Young people spend a lot of time on social media, but do they know why certain content appears on their feeds? Algorithms are powerful but often invisible forces shaping our online experiences — but whose interests are they designed to promote?
This presentation will help you dive into the world of algorithms and generative artificial intelligence so you can teach students and public library patrons to consider the civic and social impact of these technologies. You’ll gain an understanding of how search and social media algorithms work; explore the opportunities and pitfalls of large language model chatbots, such as ChatGPT; and learn about the evolution of AI image generators, such as DALL-E. We’ll also take a look at where these technologies are heading, including the rapid development of AI video, and discuss their implications for civic discourse, research and library best practices.
Recorded March 24th, 2026
Bio
MEET THE PRESENTER
Tracee Stanford is the Senior Manager of Professional Learning for the News Literacy Project, where she designs and facilitates engaging news literacy professional development sessions for educators nationwide, virtually and in person. Before joining NLP, she was a program manager at Free Spirit Media, where she led media educators in teaching essential journalism skills to youth in underserved Chicagoland communities. She also worked as a high school journalism teacher in Chicago Public Schools, contributing to curriculum development, instructional strategies, and strategic partnerships. Tracee also has a background in local news, producing morning news for WSFA 12 in Montgomery, Alabama, and working as a reporter and producer for Alabama Public Television. She began her career as a statehouse reporter covering politics in Springfield, Illinois. Tracee holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois, Springfield.