By Kerry Gallagher
This week Common Sense Media released research showing that “teens face significant challenges in distinguishing between authentic and manipulated content” online. Some highlights of the research include:
- 41% of teens are aware of having seen images or videos that were real but misleading.
- 35% of teens report having been misled by fake content online.
- 22% of teens report they had shared content they later learned was fake.
- 28% of teens had an experience when they wondered if they were talking to a chatbot or a human.
All of this is leading to an erosion in teens’ trust in online platforms. 35% of teens feel that generative AI systems will make it harder to trust the accuracy of online information. When discussing this information with the teens you care about, encourage them to speak out about their concerns to policymakers, tech companies, or even media outlets. Their voices could be important as we foster a culture of critical thinking and informed decision-making in our rapidly evolving digital world.