Disinformation is not new, but AI and social media have made it more dangerous and persuasive than ever. By understanding how disinformation spreads and exploiting our cognitive biases, we can build resilience through awareness, critical thinking, and community engagement. Just like a healthy diet, a healthy information environment starts with each of us—but it can only be sustained together. Mariana serves as the Director of Programming for the Canadian International Council - National Capital Branch. She holds a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Ottawa, where her research focused on strategic communication, specifically how social media and artificial intelligence impact its practical applications in conflict settings.Mariana loves to dive into the depths of various issues to uncover hidden gems of insight along the way. She is an emerging scholar of the Network for Strategic Analysis – an incubator of Canadian and global expertise on geostrategic events. In 2023, Mariana represented civil society at the inaugural NATO Youth Summit in Washington, D.C., engaging in critical dialogues on democracy, security, and technology.Mariana has been recognized as a 2024 Emerging Leader by the Peak magazine in the Social Impact Category for her work to educate and empower young Canadians to actively engage in their communities nationwide. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx