I got a voice note from a listener this week that I want to share with you. Tiago Garcia wrote to me about something he is seeing more and more on social media: AI-generated content about the ocean, about climate, about science, that looks slick, sounds convincing, and is flat-out wrong. His question was simple. How do we equip younger generations to tell the difference?
The Scale of the Problem
This isn’t an isolated issue.
It has a name: AI slop.
Low-quality, AI-generated content that floods social media feeds. It often focuses on emotionally engaging topics like:
- Ocean life
- Extreme weather
- Nature
- Health
It looks professional.
It spreads quickly.
And much of it is inaccurate or completely fabricated.
Global data backs this up:
- Misinformation is now ranked the second biggest short-term global risk
- Deepfake videos are expected to reach 8 million annually
- AI-generated content is growing at a scale we can barely measure
This is no longer a future risk. It is happening now.
Why Young People Are More Exposed
Young people are at the centre of this shift.
Research shows:
- Most teens are already using AI tools
- Around 30% use them daily
- But only 1 in 4 feel confident using them properly
That creates a gap:
👉 High awareness
👉 Low understanding
And here’s the challenge.
Even when young people understand how social media works, they are less likely to challenge misinformation.
Instead of questioning it, many disengage.
So awareness alone is not enough.
What We Need to Teach Instead
Traditional advice is no longer enough.
“Look for extra fingers in AI images” worked a few years ago.
It doesn’t work now.
The technology has moved on.
Instead, we need to teach adaptive skills:
- Lateral reading
→ Checking multiple sources - Reading upstream
→ Tracing content back to the original source - Reverse image searching
→ Verifying visuals
These are skills that work regardless of how advanced AI becomes.
The Real Solution
This is not about banning AI.
It is about teaching people how to think.
Young people need to learn to:
- Question what they see
- Check the source
- Challenge the claim
- Ask who benefits from the content
AI does not remove critical thinking.
But passive use of AI does.
Why This Matters for All of Us
This is not just a challenge for younger generations.
It is a challenge for everyone.
AI-generated content is now:
- More convincing
- More accessible
- More widely distributed
And for many young people, their first exposure to a topic
may come from AI-generated content that looks more credible than traditional media.
If no one teaches them to question it, why would they?
What You Can Do
This is where responsibility comes in.
If you are a parent:
👉 Talk to your children about AI regularly
If you are an educator:
👉 Build verification skills into your teaching
If you are a communicator:
👉 Clearly label AI-generated content
We all have a role to play.
My Take
AI literacy is no longer optional.
It is as fundamental as reading and writing.
The organisations, educators, and parents who recognise that
will be the ones who protect the next generation.
Because without those skills, we risk leaving them to navigate a world full of content that looks real… but isn’t.
If you want to build your AI literacy and skills, I can help
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Sources
WEF Global Risks Report 2026 (January 2026): https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2026/digest/
European Parliamentary Research Service, Deepfakes Briefing (2025): https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/775855/EPRS_BRI(2025)775855_EN.pdf
Pew Research Center, How Teens Use and View AI (February 2026): https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2025/dnr-executive-summary
Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, Chung (2025): https://misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/when-knowing-more-means-doing-less-algorithmic-knowledge-and-digital-disengagement-among-young-adults/
Stanford Social Media Lab, Empowering Diverse Digital Citizens (January 2026): https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/01/ai-digital-literacy-interventions-misinformation-scams-research
Colorado Newsline / The Conversation, Climate Misinformation on Social Media (January 2025): https://coloradonewsline.com/2025/01/21/climate-misinformation-is-rife-on-social-media-and-poised-to-get-worse/
WEF, Cognitive Manipulation and AI Disinformation (March 2026): https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/03/how-cognitive-manipulation-and-ai-will-shape-disinformation-in-2026/
Key Statistics
– Misinformation and disinformation ranked #2 short-term global risk (WEF Global Risks Report 2026)
– 8 million deepfake videos projected to be shared online in 2025, up from 500,000 in 2023 (European Parliamentary Research Service)
– Majority of US teens use AI chatbots; approx. 3 in 10 use them daily (Pew Research, Oct 2025)
– Only 22% of people globally have had any news literacy training (Reuters Institute 2025)
– Young adults with higher algorithmic awareness are less likely to correct misinformation (Harvard Kennedy School, 2025)
– 52% of Europeans say traditional media fails to provide clear climate information (2025 Eurobarometer)
About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
