Spotting false content online has become more difficult as AI-generated media grows, social platforms reward quick reactions and many users lack formal media-literacy training. Experts say one practical defense is to pause and ask why a post, advertisement or account is trying to get your attention before sharing or believing it.
The need for those skills is widespread. A 2024 survey by the National Association for Media Literacy Education found that just 12 percent of schools included media literacy in their core curriculum. A 2025 Pew Research survey found that about half of U.S. adults have difficulty identifying fake news while scrolling online.
At the same time, misleading material is increasingly common. NewsGuard editor Sofia Rubinson said social media users encounter AI-generated fakes, distorted political claims and foreign disinformation. Pew Research data cited in the report indicates that more than a third of new web content is AI-generated. Estimates of bot accounts vary widely, while Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince has said automated bot activity accounts for 57.4 percent of internet traffic.
The design of social platforms can make the problem worse. Personalized recommendations, autoplay and endless scrolling encourage users to move quickly and respond emotionally, said Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer at NordVPN. In that environment, likes and shares can be mistaken for proof that a claim is widely believed, noted Roei Sherman, senior director of research at Mitiga.
Moderation is another concern. Resemble.AI CEO Zohaib Ahmed said advanced AI has brought users closer to a point where genuine and fabricated content can be difficult to distinguish without technological help. He also warned that reduced professional moderation and reliance on community fact-checking can leave misinformation labels imprecise or open to disagreement.
Chatbots and AI agents may also encourage users to trust convenient tools too readily. Experts say people should remain alert to scams and avoid handing over their judgment to a single assistant or search tool. News Literacy Project CEO Chuck Salter put it simply: “AI makes it really easy to avoid thinking for yourself.”
Experts recommend building a deliberate pause into online habits. Before reacting to or sharing a post, consider who published it, why it was posted and whether the claim can be checked elsewhere. Discussing viral content with people you trust and checking information against reliable sources can help, too.
That caution should not become blanket distrust, Salter warned. Skepticism can help people assess claims, while cynicism may lead them to reject accurate information or accept only what they already believe. The goal, experts say, is to question what appears online while remaining open to evidence.
Sources: Mashable.