Teens Investigate Viral “Pikachu at Protest”

Video at Youth AI Forum

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High school students learn to distinguish fact from fiction through hands-on

media literacy investigations at Temple University

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances rapidly, concerns about

misinformation and the misuse of digital content continue to grow. Against this

backdrop, a group of high school students gathered at Temple University to

develop critical thinking and media literacy skills through hands-on investigations.

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The Korean Cultural Foundation (KCul), led by Executive Director Insook Seol,

hosted the 2026 Youth AI Forum: “What Should We Believe?” on October 10

at Temple University, bringing together high school students from the Greater

Philadelphia area.

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Organized in collaboration with Temple University's Center for Media and

Information Literacy, the forum was designed to help students identify

AI-generated or manipulated media and develop the skills to independently

question and evaluate the credibility of digital information.

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Rather than simply listening to lectures, students became “media investigators,”

working in teams to complete a series of investigative challenges. They learned

a six-step verification framework that examined sources, evidence, context, authenticity, and the purpose behind digital content. Students then applied the framework to AI-generated videos and social media posts to assess their credibility.

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Before the hands-on sessions, Paul In Yoo, co-founder and CEO of the AI biotechnology startup Plasmal, delivered a presentation titled “Beyond the AI Hype: Skills That Will Matter in Your Future.” He discussed examples of AI-generated errors appearing even in academic research papers.

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Paul In Yoo encouraged students to develop the ability to evaluate AI-generated information while strengthening their creativity, critical thinking, and individual areas of expertise.

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Temple University professor Sherri Hope Culver also delivered a presentation titled “Truth, Trust, and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI,” emphasizing the importance of critically evaluating media information in an increasingly AI-driven world.

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Investigating a Viral Pikachu Protest Video

One of the most engaging cases involved a viral video showing the popular Pokémon character Pikachu appearing at a protest in Istanbul, Turkey.

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Instead of assuming that the entire video was authentic simply because a real protest had occurred, students carefully examined visual clues. They identified inconsistencies in police uniforms and lettering on vehicles, Pikachu's movements and positioning, and discrepancies involving backgrounds and reflections.

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Students then cross-checked external sources and supporting evidence to investigate whether AI-generated elements had been added to footage of an actual protest.

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​​​​​​​​​​The students also analyzed the mansion featured in the Academy Award-winning Korean film Parasite, along with videos of bridge collapses circulating online.

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Through these investigations, they discovered that elaborate physical movie sets and visual effects can sometimes resemble AI-generated imagery, while dramatic and seemingly realistic videos may themselves be created using AI.

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The exercises encouraged students to move beyond asking whether something “looks real” and instead focus on a more important question: “What evidence supports it?”

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A Surprising Discovery About Parasite

Professor Sherri Hope Culver, who observed the students' presentations, expressed surprise at one of their findings.

“I really love the Korean film Parasite, but I had never thought that the house in the movie might not be a real house. That's amazing,” Culver said.

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Students explained that the mansion had been constructed as a film set, enhanced with visual effects, and dismantled after filming. Their findings sparked an engaging discussion with the professor.

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Throughout the forum, students practiced resisting the temptation to immediately label unfamiliar videos or social media posts as either “real” or “fake.”​

Instead, they discussed what evidence was needed, collaborated with teammates, and searched for additional information before reaching conclusions.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Preparing the Next Generation of Digital Citizens

KCul and Temple University's Center for Media and Information Literacy explained that the forum was intended to go beyond teaching students how to use AI tools.

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“We wanted students to experience how to ask the right

questions amid the overwhelming amount of digital

information and how to evaluate credibility and possible

manipulation based on evidence,” the organizers said.

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Insook Seol, Executive Director of KCul, expressed

hope that the experience would have a lasting impact.

​“I hope this forum will help young people, the leaders

of the next generation, grow into responsible digital

citizens,” Seol said.

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Minjae Kim, a high school student who participated in the forum, reflected on what he had learned.

​“I was surprised to discover how easily videos we see on social media can be manipulated using AI,” Kim said. “I'm glad I learned the six-step verification framework, which I can now use to evaluate the credibility of digital information.”

(By Jiwoo Jung, Student Intern Editor-in-Chief, The Next Korea)