Mythos Labs, Inc.

To mark #GlobalMediaLiteracyWeek2024, we’re spotlighting key initiatives and insights that underscore the importance of media literacy across different aspects of life, from online safety to sustainable practices. Here’s what’s happening this week! 🌐📚 1. “Why Younger Generations Need Critical Thinking, Fact-Checking and Media Verification to Stay Safe Online” 🧠🕵️♂️ Technological advances like AI and evolving media consumption have transformed the information ecosystem, posing unique challenges for digital-native generations, making initiatives like #UNESCO’s Global Media Information Literacy Week essential for building skills to navigate this landscape. https://lnkd.in/eSQi__As 2. “A New Partnership and Resources to Expand Media Literacy Education for Teens” 🎓🌍 YouTube and the Poynter Institute’s #MediaWise are launching a free curriculum, in collaboration with experts from MediaSmarts | HabiloMédias, Mythos Labs, Inc., and the Parent Zone, to equip teens worldwide with media literacy skills—covering source evaluation, AI recognition, and responsible sharing—accessible on hitpausewithmediawise.com. https://lnkd.in/eUvGzFqg 3. “Where Media Literacy is Fundamental” 🇫🇮📘 In Finland, media literacy is prioritized as the second-most essential skill after basic reading, helping to counter disinformation threats and resulting in one of the highest media literacy rates globally. https://lnkd.in/dUCRYy4Y 4. “Media Literacy as Preventive Mental Health Care” 🧠🌈 In the internet age, media literacy enables us to critically analyze information, helping us distinguish facts from false or artificially generated content, ultimately enhancing our sense of control and well-being, writes Mary McNaughton-Cassill. https://lnkd.in/ghRYVnzq 5. “Media literacy and its role in promoting sustainable food consumption practices” 🥗🌎 This study of 432 Iranian consumers shows media literacy—through usage, accessibility, content generation, and critical understanding—drives 93% of sustainable consumption awareness and 51% of intention, highlighting the value of dedicated networks and expert-led programs. https://lnkd.in/gZQB3Fi5

This week, we dived into #MediaLiteracy, #Misinformation, and #ClimateAction. Here’s what stood out! 📚🗞 #WeeklyHighlights 1. “Two Billion Women Without Access to Social Protection” 🌍👩 The latest UN Women report reveals that policies ranging from cash benefits to healthcare and pensions are not being extended to enough women and girls, leaving them more vulnerable to poverty worldwide. https://lnkd.in/gmFqK7Ep 2. “Public Agreement With Misinformation About Wind Farms” 💨🌱 Over 25% of people across the US, UK, and Australia agree with contrarian claims about wind farms, driven by conspiracist worldviews, making it a challenge for pro-wind policy efforts. https://lnkd.in/gF2mrGek 3. “Real-Time Video Deepfake Scams Are Here. This Tool Attempts to Zap Them” 🖥️🚫 Reality Defender, a startup focused on AI detection, has developed a tool to verify human participants in video calls and catch fraudsters using AI deepfakes for scams. https://lnkd.in/g4yVkKcA 4. “Artificial Intelligence: Rooting Out Bias and Stereotypes” 🤖⚖️ As online tools using various forms of artificial intelligence become increasingly common, calls are growing for more action to ensure that they do not create or perpetuate stereotypes and gender bias. https://lnkd.in/ghWguGTR 5. “UNHCR Official Says Refugee Numbers Will Surge Without Urgent Climate Action” 🌍📈 At the Global Future Councils in Dubai, Andrew Harper stressed that the global refugee crisis will worsen unless urgent action is taken on climate change, urging a shift from despondency to hope. https://lnkd.in/g2VWDAeD

Are you: 📱 A social media pro 🎯 Passionate about global challenges 💬 Skilled in content creation 📢 We're #Hiring a Social Media and Communications Intern! Send your CV & cover letter to careers@mythoslabs.org to apply! ✉️ Read more below 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/dYuHUsQ9

This week, we dived into #OnlineSafety, #MediaLiteracy, #Misinformation, and #ViolentExtremism. Here’s what stood out! 📚🗞 #WeeklyHighlights 1. "From Clicks to Progress: Arab Youth Are Leading the Way to Digitalization for a More Sustainable Future." 📱📈 Technology is a major contributor to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by driving progress and innovation across sectors. Learn how Arab youth are leading the way in digitalization and taking action in the region.  https://lnkd.in/d5Fh-3vi  2. “How to Teach Students Critical Thinking Skills to Combat Misinformation” 🧠📚 Zara Abrams discusses the movement to equip K–12 students with critical thinking and analytical skills to identify misinformation on social media and the role of psychologists in this effort. https://lnkd.in/eCxkP6yx 3. “Strengthening Media and Information Literacy in the Context of Preventing Violent Extremism and  Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism” 🔍 📖 This resource by OSCE provides insights into the vulnerabilities of South-Eastern Europe to potential online harms – including polarization and radicalization to terrorist violence and provides recommendations for all stakeholders on fostering media literacy skills as part of P/CVE strategies. https://lnkd.in/g8mWjruu 4. “Cognitive Attraction and Online Misinformation” 📊 ⚖️ Alberto Acerbi analyzes 260 articles from websites known for publishing hoaxes and fake news, highlighting that online misinformation thrives due to cognitive preferences for negative, threat-related, or socially relevant content. https://lnkd.in/gYiA5Bx6 5. “Publication: Cybersecurity Economics for Emerging Markets” 🔒 🌍 The World Bank's latest book reviews cyber incidents from the past decade across 190 countries, highlighting key trends and the proactive roles private market players and governments can take to safeguard cyberspace. https://lnkd.in/gWy_-Svb 

This week, we examined #Deepfakes, #Misinformation, and #ViolentExtremism. Here’s what made us reflect! 📚🗞 #WeeklyHighlights 1. "How to Change People’s Minds about Climate Change: What the Science Says" 🌱📊 Alix Soliman writes that communicating scientific consensus on climate change shifts perspectives, but personalized conversations are essential for fostering deeper, long-lasting attitude changes per researchers. https://lnkd.in/gahZarqN 2. “Want to Fight Misinformation? Teach People How Algorithms Work” 📈📱 More than half of social media users across 40 countries encounter misinformation every week. Myojung Chung analyzes how understanding algorithmic processes shapes the attitudes and actions of individuals towards misinformation.  https://lnkd.in/eEQFAAgQ 3. "Human Detection of Political Speech Deepfakes across Transcripts, Audio, and Video" 🤯 🔎 People are best at spotting #deepfakes when both audio and visual cues are available. This latest study in Nature Magazine shares results from five experiments testing how well people can tell real political speeches from deepfakes. https://lnkd.in/gd7wQRDb 4. “Emotions & Belonging in Far-Right Social Media Space” 🚫🗣️ Jonathan Collins’ latest blog post in VOX-Pol reveals that emotion-based connections on Alt-Tech platforms, beyond hate speech and conspiracies, play a crucial role in creating a sense of community and sustaining far-right spaces. https://lnkd.in/gZvp8ZAV 5. “The Teenage Terrorists of the 'Islamic State’” ⚠️👩🏽💻 The number of teenagers arrested on terrorism charges is rising in Europe, as the extremist Islamic State group, with branches in Africa and Afghanistan, continues to influence European teens to carry out attacks against its enemies, writes Cathrin Schaer. https://lnkd.in/dp9kb4-M

For this edition of #WeeklyHighlights 📚🗞, we’re bringing you stories on #AI, #misinformation, #disinformation and #medialiteracy. 1. “How to Avoid Being Fooled by AI-Generated Misinformation” 📰 🔍 With insights from experts, Jeremy Hsu outlines common errors in AI-generated images that often go unnoticed and steps to identify AI-generated videos, bots, audio cloning, and speech deepfakes. https://lnkd.in/eDhZ5V8Z 2. “Media Literacy A to Z: How Finland is Arming Students Against Misinformation” 🤝🏾 🎓 Finland's "The ABC Book of Media Literacy" is a comprehensive guide designed to equip young people with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex and often perilous media environment. https://lnkd.in/dZzbU_nG 3. “Team Develops AI-powered Tool to Detect Hate Speech in Southeast Asian Languages” 🤖📱 Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Assistant Professor Roy Lee and his team developed a new AI-powered tool called SGHateCheck to enhance the detection and moderation of hate speech in online environments in Southeast Asia and foster a more respectful and inclusive online space. https://lnkd.in/gH7c7Zyz 4. “A Citizen’s Guide to Disinformation” 🎙️📈 Tune in to this episode of the #TechTank podcast, where Nicol Turner Lee, Darrell West and Elaine Kamarck discuss the impact of disinformation on society and offer practical tips to help citizens navigate the digital world. https://lnkd.in/gA8Xx_ig 5. “AI Competency Framework for Students” 📱 👧🏽 UNESCO's latest AI competency framework for students equips learners with relevant knowledge across four dimensions: human-centered mindset, AI ethics, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design, for a sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/ggaVvBDV

Our CEO, Priyank Mathur, will join the inaugural edition of the Yerevan Dialogue, taking place in Yerevan from September 9th to 11th. Know more: https://lnkd.in/eBfnN9Mi #YerevanDialogue2024

📢 We are #hiring! We are looking for an experienced Thailand-based Consultant to support the delivery of a program focused on preventing women's trafficking. Details here: https://lnkd.in/dQmirMb2 #gender

In a recent webinar hosted by the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), our CEO Priyank Mathur joined Colin P. Clarke, Ph.D., Director of Research at The Soufan Group (TSG), and Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President at AFPC, to discuss the impact of #AI on radicalization and counter-radicalization. Watch the full discussion here👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/gekDB_kK  

This week, we read about #ArtificialIntelligence, #Disinformation, and #ViolentExtremism. Here’s what made us reflect! 📚🗞 #WeeklyHighlights 1. “Social media: Disinformation Expert Offers 3 Safety Tips in a Time of Fake News and Dodgy Influencers” 🌐 💻 Social networks have transformed communication and daily life, but false information can polarize societies. Fabrice Lollia provides three tips to reduce risks like misinformation, polarization, and discrimination while preserving social media's benefits. https://lnkd.in/gCrVajbV 2. “Online Gendered Abuse and Disinformation During the 2024 South African Elections” 📈 ⚠️ A recent study by Clara M., Terra R., Bilen Zerie, Aoife Gallagher, and Helena Schwertheim reveals that South African women in politics frequently encounter online abuse and gendered disinformation narratives that sexualize or objectify them, often driven by misogynist actors. ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) https://lnkd.in/dKfsXxXe 3. “AI Literacy and the New Digital Divide - A Global Call for Action” 🌍 🤖 Susan Gonsalves outlines key policy actions leaders can take to address the emerging digital divide amidst AI's rapid advancements, promoting education and inclusivity in the AI-driven future. UNESCO https://lnkd.in/e8QQxtS7 4. “Why We Need to Talk about Teens, Social Media and Mental Health” 📱 🧠 In this NPR episode, Michaeleen Doucleff explores how the surge in smartphone and social media use has affected teen mental health, contributing to increased rates of anxiety and depression. https://lnkd.in/ggXYxW8e 5. “The Role of Social Media in Far-Right Violence” 🚨 📊 Olivia Brown discusses her study on identifying signals in social media posts, which can predict when someone posting on far-right forums is likely to go on to commit a terrorist act. Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats https://lnkd.in/emwrZyCc