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More Teens Are Being Misled By AI-Generated Content, Study Reveals
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
A growing number of teenagers are struggling to distinguish between authentic and manipulated online content, with AI-generated media adding to the confusion.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Many teens have shared content they later discovered was fake.
- Many teens don’t trust tech companies to prioritize their mental health.
- Most teens support watermarking AI-generated content for transparency.
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.
Photo by Rubaitul Azad on Unsplash
Tata Technologies Suffers Ransomware Attack And Temporarily Suspends IT Services
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
The multinational Indian company Tata Technologies confirmed that it was hit by a ransomware attack that forced it to suspend its IT services. The company also assured that all services had been restored and that their customers weren’t affected.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Tata Technologies publicly confirmed today it has been hit by a ransomware attack.
- Some IT services were temporarily suspended but have since been restored and they assure clients weren’t affected.
- Tata Technologies has launched a detailed investigation in consultation with experts to determine the root cause of the attack.
According to Cyber Security News , Tata Technologies—a subsidiary of Tata Group and headquartered in India—shared an official statement acknowledging the situation, assuring that the services are under control, and informing about an investigation to get to the root cause and enhance security.
“Some of the IT services were suspended temporarily and have now been restored. Our client delivery services have remained fully functional and unaffected throughout,” said Tata Technologies in an official announcement, signed by Vikrant Gandhe, Company Secretary of Tata Technologies.
The company—specialized in product engineering and digital services in multiple industries such as automotive, industrial machinery, and aerospace—assured that their client’s services remained “fully functional” and that they are taking action and following security measures.
“Further detailed investigation is underway in consultation with experts to assess the root cause and to take remedial action as necessary. We remain committed to the highest standards of security and data protection,” added the company.
Tata Technologies didn’t provide more information or details on what was affected, if hackers requested a ransom payment, or if the attackers have been identified.
A recent ransomware attack addressed to American Addiction Centers (AAC) exposed sensitive information from over 400,000 members and the Rhysida ransomware gang claimed responsibility.
