Mandel-AI Effect:: Proposed measurement of the Mandela Effect induced by artificial intelligence in digital social networks

• Lucirene Rangel-Lyne ^[1] ; Mario Alberto Salazar-Altamirano ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas

     Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas

     México

     
• Localización: Universitas psychologica, ISSN 1657-9267, Vol. 24, Nº. 1, 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.11144/Javeriana.upsy24.maie
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Efecto Mandel-AI: Propuesta de medición del Efecto Mandela inducido por la inteligencia artificial en redes sociales digitales
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Este estudio desarrolla y valida un instrumento psicométrico pionero para medir el “Efecto Mandel-AI”, una manifestación contemporánea del Efecto Mandela amplificada por la inteligencia artificial (IA) en las redes sociales digitales. Tras un proceso de diseño teórico y validación por expertos, el instrumento fue sometido a análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio con una muestra de 243 estudiantes universitarios de la generación centennial del sur de Tamaulipas, México, de entre 18 y 28 años, usuarios activos de plataformas digitales. La escala final comprende tres dimensiones interrelacionadas: Presencia de IA, Distorsión de la Realidad y Efecto Mandel-AI. Los resultados confirmaron una estructura factorial sólida, con alta consistencia interna (α de Cronbach ≥ 0.93), validez convergente y discriminante, e índices de ajuste óptimos (CFI = 0.980; TLI = 0.974; RMSEA = 0.073; SRMR = 0.041). Los hallazgos muestran que la IA no solo media la selección y viralización del contenido, sino que también reconfigura los marcos cognitivos y culturales, facilitando la formación de falsas memorias y la confusión epistémica. Más allá de su solidez psicométrica, el instrumento constituye una contribución metodológica innovadora para la psicología digital y ofrece aplicaciones prácticas en programas de alfabetización mediática, estrategias educativas y políticas orientadas al fortalecimiento de la resiliencia epistémica y el bienestar digital

  • English

    This study develops and validates a pioneering psychometric instrument to measure the “Mandel-AI Effect,” a contemporary manifestation of the Mandela Effect amplified by artificial intelligence (AI) in digital social networks. Following theoretical design and expert validation, the instrument underwent exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using a sample of 243 centennial-generation university students from southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, aged 18 – 28, active users of digital platforms. The final scale comprises three interrelated dimensions: AI Presence, Reality Distortion, and the Mandel-AI Effect. Results confirmed an excellent factorial structure with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α ≥ 0.93), convergent and discriminant validity, and optimal model fit indices (CFI = 0.980; TLI = 0.974; RMSEA = 0.073; SRMR = 0.041). Findings reveal that AI not only mediates content selection and virality but also reshapes cognitive and cultural frameworks, facilitating false memories and epistemic confusion. Beyond its psychometric strength, the instrument provides a novel methodological contribution to digital psychology and offers practical applications for media literacy, educational strategies, and policies fostering epistemic resilience and digital well-being

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