Because the internet has radically accelerated the free flow of information, old power hierarchies are shifting under our feet. Today, with generative AI tools at our fingertips, anyone can produce a polished essay, image, song, or video just by typing a prompt. With digital platforms, everyone communicates with everyone. Peer-to-peer sharing and new ways of getting media are becoming more and more central to how we work, play, and live. YouTube, TikTok, and streaming channels entertain us with a wide range of talented amateurs and professional performers who provide information on every conceivable topic, interest, or hobby. The ability to create and represent information and ideas using digital media—and to do it alongside AI—is essential for people working in many different fields and professions.

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In today's media landscape, entertainment, information, and persuasion are increasingly blurred. Sponsored content is so skillfully blended into your feed that you may not even recognize it as advertising, and AI-generated "slop" now fills a growing share of what you scroll past, mimicking the look of real reporting or real creators without the accountability. Most American children still want to be a YouTuber, a streamer, or a social media influencer when they grow up. Many of the most-watched shows are reality formats, depicting ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. In an increasingly performance-oriented culture, the desire for status, fame, and celebrity shapes how we post and share, and it may also affect self-image, self-esteem, and confidence—especially as AI filters and companion chatbots reshape how we present ourselves and who we talk to.

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Digital media also play a key role in the practice of democratic citizenship, as publics form and mobilize using hashtags and coordinated online campaigns. The continued decline of local journalism has been accompanied by an explosion of creators, podcasters, and influencers who offer commentary on any political topic under the sun. People who seek to influence policy on climate change, immigration, or drug policy interact with both journalists and celebrities to increase visibility for their goals. Because conspiracy theories are more popular and compelling than ever, people may feel a sense of community in exploring arcane questions that take them "down the rabbit hole." And because outrageousness is a sure-fire way to gain attention (and get elected), political leaders may simply repeat falsehoods until they seem real.

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For all of us, it's harder than ever to sort quality from junk in the digital content that comes before us. It's very likely you have encountered disinformation and propaganda online—and increasingly, convincing deepfakes and synthetic media that are difficult to tell apart from the real thing. Growing up with media, you have probably also encountered problematic stereotypes, pornography, and depraved depictions of aggression and violence, as well as cyberbullying and other forms of harassment and abuse. And heading into the 2026 midterm elections, you are almost certainly seeing AI-generated ads and fabricated audio and video enter our politics, alongside continued political polarization.

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These knotty problems raise other questions for all citizens: Who should be responsible for protecting people from the risks and harms of online life? What role should platform and AI companies play in limiting access to dangerous, harmful, or false information? Public concern is growing about the increasing dominance of companies like Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Nvidia as they now influence all aspects of culture—and as generative AI is built into the tools we use every day. These companies collect data on every action you take online and use this information to further shape your experience. With the rise of algorithmic personalization and generative AI, many people recognize that the benefits and harms of media are inevitable for people of all ages, all around the globe.

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For all these reasons, there has been no better time to acquire digital and media literacy competencies. In fact, we are now seeing a mainstreaming of media literacy as digital and AI tools become an ordinary part of everyday life. Media literacy can be used for empowerment, helping people make good decisions about what kind of media they use and how they use AI. It helps people evaluate the quality of media content and use the power of communication to make a difference in the world. But media literacy is also valuable as protection, because people need to protect themselves from the negative influence that media and technology can have on human behavior. Media can diminish self-esteem, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, promote violence, and amplify dangerous falsehoods. Both empowerment and protection perspectives are important in developing digital and media literacy competencies.