Session 11: Revealed
Suggested Week of Use: February 9, 2020
Core Passage: Deuteronomy 18:15-22
News Story Summary
Ahead of the 2020 U.S. elections, the social media platform Facebook has created a new policy that bans users from posting computer-generated, manipulated videos, called deepfakes. Many of these videos have featured political and world leaders supposedly making a statement or speech that the person never said.
Facebook said it would not restrain people from posting misinformation or lies on Facebook. Nor will the social media giant keep users from splicing dialogue or take quotes out of context and posting those videos.
(For more on this story, search the Internet using the term “Facebook bans deepfake videos.”)
Focus Attention
To replace the Discuss idea under Focus Attention, call for the group to share what they know about deepfake videos. Explain that a deepfake video created when a person takes words or phrases from a speech or comment and pieces excerpts together to create a statement or speech that was never said by the person. Summarize the news story about Facebook’s efforts to remove these from their platform.
Ask: With today’s technology, and with the rise of misinformation on social media, how do you know when if a source can be trusted? What criteria do you follow to make sure what you are seeing actually happened? Emphasize that misinformation is not a new phenomenon; distinguishing truth from lies was a struggle even back in biblical times. Moses addressed the issue of false teachers and prophets in his last address to the Israelites. Complete the step as written, beginning with the Summarize idea.
Summarize and Challenge
To replace the Review idea under the Summarize and Challenge, begin by reminding the group of the news story about deepfake videos. Emphasize that Facebook is seeking to take responsibility for some content posted on their platform. Call attention to the third question set under In My Context (Personal Study Guide) or Apply the Text (Daily Discipleship Guide). Lead the group to respond to the question as a group. Conclude with a time of prayer, asking God to give each person discernment.