Dissonance in the Algorithmic Era: Evaluating Showcase Digital Competence and Ethical Resilience in Communication Training

Abstract

The disruptive acceleration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has amplified the phenomenon of Global Friction (Globofriction), where technological speed undermines informational stability and weakens democratic resilience. Within higher education, this scenario demands training models capable of preparing future communicators to act as guarantors of truth amid automated erosion of discourse. This research evaluates the digital competence of Communication students through an interdisciplinary STEM-SSH (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics—Social Sciences and Humanities) nexus approach based on the Kirkpatrick model. A mixed-methods methodology was employed, analyzing self-perception and cybersecurity data (n = 59), technical performance in the production of interactive infographics (n = 25), and qualitative evidence from reflection forums on systemic risks. The results reveal a “showcase digital competence”: a functional dissonance where future communicators demonstrate technical excellence under academic supervision but maintain negligent habits in their autonomous praxis. The study concludes that, given risks such as data porridge and strategic disinformation, it is urgent to transition toward a model of ethical resilience. This shift is imperative to reclaim the sovereignty of human judgment and ensure the integrity of public debate amidst current technological friction.