SCRF 2025 spotlights influencer ethics education for children, led by Jenan Mustafa on spotting fake influencers and AI content.
Sharjah: At the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), influencer ethics education took centre stage during a thought-provoking session titled “Fake vs Real Influencers.” Content creator Jenan Mustafa engaged 10–12-year-old students in an interactive workshop focused on navigating the blurred lines between authentic content and digital deception in today’s AI-driven social media world.
Speaking to a packed audience at Expo Centre Sharjah, Jenan explained how influencer culture, driven by followers, fame, and brand deals, can mislead young audiences. Through relatable examples and audience participation, she helped children identify the red flags of fake influencers—those who promote products they haven’t used, rely on filters to appear perfect, and seek money over integrity.
Using the example of schoolbags, Jenan showed how a real influencer tests and genuinely uses a product, whereas a fake influencer promotes it without credibility. “Always ask if the content is real or AI-generated,” she said. She warned the audience that some videos, while seemingly authentic, may be digitally altered or scripted by artificial intelligence.
Highlighting that 30% of popular influencers may have fake followers and buy engagement, Jenan urged kids to be cautious. “Honest influencers reply to comments, don’t promote too many things at once, and tell you when something is a paid promotion,” she noted. Her key message was clear: think critically, don’t believe everything online, and value honesty.
“You are the heroes of the future,” she concluded. “By being smart, strong and more aware, you can be the real change on social media.”
SCRF 2025 runs until 4 May under the theme “Dive into Books”, featuring 133 guests from 70 countries and 122 publishing houses from 22 nations, all curated by the Sharjah Book Authority.
