Who Do We Trust?

Growing up in a world of misinformation, influence and AI. Live Discussion + Audience Q&A Young people are growing up in an information environment transformed by social media, influencers, algorithms and artificial intelligence. Established sources of information now compete with an ever-growing number of online voices, while misinformation can be deliberately created and spread at extraordinary speed. But what happens online doesn't stay online. It can shape identity and belonging, fuel division and polarisation, influence relationships and behaviour, and affect young people's mental health, wellbeing and safety. At the same time, the online world offers connection, community and access to information on a scale we have never seen before. The challenge is knowing which information, spaces and voices can be trusted, which may seek to mislead, manipulate or exploit, and how to recognise the difference. Who Do We Trust? brings together journalism and fact-checking, education and safeguarding, and frontline experience of working with young people for a major public conversation at Norwich Cathedral. The discussion will examine what is driving these changes and what happens when trust begins to break down. Above all, it will ask how we can help young people question what they encounter online and navigate this rapidly changing world critically, confidently and safely. Chris Morris is Chief Executive of Full Fact, the UK’s largest independent fact-checking organisation. Before joining Full Fact, Chris spent more than two decades as a senior BBC foreign correspondent, reporting from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States. He later developed and led BBC Reality Check, pioneering fact-checking across mainstream BBC journalism. Nicky Fairweather is Principal Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Norwich School. Cody Sollows leads MensCraft’s work with adolescent boys and young men. About Us MensCraft is a charity (CIO reg no. 1188578) that specialises in supporting men and boys to become healthier and happier by providing meaning, purpose, growth, and connection. All proceeds from this event go towards our charitable work.