I stumbled across a LinkedIn post shouting, “Nearly half of Gen Z respondents bring a parent to job interviews.” I paused. Did that really mean half of Gen Z? So I read the source article, it came from a Pollfish study of 831 respondents, which is about .00012% of the estimated 69 million Gen‑Z in the U.S.
Sensationalism over substance
That reaction isn’t unusual. The real issue isn’t just bad questions or bad reporting, it’s that platforms reward volume and urgency over depth. A flashy headline gets attention. Substantiating it doesn’t. We amplify rather than analyze.
Y2K all over again, only with AI
Think back to Y2K: media painted it as a digital apocalypse. But technologists had quietly done their work. When midnight passed, everything kept humming. The hype became the story, not the underlying risk or resolutions.
Now it’s AI. Headlines hint at existential threats and job Armageddon. But look closely, reports from trusted outlets like Reuters find many (too many) articles are uncritical and hype-driven when they could be thoughtful and constructive1.
Trust is eroding, and that matters
According to the Reuters Digital News Report, over 50% of U.S. readers are uncomfortable with news mostly produced by AI, even when a human checks it2. Meanwhile, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 71% of Americans fear AI will permanently displace jobs, and 77% worry about AI-generated political misinformation3. Sensationalism feeds distrust, and distrust breeds disengagement.
The deliberate pause
Here’s my approach: when a headline excites or alarms me, I pause. I find the original source. I verify methods, context, and validity. My training in science and systems tells me, if the base isn’t solid, anything built on it can collapse. So I build on evidence, not emotion. And no, I’m not immune to emotion, but I cannot fathom reposting and repeating something I haven’t taken the time to vet. If it moved me, it’s worth validating before I try to share that with others.
What we should do (my haughty opinion)
You don’t need drama. What you need is clear thinking. When you see claims about AI, Gen Z, or any emerging phenomenon:
Ask: what’s the sample size? What’s the methodology?
Look for nuance over spin.
Model the behavior you want to see: Thoughtful analysis, not reflexive amplification.
Aim for substance instead of volume
This isn’t about finger-wagging. It’s about encouraging a smarter ecosystem. Pause before you post. Check before you cascade. If your reaction is based on shaky data, you’re not contributing insight, you’re just echoing noise….building a sand castle on top of another crumbling sand castle.
Social media bull photo by Gabriela Palai: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-highland-cattle-on-field-of-grass-420233/