Baku: The 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, held under the theme ‘Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI,’ concluded on July 21, APA reports. Moderated by Mariam Zaidi, TRT World news anchor, the final panel discussion addressed the impact of social media evolution on public trust and the necessity of media literacy.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the panel featured notable figures such as Serguei Sokolov, Director and Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs for TikTok/ByteDance in Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Mongolia. Sokolov highlighted TikTok’s unique approach compared to traditional social media platforms, emphasizing that its content feed is tailored to user preferences rather than editorial direction.
Dennis Yu, a Google and YouTube expert and CEO of BlitzMetrics, discussed the challenges of finding authentic information sources in the digital age. He pointed out that AI’s capacity to create a variety of content marks a technological revolution but also raises ethical and security concerns.
Seamus Clancy, Head of Public Sector, Healthcare, and NFP Sales at LinkedIn EMEA and LATAM, underlined LinkedIn’s commitment to professional development by creating content that fosters skill development, while managing a significant volume of user queries.
Dr. Karen Sutherland, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Social Media Educator at the School of Business and Creative Industries, UniSC, addressed the ethical concerns associated with TikTok, noting that while some users engage ethically, others exploit the platform for sensational content. She emphasized the importance of advancing AI understanding to ensure its responsible use, particularly in safeguarding personal data.