“Peace moves at the speed of trust,” said Saji Prelis, Co-Chair at Global Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, in the last AFS Youth Assembly; a quote that we haven’t stopped thinking about. In an age where distrust spreads faster than information, this truth demands immediate action. Around the world, societies are fracturing under a distrust pandemic¹– a contagious mix of fake news, catered algorithms, and our collective refusal to humanize those who see the world differently than us. The result is deep polarization. This threatens not only politics, but our very capacity to cooperate and live in peace within our societies. Yet, within all this noise, a new generation of leaders is emerging: young leaders who are redefining credibility, transparency, and empathy. The question is no longer about whether distrust is eroding our future, but how young leaders can become the antidote to this pandemic by redefining credibility, transparency, and empathy. 

Distrust permeated nearly every layer of society and public life. Institutions that were once regarded as pillars of truth – including government, media, and even science – now face 

unprecedented skepticism². Social media, whose mere creation had the objective to connect us, has instead exacerbated this division³: algorithms reward outrage, and misinformation spreads more easily than nuance – basically, anything that can get people’s attention and clicks wins over truth any day of the week. In this environment, disagreement quickly becomes personal and dehumanizing, and people retreat into echo chambers that only confirm their beliefs and fears rather than challenge their ideas. Many young people, overwhelmed by all this noise, are turning away from civic engagement altogether. What began as a digital problem has evolved into a relational, societal crisis: the ability to trust, listen, and believe in collective progress is under threat. This is exactly why young leaders’ response to this crisis matters so much. 

Young leaders have sparked massive transformation across the globe. From tech-driven solutions in healthcare and finance to social media campaigns calling for justice and to grassroots movements in local communities that push back against entrenched norms, young leaders have carved out their place in shaping the world’s future today. In response, governments⁴ and global institutions⁵ have begun intentionally developing structures and policies that ensure the sustained and meaningful engagement of youth in decision-making. Misinformation threatens to breed apathy amongst young leaders today, deepen division and conflict, and reverse years of progress. It’s imperative that young leaders, and the world at large, take decisive, coordinated steps to confront it. 

How do we approach this? Before proposing specific actions, we must first deeply understand the nature of the challenge. To Einstein, it is worth spending 55 minutes out of an hour to solve a problem before thinking about solutions. Understanding misinformation and the factors that cause it to spread, grow, and thrive can not be overstated. It’s only through an accurate understanding of how misinformation spreads that it can be tackled. Youth leaders, in partnership with policymakers, must push to build misinformation awareness and literacy amongst both the young and the old. Misinformation isn’t just a problem for the young; when it targets both older and younger people, it deteriorates the intergenerational trust critical for global progress. Prioritizing education that empowers people with the tools to examine and verify information's accuracy is essential.

Education on misinformation, however, should not be done in individual silos. Collaboration is power, and power is key. Young leaders must establish networks that are quick to react to the spread of misinformation, especially in critical moments of crisis, conflict, or change. When emotions are high and tensions rise, misinformation can be the difference between chartering a path for peace and pursuing violence as a means for change. 

The desire to educate and the pursuit of collaboration can only stand on the foundation of integrity and empathy. The battle against misinformation is ultimately a human and ethical challenge, which cannot be fought with systems and tools alone. The global community must be committed to prohibiting the spread of false information used to advance individual or collective views. 

The fight against misinformation requires informed, empathetic, and collaborative leadership, especially amongst the youth. Only then can we build a future where trust and peace prevail. 

Bibliography

Nations, United. “Young people are changing the world.” United Nations, https://www.un.org/pl/desa/young-people-are-changing-world-0. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

“Political Polarization Score.” Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/political-polarization-score. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.