The impact generative AI is having on social media is subtle, but wide-reaching. It’s already being used to create new content, such as images, videos, and text, as well as to curate existing content. While this technology has the potential to benefit social media users in some ways, it also carries certain risks and drawbacks.
We’ll examine some of these of the ways that generative AI could negatively impact social media and its users.
1. Robbing Creators of Opportunities
Generative AI simplifies content creation. But it seems much of the simplification is for people using other people’s content, and not for original creators. Odds are, you’ve found one of those videos where a guru recommends using ‘AI-generated content’ to make money. The idea is that you can spin other creators’ work into something new, without as much effort or work.
This is not a good thing for creators because it devalues their work and makes it easier for others to steal their content.
2. Less Novel Content Being Created
Since generative AI allows people to create content with little effort, some might opt for this route instead of creating something unique. This could lead to a lot of homogenized, less novel content being created and shared on social media platforms.
You can already see this happening in some of the most popular social media platforms, with content becoming increasingly similar. An example of this is the “X can do Y, but most people don’t know….” tweets all over Twitter.
3. Lack of Uniqueness, Creating Echo Chambers
An early side effect of AI-generated social media content is its homogeneity. When AI tools take over content creation, the result is a homogeneous social media experience where ideas and opinions that differ from the mainstream are harder to find.
Without unique perspectives from real creators, social media platforms can become echo chambers where the same ideas and opinions are shared over and over again. This is a dangerous development because it could lead to a stifling of creativity and the reinforcement of biased beliefs.
4. Reducing Audience Trust
Social media has become more than just a place to share your ideas and experiences. It has also become a source of information, news, and advice. Hop on any of the popular social media platforms, and you’ll find professionals from different fields giving advice and talking about their areas of expertise.
The problem with AI-generated content is that it can erode the trust between audiences and the people they follow. How can you be sure that a piece of advice is from an expert and not an AI tool?
The danger here is that people could lose faith in the content coming from social media platforms, and potentially in the platforms themselves.
5. Deepfakes and Fake Profiles
Today, generative AI tools are already being used to create deepfake videos for malicious purposes. Deepfakes could be used to create fake profiles on social media platforms, making it easier for malicious actors to thrive on social media.
Fake profiles are a significant risk, as they could open the door to cybercrime and fraud, including impersonation scams and identity theft.
Generative AI can be a double-edged sword, with positive and negative consequences for social media users. It could revolutionize how we create and share content on social media platforms, but it also carries certain risks and drawbacks.
At this point, it’s hard to know how generative AI will shape the future of social media. But it’s critical to be aware of the potential risks and to think about how we can mitigate them. Only then can social media be a safe, positive space for sharing ideas and experiences.
