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Podcast for the Digital Literacies and 21st Century Skills course at Adelphi University's Educational Technology program.
Nicole
Hey everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Digital Literacy Podcast, where we dive deep into the digital world and uncover the trends and technologies shaping our lives. I'm your host, Nicole Har, and today, my co-host Jasmine will join.
Well, we're taking a closer look at something that's practically woven into the fabric of our everyday existence—social media. Today, our topic is all about the feed evolution: the journey from social media to AI-powered platforms. Uh, before we begin, let’s talk about what social media actually means. Does anyone know what defines it?
Alyssa
How I would define social media is as an online network where people gather to share thoughts, their ideas, and socialize with friends and family, either through, um, sharing texts, direct messages, or content from around the internet, whether it’s through algorithms, your page, or whatever it may be. And most importantly, it’s to connect within a community.
Jasmine
Yes, um, exactly, Alyssa. I definitely agree with you. I feel like it’s easy access to reconnect with others and enjoy communities of interest, where you can discover many new things, stay up to date with current news, and follow trends.
Nicole
You guys are both absolutely correct. According to Oxford, social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networks. But for a better definition, according to Tufts, social media is the means of interaction among people in which they create, share, or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks.
Jasmine
Exactly. Great. So, to understand where social media is today, it’s important to take a look back at where it started. Anyone remember MySpace?
Nicole
Yeah, yeah. I was too young to use it though.
Jasmine
Same. But I do remember hearing about it from my relatives and older sister. MySpace might not have been the first social media platform, but for us Gen Z, it was definitely the first one that kids in our age group knew about. It launched in 2003 and gave us a taste of what social media could be, where people could create custom profiles, list their top friends, and even dabble in coding without realizing it. It was a raw platform and a great outlet for self-expression.
Nicole
Right, right. So the thing about MySpace was that it was more about personal profiles rather than news feeds. It didn’t revolve around news or external content like social media does now. It was more like a Facebook predecessor, but without news articles and trending topics—just chat rooms and personal interactions.
Jasmine
Yes, exactly. Then, after MySpace, Facebook launched a year later in 2004, shifting the focus from self-expression to social networking. As Facebook grew, information began to spread quickly, but so did misinformation. It became one of the first platforms where personal opinions and news articles were shared on a large scale, and it was also where we started seeing false information spread, often through networks of family, friends, or viral posts without factual evidence.
Nicole
That makes me think—what types of misinformation have you guys seen on Facebook? Because I know Facebook has had a big issue with that, especially in the past few years.
Jasmine
Oh, my gosh. I remember a time when my dad told me Vin Diesel had died in a car crash. My heart dropped, and I was like, “No way! Vin Diesel didn’t die!” I asked my dad where he got that from, and he said it was on Facebook. He even sent me the link. But when I checked, I told him, “Dad, this isn’t a real link. This is fake. Vin Diesel is fine.” I was like, “Don’t scare me like that!”
Jasmine
Oh my God, I can only imagine how heartbroken you must’ve felt!
Nicole
Yeah, exactly. It’s insane how easily people—especially older generations, like boomers—can fall for misinformation. They’ll believe almost anything they read if they don't check the sources.
Jasmine
That literally just happened to me last month! I was scrolling through Instagram, and I saw multiple posts saying that Daylight Savings Time was happening soon. But I thought to myself, “Wait, isn’t that supposed to happen after Halloween?” I started talking about it with my sister, and she was like, “What are you talking about?” I checked it out, and sure enough, Daylight Savings wasn’t happening until November, just like I originally thought. But for a moment, I totally fell for the misinformation on Instagram.
Alyssa
Yeah, exactly. One popular piece of misinformation I’ve seen on Facebook is about vaccines being linked to autism. That’s been a huge issue. Misinformation like that tends to feed into people’s pre-existing beliefs, which makes it even harder to fight.
Jasmine
Absolutely.
Nicole
Okay, moving on—when did you guys first get into social media?
Alyssa
I made my first Facebook account in eighth grade, but I deleted it because my parents didn’t like the idea of me using Facebook in middle school. I was allowed to have Instagram in ninth grade, though, because it was more about posting photos than anything else. Facebook back then had more messaging features, but Instagram didn’t really focus on that—it was just a platform for sharing pictures. Now, since Facebook bought Instagram, the two platforms have become more alike. Instagram has more messaging features now, but it still feels more photo-based and visual.
Jasmine
Yes! And now that Instagram is part of Meta, the platform has even added AI features. If you go to the search bar, you can use an AI tool to ask questions. It’s wild how accessible these features are becoming, especially for younger kids. Personally, I don’t love the idea of that.
Alyssa
Yeah, I created my first Instagram account when I was 10, around fifth grade. I had parental supervision, of course, but I mainly wanted to get it because it was popular at school. Back then, it was just about sharing photos, tagging your friends, and posting memes—nothing too serious.
Jasmine
Same here. I made my first Facebook account around the same age, with my parents’ supervision and with help from my older sister. She was always on social media, and that made me want to join too. Facebook was really popular during my middle school years, so it felt like the thing to do.
Speaking of trends, I found an interesting point in Yale’s Insight, which talks about how social media platforms reward sensational or misleading content. Algorithms determine what gets prioritized, meaning posts with more reactions, comments, and shares spread faster, even if the content isn’t accurate. This is why misinformation spreads so easily—it’s designed to provoke emotional responses, which boosts engagement.
Alyssa
Yeah, exactly. We’ve seen this shift with Instagram too. While it started as a photo-sharing platform, misinformation evolved along with it. Now, we see misinformation spread through infographics and memes, which people casually share without realizing the impact. Influencers, who profit from engagement, also get boosted in the algorithm, making their content even more visible—even when it’s misleading. According to a study from Davidson College, people are more likely to trust information that comes from familiar or reputable figures, which only adds to the problem.
Nicole
It’s fascinating—and a bit scary—how fast social media spreads information. Instagram’s shift to a more visual platform opened new ways for misinformation to thrive. Infographics and memes look credible, which makes them more likely to mislead people. I see this a lot with my students—they find content on Instagram entertaining, but they don’t realize how much of it is misleading. It’s hard to compete with platforms like TikTok, which also use AI-powered algorithms to grab and hold their attention. Kids even suggest using AI for lesson planning!
Speaking of AI, it’s important to consider how artificial intelligence is amplifying misinformation. A Harvard Kennedy School article on misinformation highlights how generative AI is reshaping the landscape. AI can now create realistic images, videos, and articles, making it harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake. Have any of you seen the TikTok video with the giant snow owl? It was actually AI-generated.
Jasmine
Oh my gosh, yes! And there are also those weird food videos where something starts as food but transforms into a puppy or ice cream.
Nicole
Yes! Kids love those, but it’s so disturbing. This is why we need to be extra mindful as AI becomes more integrated into platforms like TikTok and Instagram. TikTok’s algorithm-driven content can make videos go viral instantly, which is great for entertainment but dangerous for spreading misinformation. Both humans and AI-generated content can spread false information just as quickly.
Jasmine
And that’s really concerning for the next generation—especially these so-called “COVID babies” who are growing up surrounded by AI and digital content. They’re consuming so much information but don’t always know what’s true or false.
Alyssa
Exactly. Kids don’t fact-check, so we need to teach them how to identify misinformation. Schools and parents need to raise awareness about this issue.
Jasmine
Yes, and as we look toward the future, it’s clear that technologies like AI, AR, and VR will change how we interact online. But they also come with risks. As generative AI and deepfakes become more accessible, misinformation will only increase.
Alyssa
That’s right. And as more people rely on social media for news, the spread of misinformation becomes even more problematic. According to Pew Research, over half of US adults get their news from platforms like Facebook and YouTube, with Instagram and TikTok also becoming popular sources.
Nicole
Exactly. AI is transforming social media by enhancing content recommendations and user engagement. Algorithms analyze users' behavior to show them more of what they like, keeping them hooked. AI also powers features like filters, friend suggestions, and automated captions to make the user experience smoother. But the downside is that AI can create echo chambers, showing users only what aligns with their views.
While AI isn’t perfect, platforms are trying to involve human moderators to handle tricky cases. Many platforms now include fact-checking labels and options for reporting misleading content. At the end of the day, it’s not just about entertaining content—it’s about making sure we consume the truth.
So, I guess that’s a wrap for today’s episode! We covered a lot—from the evolution of social media and influencers to the role of AI in spreading misinformation. Thanks for tuning in! We’ll see you next time—stay informed and stay connected.