on the advice from students to strike a balance. Afterward, educators can amplify student voices by asking for their advice.

Want to learn more about how to help students navigate social media use? Check out this #WinAtSocial Lessons by The Social Institute: Dealing with screens during the day: What do you do?

Is Chipotle Closing? The importance of fact-checking as posts go viral

The Gist: Last week, a trending social media post claimed that Chipotle Mexican Grill was filing for bankruptcy and closing all its locations this year. Many users took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their disappointment over the alleged closures. Chipotle confirmed that this rumor is false. Instead, the fast-food chain is shutting down its investment, Farmesa Fresh, to focus on opening more Chipotle restaurants. This rumor is just one example of how fast misinformation can spread online, especially when posts gain traction through engagement and shares before being fact-checked. While students are digital natives, a recent study from Common Sense Media reveals that over a third of teens have been misled by fake content online.

What to Know: Rumors about Chipotle closing quickly spread across social media platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok. Posts claiming the popular Mexican chain was shutting down gained significant traction, especially among students. Although the rumors were false, this illustrates how rapidly misinformation can circulate, with posts on X reaching thousands of views. 

Nearly all students use the internet daily, and viral posts can easily mislead them, especially when they come from trusted influencers. About half of Gen Z students say they get their news on their social media feeds. To complicate matters even more, A.I.-generated false articles increased by more than 1000% in 2023. And 67% of educators believe that A.I. has misled their students, highlighting the importance of equipping students with the modern literacy skills they need to think critically about online content.

TSI’s Take: Social media and technology play a crucial role in students’ lives, and these platforms are here to stay. Rather than scaring and restricting students from these tools, educators can equip them with modern literacy and critical thinking skills, enabling them to fact-check the information they encounter online and identify misinformation. The most effective way to ensure students do not spread harmful misinformation is to encourage them to do a quick online search. 

Here are some tips that educators can share with students on spotting the difference between authentic and A.I.-driven content:

• Details, details, details: Look at an image very closely. Are hands missing any fingers? Does the image look airbrushed, as if a filter was applied? These tell that it might be A.I.-generated.
• Weird movements or expressions: If the person in the video seems jerky or stiff, or if you observe strange facial expressions, look closer. A.I. isn’t good at creating the small, detailed ways our bodies move.
• Fact Check: If a post or article makes a specific claim, always do a quick search to see if it’s true. Pro Tip: Use the Ad Fontes Media Bias Chart to check that the information you find comes from a reliable and trustworthy source.

Interested in learning more about teaching students to navigate misinformation? Check this #WinAtSocial Lesson by The Social Institute: Vetting videos and articles online to make sure they’re real.

Creating future-ready students by empowering them to use A.I. for good, build meaningful connections, and identify misinformation 

As educators, we have the responsibility to prepare students for their futures, empowering them to navigate their social environments positively. By equipping students with tools to engage critically with their social worlds, we can empower them to harness the power of A.I. to protect their communities, foster meaningful connections, and become skilled researchers ready to tackle the future of A.I. and social media. Want to help students build the skills they need to take control of their digital lives? Stay updated on the latest trends affecting 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.