The #MediaSmartOnline campaign aims to spotlight media literacy actions, initiatives and resources across Europe, thanks to the cooperation of the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). But as Better Internet for Kids, hearing the voices and opinions of young people is essential for any topic of discussion, including media literacy. So, let's hear it from the youth!
In today's interview, we will hear from Ingeborg, from Norway. We will find out more about her perspective of media literacy, her concerns and wishes looking ahead, and how she feels about artificial intelligence.
BIK | Hello Ingeborg! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us today! Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? |
Ingeborg | I am 16 years old, and I come from Oslo, Norway. I spend a lot of time on social media, and I am on most platforms you can think of. Staying active on social media is important to me because I want to stay updated on what my friends are doing, follow what’s happening in the world and keep myself entertained. Besides, all my friends are as active as me, so staying off social media is tough. |
BIK | That’s lovely! As you know, MediaSmartOnline is a new campaign that wants to spotlights actions, initiatives, resources to increase the media literacy skills of children and young people, as well as empower those who support them daily – parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers and educators. But, we wouldn’t be Better Internet for Kids without wanting to capture that youth perspective! So, here's my first question for you – what does media literacy mean to you? |
Ingeborg | Personally, media literacy is the knowledge you have on how to use the internet safely. This especially applies to big platforms where you interact with both people known to you and strangers. I would say that media literacy is a skill, its something that has to be taught and learned. You’re not born knowing how to judge content online, therefore you need to be taught this by the adult around you. Unfortunately, I see that this skill is lacking for a lot of people in the world. |
BIK | And how would youevaluate your own level of media literacy? And what about your peers (friends, school mates, relatives)? |
Ingeborg | I would say that my level of media literacy is quite good, especially after attending SIF several times and hearing all the risks you are exposed to online. My peers also have a high level of media literacy. We are a generation that has grown up using social media. Our parents, friends and in general all people around us have an account somewhere, and the effort of trying to not be on social media is almost impossible. Therefore, I think my generation has developed good media literacy skills. Our elderly and younger children are much more vulnerable than us youths. The elderly have not grown up on social media like us and as a result of that, online platforms are not familiar to them like they are to us. They do not know how to use it and learning how to can be quite hard. The younger children are on social media even though they are not old enough. This is a fact that can’t be denied, the age limits are not being followed. I think this makes them an especially vulnerable group. They might not have developed the skill of critical thinking, and they can be naïve online, something that makes them especially exposed to all the risks. |
BIK | Do you use any social media? If so, which ones? |
Ingeborg | I am on a lot of different platforms. I use Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, VSCO, Facebook, Messenger, BeReal, YouTube and WhatsApp. |
BIK | Where do you normally read your news from? |
Ingeborg | I usually read my news on a Norwegian newsletter app called Aftenposten. Here, headlines pop up as notifications on my phone and I read the articles that interest me. I also get news from TikTok and Snapchat because some other Norwegian news outlets have made accounts where they record a 1-3 minute recap of the most important news for the last week. I think this is how many young people who don’t want to watch the news on TV or read long articles get their information. |
BIK | How do you feel about the content you see on social media? Is there anything that makes you suspicious, concerned or worried? |
Ingeborg | Most content I see is all fun and entertaining, but every once in a while I come across content I do not want to see on my feed. Something that concerns me online is how much power the algorithms have over the content on your feed. If you watch one video for a certain amount of time or like a post, and this suddenly becomes all you see. This contributes to putting people into echo chambers online where they only see one type of content. This content can for example be content about self-harm, eating disorders and other struggles people who are already battlig these things do not need to see more of. Another thing that makes me worried is the amount of fake news that circles the internet. Seeing the difference between fake and real news has gotten more complicated. |
BIK | So I guess you’ve come across a lot of AI-generated content online! How do you feel about that? |
Ingeborg | AI is going to become something we see every day. Everyone that has access to the internet, has access to AI and will see it evolving. In my daily life I use AI to get feedback on schoolwork, to get ideas, and to ask simple questions. I feel good about AI, and I think it’s going to be a tool for everyone in the future. Still, there are some parts of it that worry me. For instance, I’m a bit worried about how good AI is at generating pictures and videos that look real. In addition, AI has gotten alarmingly good at generating voices. Famous people are getting imitated to say stuff they would never say. These are some things that I use AI for, and some things that worry me. |
BIK | I see you overall feel quite positively about AI! Which other sectors do you think might benefit from the use of AI in the future, apart from the ones that are already using it (e.g. content creation, image generation, education, and more…)? |
Ingeborg | I think a lot of sectors can benefit from AI, but where I want to see more of is in customer service and the health care system. AI could help customers guide their way through stores and support them online. The healthcare system could benefit from AI helping them analyse pictures and symptoms to find diagnoses. Although AI is there to help, implementing it too much will reduce the number of jobs. These are jobs that people need. For instance, using AI as custumer service in store will take away jobs that do not require educations, these jobs are important to many people and removing these will take opportunities away from humans. Another place AI could be of great help is in economic branches. They have to process loads of numbers where they can calculate wrong, but with AI as support this job could be made a lot easier. |
BIK | Any particular tips you’d like to share on how to spot AI-generated content online? |
Ingeborg | It is different for everybody how they spot AI-generated content, but the way I do it is by firstly looking at the faces if there are people in the photos. Their faces are usually distorted, and the fake pictures become easy to spot. Another thing I do is looking at the overall texture of the picture. I have experienced that the texture looks too smooth to be real in AI-generated photos. AI is very hard to spot and its not always I’m able to see the difference between the real and fake photos, but these are some of the factors I look at when trying to find AI. |
BIK | What do you think is currently missing when it comes to improving the media literacy skills of young people? What should be provided (by governments, schools, etc.)? |
Ingeborg | I think there is a lot that is missing for improving the media literacy for young people. Firstly, there is a lack of knowledge for parents and teachers. These are the people we are supposed to go to when we feel unsafe, how does it help when they don’t have the resources and training to actually support us? They should have easy access to media literacy training where they could learn what to do if something happens online. Additionally, young people have not yet learned how to spot deepfakes and misinformation online. Therefore, their safety online is at risk. To improve the media literacy skills, we have to enforce it in the school curriculum early in schooling. Children start using social media so early and knowing how to stay safe from an early point in life is crucial to protect minors. Lastly, the platforms need to be clearer on how their users can block and report other accounts. This is something I have found quite hard on certain platforms, and it should not be this way. This could be solved by there being a guide when you download an app before you are allowed to use it. |
BIK | If you were to give one piece of advice on media literacy to another young person your age, what would it be? |
Ingeborg | My piece of advice on media literacy to other young people is to never believe something you see unless you know it’s a reliable source and if you’re unsure, check: if it’s true, other platforms might have shared the same thing. Also, use what you already know about being online to reflect on whether what you see is fake or not. You could have seen AI-generated content before and if this looks similar maybe you should think again before you believe it. Additionally, you should try to learn how to spot fake content and know how to report or block users who share this. While we’re on the topic of sharing, you should never share anything you don’t know is true or not. |
BIK | That was very well said, Ingeborg. Thanks so much for sharing your insights on media literacy with us today! And let’s all continue being #MediaSmartOnline… |
Find more information about the campaign here, and here on the background.
Access the guide Be MediaSmartOnline, gathering a large number or resources, events, initiatives, trainings and more on the topic of media literacy, and available in a range of European countries.
The #MediaSmartOnline campaign aims to spotlight media literacy actions, initiatives and resources across Europe, thanks to the cooperation of the Insafe network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs). But as Better Internet for Kids, hearing the voices and opinions of young people is essential for any topic of discussion, including media literacy. So, let's hear it from the youth!
In today's interview, we will hear from Ingeborg, from Norway. We will find out more about her perspective of media literacy, her concerns and wishes looking ahead, and how she feels about artificial intelligence.
BIK | Hello Ingeborg! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us today! Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? |
Ingeborg | I am 16 years old, and I come from Oslo, Norway. I spend a lot of time on social media, and I am on most platforms you can think of. Staying active on social media is important to me because I want to stay updated on what my friends are doing, follow what’s happening in the world and keep myself entertained. Besides, all my friends are as active as me, so staying off social media is tough. |
BIK | That’s lovely! As you know, MediaSmartOnline is a new campaign that wants to spotlights actions, initiatives, resources to increase the media literacy skills of children and young people, as well as empower those who support them daily – parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers and educators. But, we wouldn’t be Better Internet for Kids without wanting to capture that youth perspective! So, here's my first question for you – what does media literacy mean to you? |
Ingeborg | Personally, media literacy is the knowledge you have on how to use the internet safely. This especially applies to big platforms where you interact with both people known to you and strangers. I would say that media literacy is a skill, its something that has to be taught and learned. You’re not born knowing how to judge content online, therefore you need to be taught this by the adult around you. Unfortunately, I see that this skill is lacking for a lot of people in the world. |
BIK | And how would youevaluate your own level of media literacy? And what about your peers (friends, school mates, relatives)? |
Ingeborg | I would say that my level of media literacy is quite good, especially after attending SIF several times and hearing all the risks you are exposed to online. My peers also have a high level of media literacy. We are a generation that has grown up using social media. Our parents, friends and in general all people around us have an account somewhere, and the effort of trying to not be on social media is almost impossible. Therefore, I think my generation has developed good media literacy skills. Our elderly and younger children are much more vulnerable than us youths. The elderly have not grown up on social media like us and as a result of that, online platforms are not familiar to them like they are to us. They do not know how to use it and learning how to can be quite hard. The younger children are on social media even though they are not old enough. This is a fact that can’t be denied, the age limits are not being followed. I think this makes them an especially vulnerable group. They might not have developed the skill of critical thinking, and they can be naïve online, something that makes them especially exposed to all the risks. |
BIK | Do you use any social media? If so, which ones? |
Ingeborg | I am on a lot of different platforms. I use Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, VSCO, Facebook, Messenger, BeReal, YouTube and WhatsApp. |
BIK | Where do you normally read your news from? |
Ingeborg | I usually read my news on a Norwegian newsletter app called Aftenposten. Here, headlines pop up as notifications on my phone and I read the articles that interest me. I also get news from TikTok and Snapchat because some other Norwegian news outlets have made accounts where they record a 1-3 minute recap of the most important news for the last week. I think this is how many young people who don’t want to watch the news on TV or read long articles get their information. |
BIK | How do you feel about the content you see on social media? Is there anything that makes you suspicious, concerned or worried? |
Ingeborg | Most content I see is all fun and entertaining, but every once in a while I come across content I do not want to see on my feed. Something that concerns me online is how much power the algorithms have over the content on your feed. If you watch one video for a certain amount of time or like a post, and this suddenly becomes all you see. This contributes to putting people into echo chambers online where they only see one type of content. This content can for example be content about self-harm, eating disorders and other struggles people who are already battlig these things do not need to see more of. Another thing that makes me worried is the amount of fake news that circles the internet. Seeing the difference between fake and real news has gotten more complicated. |
BIK | So I guess you’ve come across a lot of AI-generated content online! How do you feel about that? |
Ingeborg | AI is going to become something we see every day. Everyone that has access to the internet, has access to AI and will see it evolving. In my daily life I use AI to get feedback on schoolwork, to get ideas, and to ask simple questions. I feel good about AI, and I think it’s going to be a tool for everyone in the future. Still, there are some parts of it that worry me. For instance, I’m a bit worried about how good AI is at generating pictures and videos that look real. In addition, AI has gotten alarmingly good at generating voices. Famous people are getting imitated to say stuff they would never say. These are some things that I use AI for, and some things that worry me. |
BIK | I see you overall feel quite positively about AI! Which other sectors do you think might benefit from the use of AI in the future, apart from the ones that are already using it (e.g. content creation, image generation, education, and more…)? |
Ingeborg | I think a lot of sectors can benefit from AI, but where I want to see more of is in customer service and the health care system. AI could help customers guide their way through stores and support them online. The healthcare system could benefit from AI helping them analyse pictures and symptoms to find diagnoses. Although AI is there to help, implementing it too much will reduce the number of jobs. These are jobs that people need. For instance, using AI as custumer service in store will take away jobs that do not require educations, these jobs are important to many people and removing these will take opportunities away from humans. Another place AI could be of great help is in economic branches. They have to process loads of numbers where they can calculate wrong, but with AI as support this job could be made a lot easier. |
BIK | Any particular tips you’d like to share on how to spot AI-generated content online? |
Ingeborg | It is different for everybody how they spot AI-generated content, but the way I do it is by firstly looking at the faces if there are people in the photos. Their faces are usually distorted, and the fake pictures become easy to spot. Another thing I do is looking at the overall texture of the picture. I have experienced that the texture looks too smooth to be real in AI-generated photos. AI is very hard to spot and its not always I’m able to see the difference between the real and fake photos, but these are some of the factors I look at when trying to find AI. |
BIK | What do you think is currently missing when it comes to improving the media literacy skills of young people? What should be provided (by governments, schools, etc.)? |
Ingeborg | I think there is a lot that is missing for improving the media literacy for young people. Firstly, there is a lack of knowledge for parents and teachers. These are the people we are supposed to go to when we feel unsafe, how does it help when they don’t have the resources and training to actually support us? They should have easy access to media literacy training where they could learn what to do if something happens online. Additionally, young people have not yet learned how to spot deepfakes and misinformation online. Therefore, their safety online is at risk. To improve the media literacy skills, we have to enforce it in the school curriculum early in schooling. Children start using social media so early and knowing how to stay safe from an early point in life is crucial to protect minors. Lastly, the platforms need to be clearer on how their users can block and report other accounts. This is something I have found quite hard on certain platforms, and it should not be this way. This could be solved by there being a guide when you download an app before you are allowed to use it. |
BIK | If you were to give one piece of advice on media literacy to another young person your age, what would it be? |
Ingeborg | My piece of advice on media literacy to other young people is to never believe something you see unless you know it’s a reliable source and if you’re unsure, check: if it’s true, other platforms might have shared the same thing. Also, use what you already know about being online to reflect on whether what you see is fake or not. You could have seen AI-generated content before and if this looks similar maybe you should think again before you believe it. Additionally, you should try to learn how to spot fake content and know how to report or block users who share this. While we’re on the topic of sharing, you should never share anything you don’t know is true or not. |
BIK | That was very well said, Ingeborg. Thanks so much for sharing your insights on media literacy with us today! And let’s all continue being #MediaSmartOnline… |
Find more information about the campaign here, and here on the background.
Access the guide Be MediaSmartOnline, gathering a large number or resources, events, initiatives, trainings and more on the topic of media literacy, and available in a range of European countries.
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