"Babe, they're AI." #Zendaya spoke out on @jimmykimmellive.bsky.social after people in her life were fooled by #AI images showing the actress & fellow actor Tom Holland in wedding attire.
The fakes look convincing, but #NewsLiteracy skills can help you avoid being duped ⤵️
Stylized text on a dark teal background reads: "AI misinfo 2025 Year in Review." The subtitle mentions AI's role in spreading falsehoods. Mood: cautionary.
Teal background with text emphasizing fact-checking in 2026. It warns AI-generated content will be harder to spot, urging better news literacy habits like checking sources, seeking evidence, and using reputable sources.
👀 ICYMI: Our misinformation year in review focuses on AI. Check out our post for 3️⃣ ways the emerging tech spread falsehoods in addition to 3️⃣ basic #NewsLiteracy tips to take into 2026.
🔗 go.newslit.org/AIMisinfo2025
I just donated and you should too!
❤️ Teaching how credible, standards-based journalism works is a big part of addressing these findings. You can support this with a donation to NLP tomorrow, Dec. 2, on #GivingTuesday.
📌 Bookmark this link: newslit.org/donate/
“Some of this (attitude) is earned, but much of it is based on misperception," says NLP's @peteradams.bsky.social in this @apnews.com story.
⚠️ As our recent survey revealed, 84% of 750 teens surveyed express a negative sentiment when asked what word best describes news media these days.
🤔 Lake County Gazette. Southern Wisconsin Times. Names of publications, no?
🧠 They may sound like legacy, standards-based newspapers, but they’re actually mimicking legit local news as pink slime sites.
🔗 Today's special edition of The Sift has a quiz for students on these sites.
#NewsLiteracy
Here are tips for spotting pink slime sites:
💡 Do a quick search
💡 Check the “About” page
💡 Check bylines
💡 Identify editorial standards
Read more in The Sift: go.newslit.org/Sift1Dec2025
#MediaLiteracy
One of these viral “nature” videos isn’t what it seems… 👀
Can you spot the AI fake in this week’s #2TruthsandAI? Tell us what gave it away, and which news literacy skills you used to make your guess!
Watch: www.youtube.com/shorts/nTpgO...
#2TruthsandAI is back - & this week we're focusing on new tech gadgets: Can you identify the fake?
🔎 Looking for specific details such as a company's name that you can do a keyword search on + going to the posting account's profile can help.
🎞 Watch: www.youtube.com/shorts/IAzZL...
ICYMI: We have 2 job openings!
📌 VP of K-12 Engagement: go.newslit.org/VPEngagement
📌 Product Manager: go.newslit.org/ProductMgr
#Jobs #Hiring
A social media post reads, “Trump refused to leave even after they were practically pushing him away so Chelsea photoshopped him out of their official trophy raising photo. Good move” and features two images of the Chelsea soccer team celebrating their victory: One that features Trump and one that does not. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “FALSE.”
❌ NO: Chelsea FC did not remove President Trump from a trophy photo after its FIFA Club World Cup win Sunday.
✔️ Trump is visible in the background of the club’s official photo. The viral edit was created & shared by a social media user.
🔗 #RumorGuard post: go.newslit.org/ChelseaPic
#NewsLiteracy
News coverage of the #StonewallRebellion in 1969 that touched off the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement was lacking & provides a lesson in the importance of having diverse newsrooms & learning from past coverage of historic events. Because #NewsLiteracy is what? Fundamental!
Our TikTok 👇🏾
“Viral #misinformation expresses patterns over time, and we can learn how to recognize those patterns and inoculate ourselves to a whole swath of viral rumors.” - NLP’s @peteradams.bsky.social
#NewsLiteracy
DETECTING TRICKS OF CONTEXT. People who create misinformation designed to go viral on social media have an array of tools and tactics at their disposal. Simple tricks of context are one of the most common, mostly because they are effective and relatively easy to produce. For example, removing an authentic visual from its original context and presenting it with a false claim is a low-effort, effective tactic to mislead people. Visuals paired with text can feel like compelling evidence – even when they’re not. Watch out for these four common tricks of context and use these tips to avoid being fooled. ● False context: Presenting genuine media in an entirely new, false context. ● Misrepresentation: Presenting accurate facts or genuine visuals in a misleading fashion. ● Stolen satire: Presenting satirical content as if it were accurate information from a reliable source. ● Selective edits: Removing essential context from a piece of media to create a false understanding of an issue or event
⚠️ False context
⚠️ Stolen satire
⚠️ Misrepresentation
⚠️ Selective edits
🔎 These are common tricks of context that bad faith actors use to spread #misinformation. Our poster breaks down how to debunk such falsehoods.
🔗 Download it: bit.ly/TricksOfCont...
A social media post reads, “BREAKING|:open_mouth::astonished: Lion XIV suffers gadget falls… Pope Leo XIV commenced his pontificate with a grand mass in St. Peter’s Square. During this ceremony, he was presented with the Palio, an ornament worn on the shoulders that symbolizes the Pope’s authority over the Church. Additionally, he received the Fisherman’s Ring, which signifies the role of ‘being a fisher of men.’ Read full story in comment” and features three images of Pope Leo XIV, a genuine photograph of him waving, and two images created with artificial intelligence tools that show him falling down steps. The News Literacy Project has added labels over the “GENUINE” photograph and the “AI IMAGES.”
❌ NO: 2 images of Pope Leo XIV falling down stairs at St. Peter’s Square are not legit. They're AI-generated.
#NewsLiteracy tips:
- Look for easy errors: The post calls the pope "Lion"
- Beware "breaking" news: It's often co-opted by bad actors
- Seek out more reporting
🔗 go.newslit.org/AIPope
Readers of The Sift have spoken. And, drumroll, your top resources from the 2024-25 school year are...
🥇 Daily Do Now slides: 5- to 10-minute bell ringer activities!
🥈 Quizzes! Especially fact-checking 🚩
🥉 Our "6 things to know about AI" infographic
👉🏾 The final issue: go.newslit.org/Sift19May2025
✨ Memes used to spread false or misleading information.
✨ Longtime political cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigning from The Washington Post.
✨ How to tell if audio is AI-generated.
Just 3 of the most-read stories from The Sift this school year.
📌 Bookmark & read the final edition of 2024-25 👇🏾
"I also think it’s important to consciously set aside time to seek out quality, standards-based news … not just let news find you through the algorithms that determine your social media feeds."
Just 1 piece of #NewsLiteracy advice from @peteradams.bsky.social in our NLPeople profile.
Read more ⤵️
A social media post reads, “Emotions aside, these are the real cold facts about this conflict. Clearly, Pakistan won overwhelmingly” and features an image bearing the CNN logo that purports to show various statistics related to the recent conflict between Pakistan and India. The News Literacy Project added a label that says “IMPOSTOR CONTENT.”
❌ NO: This is not a CNN graphic & the stats comparing military & civilian losses between Pakistan & India are not accurate.
⚠️ Presenting a falsehood as if it came from a reputable news source is a common way to spread misinformation.
RumorGuard post: go.newslit.org/FakeGraphic
#ImpostorContent
Students who learn #NewsLiteracy understand the value of a free press. They also "learn to think independently, & to apply the standards of quality journalism to navigate disinformation, conspiracy theories & AI-generated fakes. These are skills we all can use." - @crsalter.bsky.social
1/ 🎁 The final edition of The Sift for the school year is here & it's packed with resources including:
- The most popular articles & resources from the year
- A reading list on AI, press freedom + more!
📌 Bookmark it to read now & into summer: go.newslit.org/Sift19May2025
#EduSky
#AcademicSky
1/ @peteradams.bsky.social has been with NLP since our 1st birthday in 2009 when he oversaw our classroom program in Chicago & managed local journalist volunteers.
Over 16 years, he's been integral to NLP's growth - & the work has never gotten stale for him. Get to know Peter ⤵️
#AcademicSky
Graphic with transparent background and eight boxes surrounding the title and main text in the middle. Header in middle: Eight Tips to Header 2: Google Like a Pro Small text: The internet is inconceivably large. In fact, it’s essentially endless! Sometimes it’s easy to find the information you need, but often trying to find something specific can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. These eight tips can help you improve your search results and zero in on what you’re looking for more quickly Footer text: The infographic was developed by the News Literacy Project and Cindy Otis, author of True or False: A CIA analyst’s guide to spotting fake news. 8 boxes surrounding the middle: ONE Use quotation marks TWO Limit to news THREE Use basic Boolean operators FOUR Use parentheses to group operators FIVE Narrow the time frame SIX Search a specific website SEVEN Search one section of a specific website EIGHT Use - to exclude from results
Still relevant regardless of what tool you use for search: tips for doing specific queries online ⤵️
👀 Also, don't just rely on the "AI Overview" at the top of a search.
➡️ To download this + 5 other informative posters, visit our @weareteachers.bsky.social page: bit.ly/WeAreTeacher...
#EduSky
3️⃣ tips to help sort fact from fiction:
✨ Be mindful of confirmation bias
✨ Consider the source
✨ Be cautious around controversy
More #NewsLiteracy takeaways: go.newslit.org/ClintonSatire
#BillClinton
#Satire
A social media post reads, “This is the $17 million helicopter the Saudis gave Bill Clinton to use in their airspace. They gave it to him as a parting gift when he left office. He still uses it to this day. Not one single Democrat had anything to say” and features an image of a helicopter and former President Bill Clinton. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “SATIRE.”
❌ NO: Former President Bill Clinton did not receive a $17 million helicopter as a gift from Saudi Arabia when he left office.
🤔 This story originated with a satirical account & 2 self-described satirical FB pages known for spreading misleading content.
RumorGuard post: go.newslit.org/ClintonSatire
A social media post reads, “The insect is called ‘Sleeping Rose Mantis.’ This creature is known for its remarkable camouflage, resembling a rose. Native to the Himalayas, it is considered a small and wondrous creature, often described as a marvel of nature” and features two screenshots from a video showing a small bug camouflaging as a rose. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “AI-GENERATED IMAGE.”
❌ NO: A viral video does not show a genuine insect called the “Sleeping Rose Mantis.” It's AI-generated.
📈 It's not uncommon for images & videos of unusual animals to get millions of views on social media.
🤔 Millions of views also ≠ authenticity.
🔗 RumorGuard post: go.newslit.org/RoseMantisAI
This #AAPIMonth, learn about Asian American & Pacific Islander journalists from U.S. history with our @flipboard.com collection: bit.ly/AAPIJournali...
A third of Americans surveyed believe at least one false claim spread by Russian media outlets. Why is this a serious problem, & why does it underscore the urgent need for news literacy?
Video: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjBbL7BV/
#Disinformation #NewsLiteracy
A social media post reads, “Leaked booking photo of Judge Hannah Dugan” and features two images, one of the judge smiling and another depicting her crying in an orange prison jumpsuit. The News Literacy Project has added a label that says “AI-GENERATED IMAGE.”
❌ NO: This is not an authentic image of Judge Hannah Dugan’s mug shot. It's AI-generated. Dugan was arrested by the FBI on April 25 for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents.
⚠️ Photorealistic images can be quickly manufactured with #AI tools.
🔗 go.newslit.org/AIMugShot