Assessing the Synthetic Media Literacy Skills of Undergraduate Students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Tensions and Agency in Media Literacy

Abstract

The widespread availability of generative AI has accelerated the spread of disinformation online. As young people engage more with digital content, concerns have grown about their ability to recognize and evaluate synthetic media. This is especially urgent in a polarized political climate where AI-generated content can be used for manipulation. To explore these challenges, I conducted a study with 203 undergraduates at a large public university to assess their baseline ability to distinguish between authentic and AI-generated media. The results reveal notable gaps in students’ synthetic media literacy, especially in identifying manipulated images, videos, and text. These findings highlight the urgent need for educational interventions that prepare students to critically assess digital content in the age of AI.

Author

• Samia Alkam, University of California - Riverside