Telling the whole story

Kanav Jain’s short film Half a Story has won the United Nations Plural+ 2026 International Jury Distinction in the 13–17 age category. The film explores how online ridicule and everyday prejudice can influence artificial intelligence. Inspired by a friend who withdrew from social media after being mocked online, Kanav, 16, has examined the impact of casual cruelty. “We spend a lot of time asking what AI will do to our future, but often overlook what we are teaching it through our behaviour today,” he says.