Identity Countering A.I. & Misinformation among Black Youth in Digital News

• In Event: Race and Ethnic Politics in the Media and on the Internet

Abstract

As the use of artificial intelligence continues to expand in the mass public, the potential for increased misinformation, disinformation, and fake news in media has become a pressing concern. This phenomenon particularly impacts young Black adults who rely on the internet as their primary source for news consumption (GenForward, 2018). While researchers and practitioners have devised various strategies to combat misinformation, such as media literacy education, critical thinking, and AI- powered fact-, little attention has been paid to the role of identity in the fake news and misinformation detection process.
This article aims to fill this gap by examining the detection techniques and strategies young Black Americans who rely on African American English Vernacular (AAVE) to decipher the voraciousness of political messages. The central question driving this investigation is: how does young Black Americans’ ability to discern the authenticity of AAVE in digital news media reports affect their beliefs in misinformation and fake news? Furthermore, this study seeks to elucidate how this ability relates to the broader use of identity signals or markers in detecting misinformation and fake news within the realm of digital news.
To answer this question, a survey experiment will assess Black youth's authentic detection of AAVE and their beliefs regarding misinformation. By highlighting AAVE as a racial identity marker signaling Black solidarity, this research endeavors to shed light on the intricate interplay between identity, language, and the perception of authenticity in news media. We expect our findings to contribute to the ongoing discourse on mitigating the impact of misinformation with a specific emphasis on the experiences of Black young adults navigating the digital information landscape.

Author

• Ananda Collins, Syracuse University