What defines authenticity in online content and digital media?

Authenticity in online content and digital media is when what you see feels real and true to who made it.

Imagine you're drawing a picture of your favorite animal, let's say a cat. If the cat looks like it was drawn by you, with your usual style, maybe a little messy or extra happy, that’s authentic. But if someone else drew it, trying to copy yours exactly, that might feel more like a fake version.

When people create online content, videos, photos, stories, games, they often put parts of themselves into what they make. That's why we can tell when something feels real or just copied from somewhere else.

Think about your favorite toy. If you're playing with it and showing it to friends on a video call, that’s authentic because it's you having fun with the thing you love most.

But if someone else is pretending to be you, using your toy but not really enjoying it, that might feel fake, like they’re just trying to trick you into thinking it's real.