In recent times, social media platforms have witnessed a surge in AI-generated spam images and posts. This article, originally published by NPR on May 14, 2024, explores this emerging trend and its potential implications.
According to the article, users like Casey Morris, an attorney from Northern Virginia, have noticed a peculiar pattern on Facebook. Their feeds are bombarded with strange AI-generated images, often depicting distorted scenes or absurd combinations of objects and people. The captions accompanying these images are equally bizarre, asking users to “close their eyes 70%” or wishing a “happy birthday” to disabled individuals or amputees portrayed in the images.
This phenomenon is not limited to a few isolated instances. Researchers at Georgetown and Stanford universities have found that many Facebook pages are routinely posting AI-generated content, sometimes dozens of times a day. Some of these pages are engaging in scams and spam, promoting non-existent products or linking to ad-laden websites. Others seem to be accumulating audiences for unknown reasons, potentially for future nefarious purposes or simply capitalizing on the engagement generated by such content.
The proliferation of AI-generated spam on social media can be attributed to two key factors. First, Facebook has doubled the amount of recommended posts in users’ feeds to keep up with the changing social media landscape, particularly the rise of TikTok. Second, advancements in AI technology have made it easier for anyone to create artificial images and content.
While Facebook has acknowledged the issue and plans to introduce labels for AI-generated content, users are growing increasingly frustrated and wary. Some are considering leaving the platform altogether, citing the difficulty in discerning real content from AI-generated spam. Others are concerned about the larger implications of this trend, as it reinforces disbelief and makes it harder to distinguish truth from fiction.
As AI-generated content continues to proliferate, it raises important questions about the future of social media, the potential for misinformation, and the need for effective moderation and user education.
Source: The information in this rewrite is based on the article “AI-generated spam is starting to fill social media. Here’s why” by Shannon Bond, published by NPR on May 14, 2024. You can check out the full article here.
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