A Report Reveals that American Teens are Being Increasingly Misled by Fake Content Online.

As AI simplifies the creation of fake content, an increasing number of American teens report being misled by AI-generated media, a recent study reveals.

The study, published by Common Sense Media, surveyed 1,000 teenagers aged 13 to 18 about their experiences with AI-produced content. Around 35% of teens admitted they had been deceived by fake content online. A larger 41% encountered content that was real but misleading, and 22% shared false information unknowingly.

The findings highlight a growing trend of teen engagement with artificial intelligence. A previous Common Sense survey found that seven out of ten teenagers had tried generative AI tools. Despite the rise in AI use, platforms remain prone to “AI hallucinations,” as indicated by a July 2024 study from Cornell, the University of Washington, and the University of Waterloo. These errors show that even leading AI models can produce inaccurate information.

Teens who encountered fake online content were more likely to believe that AI would worsen the challenges of verifying online information. The survey also revealed that nearly half of teens lack trust in major tech companies, such as Google, Apple, Meta, TikTok, and Microsoft, to use AI responsibly.

The study emphasized that generative AI’s ability to quickly spread unreliable or misleading media could further erode teens’ trust in institutions, including the media and government. This distrust mirrors growing frustration with Big Tech, as American adults also face a rise in misleading content, especially with weakened digital safeguards. Elon Musk’s overhaul of Twitter (now X) and Meta’s move to replace third-party fact-checkers with Community Notes have contributed to the spread of harmful content on social media platforms.

The study suggests that teens’ skepticism toward online content signals a need for educational interventions on misinformation. It also calls for tech companies to enhance transparency and develop tools to improve the credibility of content shared on their platforms.