February 13, 2024

Can Social Media Companies Safeguard the 2024 Election Against Misinformation?

Ask students: How vulnerable is the 2024 election cycle to online misinformation, according to Harbath? Why might the challenges of misinformation and disinformation be different in 2024 than previous elections?

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As 2024 election campaigns pick up steam, Meta announced this week that it would start labeling AI-generated images posted on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. In December, an advocacy group said Meta, YouTube and X have rolled back 17 policies intended to protect against hate speech and misinformation. John Yang speaks with Katie Harbath, former Facebook public policy director, to learn more.

View the transcript of the story.

Discussion Questions

What new policy AI content was recently announced by Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram)?
Who is Katie Harbath, and what is her background?
How vulnerable is the 2024 election cycle to online misinformation, according to Harbath?
Why might the challenges of misinformation and disinformation be different in 2024 than previous elections?
Where are some other key elections around the world set to take place in 2024, and how are social media companies addressing concerns in those countries?

Focus Questions

What do you think is the most important step social media companies can take to combat misinformation around elections?
According to this story, many social media companies are more transparent about plans around U.S. elections than elections in other countries. Why do you think this is? What are some consequences of less action being taken in other countries?
Media literacy: In this interview, host John Yang asks if "self-regulation" (that is, social media companies making their own rules rather than the government) would be enough to combat misinformation. Where could you go to find out what ideas have been proposed or enacted by state and federal government to regulate social media?

Extension Activity

How can you learn to better distinguish factual information from intentional disinformation on social media? Watch the video below from the MediaWise Teen Fact-Checking Network and discuss — what special challenges does AI present in determining whether social media content is good information or not?

Defining Mis- and Disinformation: A New Toolkit for Educators

This free toolkit is based on extensive conversations with educators, parents and experts in mis- and disinformation.

Learn more

Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.

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