Content Creation

Ten years ago, the phrase “content creation” barely existed in the form it does today. The only content we saw in the media was well-crafted, well-reasoned, and subjected to expert and public scrutiny. Traditional media houses could only carry verified information because they were subject to governmental control, broadcasting etiquette, and a regulated culture of public information. Traditional media houses were, and still are, subject to public scrutiny and legal reviews.

Then came the age of social media, where all the boundaries of traditional media houses were broken, the lines of good news sense were crossed, and anyone could create and publish their own news and content.

Older generations can still relate to the formal media type, but Generation Z was born into the seemingly chaotic social media terrain. Most cannot differentiate between good and bad news, misinformation, and disinformation.

As parents of young children and youth, we teach them how to identify credible news and valid information and discredit negative social media trends.

Believe it or not, the average youth will seek answers from popular search engines and peers before they ask their parents. While this innocent move may sometimes produce the result they are looking for, they may not be able to discern the truth. The generated answers can be confusing and may lead them to seek more information, spiralling down the rabbit hole.

Here are a few tips to help you when connecting with your youth about media use and decency:

• Social media news is not verified or scrutinized by any authority.
• Not all expert or professional posts are valid.
• The use of AI to create lifelike images and similar voices is on the rise.
• A real author and a real voice can be cloned.
• Social media monetization has caused increased content creation competition, leading to the use of high-risk, obscene, and unethical imagery.
• Like traditional entertainment, social media content is not rated by any approved or controlled body.
• If you create content, remember that your contribution to the digital landscape makes a difference, and you can decide the impact you bring.
• Youth model the behaviour in their circles of influence, so make the best use of it.
• Less than 0.9% of content creators have ever hit a million views.

Check out our digital citizenship module for more information.