GSAN: Anti-sunscreen myths | Beware clickbait

Top reads

A roundup of the latest topics in news literacy.

Artificial intelligence

• Quiz: “A.I. Is Getting Better Fast. Can You Tell What’s Real Now?” (Stuart A. Thompson, The New York Times).
• “Are Instagram and Facebook Really Using Your Posts to Train AI? What to Know.” (Cordilia James, The Wall Street Journal).
• “Exclusive: Leading chatbots are spreading Russian propaganda” (Ina Fried, Axios).
• “AI could help spread false and misleading information on Holocaust, UNESCO report warns” (David Klepper, The Associated Press).
  • Related: Video: “TikTok pulls new AI tool that spouted Hitler on command, horrified experts” (Jon Sarlin, CNN).

Misinformation

• “Some TikTok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here’s what to know about the claims” (Maria Godoy, NPR).
• “ISIS Created Fake CNN and Al Jazeera Broadcasts” (David Gilbert, Wired).
• “Misinformation is winning the war on misinformation” (A.W. Ohlheiser, Vox).

Social media

• “Surgeon general’s proposed social media warning label for kids could hurt kids” (Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica).
• “Many California voters get their info from social media, even if they don’t trust it, poll shows” (Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times).

Journalism

• Podcast: “Not even ‘no comment’: Paul Farhi on the media’s struggles with relevance” (Josh Hersh, Columbia Journalism Review).
• “When my father died, another tragedy hit home: The newspaper obituary is on its death bed” (Sue Kerr, PublicSource).
• “Journalists’ killings mount amid declining freedoms in Pakistan” (Sarah Zaman, Voice of America).

Watch out for clickbait.

Clickbait refers to stories that bait you with sensationalized language, including misleading or vague headlines using phrases like “You won’t believe what happens next!” Clickbait tactics can be a red flag calling a source’s credibility into question.

Share this NewsLit tip:

No, a MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) supporter did not accidentally burn their house down while trying to burn a pride flag. Check out more of the latest debunked rumors on NLP’s RumorGuard®!

Featured video

How can you detect AI-generated images online? Check out this NLP TikTok video for some great tips.

Thanks for reading!

Your weekly issue of Get Smart About News is created by Susan Minichiello (@susanmini), Dan Evon (@danieljevon), Peter Adams (@PeterD_Adams), Hannah Covington (@HannahCov) and Pamela Brunskill (@PamelaBrunskill). It is edited by Mary Kane (@marykkane) and Lourdes Venard (@lourdesvenard).

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