Sobhagyawati Lohala, a 65-year-old resident of Bhaktapur, feels frightened when watching videos on her Facebook. Her feed is full of fake war videos showing drones attacking cities, AI-generated machines transforming humans into sausages, and giant animals destroying urban areas. When told that such videos were fabricated and created using artificial intelligence, she was initially reluctant to believe it.

Lohala is clearly unaware of how fake and AI-generated contents are produced. Her son, Govinda, says he has repeatedly tried to explain the issue to her, but to no avail. “I have blocked many accounts that share these kinds of posts, but I still don’t know how they keep appearing on her feed,” he said.

Lohala’s experience reflects a broader trend. Increasingly, people consume news and information through short videos on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. In the past, people primarily relied on newspapers, television broadcasts, and long-form articles to stay informed. Today, however, audiences seek information instantly. Waiting for an evening news bulletin or reading a lengthy article can feel too time-consuming in a fast-paced digital environment.

Short-form news content caters to this demand by delivering updates on breaking events and trending topics within seconds. As a result, social media platforms prioritize short, engaging videos that quickly capture attention and encourage continuous consumption.

This trend can be understood through the Uses and Gratifications Theory, which argues that audiences are not passive consumers of media. Instead, they actively choose platforms and content that satisfy their psychological and social needs. In the context of short-form videos, users seek convenience, immediacy, entertainment, and quick access to information. The popularity of reels and short videos reflects how audiences use media to fulfill these needs, making bite-sized news content an increasingly influential source of information.

As a consequence, people often spend hours discussing topics that may not be accurate. Many tend to believe whatever is presented in the videos they watch. Elderly users, in particular, are often vulnerable because they may have lower levels of digital literacy. As a result, they can struggle to distinguish between real and fake information and are more likely to believe AI-generated videos.

While adapting to technological change is important, digital literacy has become equally essential. As more people consume information online, the spread of misinformation—false information shared without the intent to deceive—and disinformation—false information deliberately shared to mislead—has become increasingly common. This raises concerns about whether audiences can effectively distinguish credible information from misleading content in the digital age.

Utsab Acharya, 17, represents a generation that has grown up with social media as a central part of daily life while also being familiar with traditional news media. Unlike Lohala, he is skeptical of many videos and reels that present themselves as news. Acharya believes it is the responsibility of individuals to distinguish between real and fake information. According to him, doing so can help protect people from scams, fake news, and other forms of misinformation.

Bitish Karmacharya, 24, says he receives most of his information through social media and often struggles to differentiate between social media content and professional news media. However, he is aware of the problem of fake news.

“I usually decide whether to trust information based on the page that posted it,” he said. “Some news pages share trustworthy content, and nowadays most news organizations also have social media pages that I follow.”

Short-form videos have become one of the primary ways people receive information. Their fast-paced and engaging nature aligns with modern viewing habits, allowing users to absorb content in seconds while scrolling through their feeds. A 30- to 60-second clip is often easier to consume than a lengthy article. These videos are highly engaging, easy to share, and frequently promoted by platform algorithms, enabling them to reach large audiences rapidly. As a result, short-form video has become a powerful tool for entertainment, education, and information sharing.
Another reason behind the engagement might be the monetization strategy. It is where people earn through posting videos, reaching certain followers and gaining certain views. This has become another part of people’s earnings. Some use it as a platform to earn by posting various video contents which results in positive and negative feedback.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization warned of an “infodemic”, an overwhelming flood of information that included false claims about vaccines, treatments, and the virus itself. Similar patterns emerge during election periods, when misinformation spreads rapidly through social media videos and influences political discussions, voter perceptions, and voting patterns. 

The rise of artificial intelligence has further complicated the situation. AI tools now make it possible to create highly realistic fake videos, audio recordings, and images at relatively low cost. These sophisticated creations are often difficult to distinguish from authentic content, making it increasingly challenging for ordinary users to identify manipulated media.

Taranath Dahal, a digital rights activist, said social media platforms were originally designed primarily for entertainment rather than news delivery.

“However, with younger generations increasingly relying on these platforms as their primary sources of information, they have become major channels for news consumption,” he said. “The challenge is that news presented in short formats can often create confusion and contribute to misinformation.”

According to Dahal, a lack of media literacy remains a significant challenge across all age groups. He noted that social media platforms are particularly appealing to people who spend considerable time on digital devices.

“There has not been extensive research on the issue,” he added, “but younger generations have grown up in a digital environment and are therefore more likely to consume news and information through social media and other new media platforms.”

Dahal also expressed concern about the growing influence of AI-generated content. However, he cautioned against assuming that all AI-generated videos are inherently fake or harmful. 

“Many AI-generated videos can be informative and serve useful purposes when created responsibly,” he said. “But it is important to verify such content before accepting or sharing it, as the increasing sophistication of AI tools makes it more difficult to distinguish between authentic and manipulated media.”