Avery Dame Griff, a historian specializing in gay and trans culture, dives into the complexities of moral panics, particularly regarding the Kids Online Safety Act. The discussion reveals how societal fears about child safety in the digital space are often intertwined with anxieties surrounding queer and trans identities. Avery highlights the historical context of these panics and underscores the importance of thoughtful dialogue to create equitable online environments. Plus, insights on how tech responses to political events shape our media landscape.
The emergence of media that blurs the line between authentic and AI-generated content leads to heightened skepticism among social media users.
The Kids Online Safety Act illustrates a complex response to moral panics about children's safety online, reflecting broader societal anxieties.
Deep dives
The Blurring Lines Between Authenticity and AI
A new genre of media is emerging, where authentic and human-created content often appears indistinguishable from AI-generated images. Observations indicate that social media users frequently question whether certain posts, including photographs and videos, are AI-assisted, leading to a significant increase in such inquiries. In a study, software detected over 36,000 instances per month where users expressed disbelief, such as with authentic photos of celebrities or everyday items. This situation reflects a deeper confusion where genuine media begins to evoke feelings of suspicion and uncertainty typically reserved for AI creations.
The Intersection of Technology and Policy: COSA's Moral Panics
The Kids' Online Safety Act (COSA) has sparked significant discussion on its potential implications for child safety online, rooted in overlapping moral panics. The legislation aims to regulate social media to protect minors but extends far beyond its initial intent, affecting all facets of online interaction. With a combination of concerns for children's mental well-being and hostility toward tech companies, the urgency behind COSA highlights a disproportionate response to perceived dangers, often missing the larger, more complex issues at play. This current panic mirrors historical instances where digital media led to similar overreactions, underscoring the cyclical nature and fragility of public perception regarding online safety.
The Role of Genre in Media Interpretation
The concept of genre is central to understanding how media is produced and interpreted within cultural contexts. Genres are not fixed but rather collaborative constructions that adapt to the evolving landscape of artistic expression. Each media piece is shaped by genre characteristics while also contributing to the genre’s evolution, influencing audience expectations and interpretations. This dynamic interaction illustrates that media classification is complex and multifaceted, affected by cultural, social, and technological shifts.
Distrust in Digital Media: The Rise of 'Generated-ish'
As AI-generated imagery proliferates, a new phenomenon termed 'generated-ish' arises, encompassing both authentic and AI-simulated content that evokes similar feelings of skepticism among users. This term refers to the blending of genuine media with a pervasive sense of disbelief, where consumers feel uncertain about distinguishing real from manipulated or generated media. The landscape is further complicated by the capabilities of AI to produce visually convincing yet potentially deceptive images, eroding trust in visual representation. The combination of technological advancements and public awareness fosters a mindset where viewers question the authenticity of what they see, demanding more vigilant scrutiny of digital content.
Mike talks about how and why some authentic media looks like it was generated by AI; Hans talks about KOSA – the Kids Online Safety Act – and how it is shaped by not one, but two concurrent moral panics. Also: RARE TAPES! 📼
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Never Post’s producers are Audrey Evans, Georgia Hampton and The Mysterious Dr. Firstname Lastname. Our senior producer is Hans Buetow. Our executive producer is Jason Oberholtzer. The show’s host is Mike Rugnetta.