More Teens Are Being Misled By AI-Generated Content, Study Reveals

A growing number of teenagers are struggling to distinguish between authentic and manipulated online content, with AI-generated media adding to the confusion.

A recent report highlights that 35% of teens have been misled by fake content, while 22% admitted to sharing content they later discovered was false, and 28% have questioned whether they were conversing with a human or a chatbot.

These experiences have significantly reshaped teens’ trust in online information. The report found that 72% of teenagers have changed how they evaluate digital content after encountering deceptive material.

Additionally, more than a third (35%) believe generative AI will further erode trust in online information. Those who have been misled by false content are even more skeptical, with 40% saying AI will make it harder to verify accuracy, compared to 27% of those who haven’t had similar experiences.

Generative AI faces serious credibility issues among teens, particularly in academic settings. Nearly two in five (39%) students who have used AI for schoolwork reported finding inaccuracies in AI-generated content. Meanwhile, 36% did not notice any problems, and 25% were unsure.

This raises concerns about AI’s reliability in educational contexts, highlighting the need for better tools and critical thinking skills to help teens assess AI-generated content.

Beyond AI, trust in major tech companies remains low. About 64% of teens believe big tech firms do not prioritize their mental health, and 62% think these companies would not protect users’ safety if it harmed their profits.

More than half also doubt that tech giants make ethical design decisions (53%), safeguard personal data (52%), or fairly consider different users’ needs (51%). Regarding AI, 47% have little confidence in tech companies making responsible decisions about its use.

Despite these concerns, teens strongly support protective measures for generative AI. Nearly three in four (74%) advocate for privacy safeguards and transparency, while 73% believe AI-generated content should be labeled or watermarked. Additionally, 61% want content creators to be compensated when AI models use their work for training.

CNN notes that teenagers’ distrust of Big Tech reflects a broader dissatisfaction with major U.S. tech companies. American adults also face rising levels of misleading or fake content, worsened by weakening digital safeguards.

As generative AI reshapes the digital landscape, addressing misinformation and restoring trust requires collaboration between tech companies, educators, policymakers, and teens themselves.

Strengthening digital literacy and implementing clear AI governance standards will be essential to ensuring a more transparent and trustworthy online environment.