SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

Be aware that AI content is increasingly being pushed on social media users, and make sure you know how to spot the difference between AI images and real images.

TODAY’S TOPIC

Big Tech’s Emphasis on AI Content and its Consequences

While scrolling through social media, you may have seen some of the whacky AI generated images and videos of cats, senior citizens, and more. You may find that it is sometimes difficult to tell whether these images and videos are real or fake, at least at first glance. If you have noticed this kind of content showing up more often on your feed, you’re not alone. Companies like Meta have recently been pushing to expand their generative AI capabilities, and this has already begun to change the content that we see on social media and beyond.

AI Slop, as it is often called, appears more and more often now that individuals online have been using generative AI tools to create clickbait content. Companies like Meta are looking to integrate these tools to create their own clickbait. Meta is already investing in huge AI centers that will allow them to produce AI generated advertisements and content that keep you and your kids engaged online. 

You might wonder, “Well, what’s the harm in watching silly AI videos online?” Can they really be that dangerous? While it isn’t necessarily dangerous to look at this content, the long-term impacts of social media’s oversaturation in AI content are worrying. You may be able to tell when a video is AI generated, but the hesitation to trust anything that appears on your feed can make large populations mistrustful of valid information as well as fake information. Generative AI can make prominent public figures seem to say and do outrageous things, and if we aren’t able to tell whether it is fake or real, we may not trust other sources that share real information about their doings. Another trend in generative AI use is the proliferation of disaster images, which make it seem as though well-known cities are being destroyed in explosions, fires, or other natural disasters. With so much happening in these videos, it can be very difficult to tell whether they are real or not.

_{WHAT CAN YOU DO?}

With a push for more AI generated content from companies like Meta, it is important to know when you are seeing fake content and how to verify your sources when you see something fake. It is also important to take time away from social media apps to exist in and appreciate the world around us. Model the way for your kids by following these tips!

• For Political News, Don’t Rely Solely on Social Media: The push to put more AI generated content on social media will only make political and international news less reliable on their platforms. Following trusted news sources, like NPR, will give you article headlines that you can check out on their website. If a social media news source is not one you are certain you trust, try checking other sources you do trust.

• Practice Identifying Fake AI Images: There are websites and videos that help you practice telling the difference between fake AI images and real images. As the technology advances to create more realistic images, it is important to know what to look for when spotting fakes. 

• Take a Break from Social Media: The push for AI generated content on social media is meant to drive up engagement by targeting users especially hard with this type of content. Set boundaries for social media use with your family and stick to those boundaries yourself! 

• Remember that Big Tech Companies Want Engagement and They Don’t Care about the Consequences for You and Your Family: Companies like Meta want to drive up their revenue each year, and if they can do that with risk to you and your family’s mental health, they will do so. It is not always in their interest to provide wholesome to you and your family, so be wary of how much of your time and attention you hand over to them.

• Use Apps That Protect Your Information Instead of Feeding it to AI or Selling it to Other Companies: When you provide your information to a website or app service, review their data policies to make sure they prioritize protecting your information over selling it or feeding it to their AI systems.

▶ Slang Word of the Week: “AI Slop” – AI images and videos mass produced to increase viewership online. These images are often created by individuals with generative AI applications like ChatGPT, and they can make a business from this by getting followers for ridiculous or absurd content.

The image below is an example of “disaster” AI Slop. It is hyperrealistic, but it is not actually real. The image got a large quantity of views and likes on social media from people who did not realize it was fake.