Experts from journalism, law, and academia gathered at the inaugural University of Mississippi symposium, “Addressing the Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Democracy,” on April 1–2, 2025. Hosted by the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation, the event focused on the risks of misinformation, media distrust, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on U.S. democracy.
The symposium addressed issues like censorship, media literacy, online privacy, and AI regulation, with discussions on how deepfakes, false news websites, and social media amplify misinformation. Speakers like Steven Brill, founder of Newsguard, and Jerry Jordan, a major benefactor of the Jordan Center, highlighted the need for educating communities on identifying disinformation and its potential consequences.
Andrea Hickerson, Dean of the School of Journalism and New Media, emphasized the importance of finding common ground despite political differences, noting that addressing lies is a unifying factor. As the event’s opening discussion underscored, the challenge of navigating the digital age requires collaboration between policymakers, journalists, legal professionals, and community members to safeguard democratic values.
Speakers stressed the role of education in mitigating threats to democracy and underlined the need for sustained investment in technology and media literacy. This event marks the beginning of a larger effort by the Jordan Center to foster a healthy, informed democratic society.
