Rajat Sharma Warns Students About Deepfakes and Social Media Risks at Leadership Summit

Essential brief

Key facts

Rajat Sharma highlighted the dangers of deepfakes and misinformation on social media.

Continuous learning and mental health awareness are essential for today's youth.

Digital literacy is crucial to navigate and critically assess content in the age of AI.

Young leaders must be vigilant about the ethical and social implications of emerging technologies.

The Leadership Summit emphasized preparing students to face technological and societal challenges.

Highlights

Rajat Sharma highlighted the dangers of deepfakes and misinformation on social media.

Continuous learning and mental health awareness are essential for today's youth.

Digital literacy is crucial to navigate and critically assess content in the age of AI.

Young leaders must be vigilant about the ethical and social implications of emerging technologies.

At the International Adolescent Leadership Summit 2025 held in New Delhi, Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, delivered a compelling address focused on the evolving challenges faced by today's youth.

Sharma emphasized the importance of life skills and mental health, urging students to embrace continuous learning as a vital tool for navigating an increasingly complex world.

A significant portion of his speech highlighted the technological threats posed by advancements such as deepfakes and artificial intelligence.

Deepfakes, which use AI to create highly realistic but fabricated videos or audio, pose risks including misinformation, identity fraud, and erosion of trust in media.

Sharma cautioned students to critically evaluate content on social media platforms, where such manipulated media can spread rapidly and influence public opinion.

He underscored that while technology offers tremendous opportunities, it also demands heightened awareness and responsibility from users, especially young leaders who will shape the future.

By fostering digital literacy and mental resilience, Sharma believes students can better protect themselves from the psychological and social impacts of misleading information.

His address serves as a timely reminder of the dual-edged nature of technological progress and the need for vigilance in the digital age.

The summit provided a platform for young leaders to engage with these pressing issues, preparing them to confront and adapt to the challenges posed by modern technology and media landscapes.