Governor Josh Shapiro is bringing attention to the challenge of navigating misinformation in the digital age, writes Tom Lehman for WGAL.
During a visit to Middletown Area High School in Dauphin County on Tuesday, he highlighted a new toolkit designed to help students recognize fact from fiction across social media and artificial intelligence platforms.
“I don’t care if you’re on the political right or left,” Shapiro said. “I want you to form opinions—but I want you to do it with facts.”
The Abington native pointed to the need for young people to identify hateful or extreme language online and to think critically about the content flooding their feeds. Students like junior Sana Zareen agreed, saying that while AI-generated content is becoming harder to spot, she now double-checks sources before believing or sharing.
Educators at the event echoed that message. “We can’t get everything from a 10-second clip,” said teacher Josh Rytel, urging students to dig deeper into context.
While some states are tightening rules on cell phone use in schools, Shapiro said he won’t impose a statewide ban, instead encouraging districts to make local decisions. He said his focus is on equipping students with the tools to use technology constructively and responsibly.
Read more about Shapiro’s toolkit designed to help students decipher fact from fiction online at WGAL.
