AI and Teens: A Study on Trust in the Online World
Imagine a world where teenagers encounter images and videos every day that look real but are actually manipulated. According to a study by Common Sense Media published on January 29, 2025, this happens more often than we might think. This report, titled "Teens, Trust, and Technology in the Age of AI: Navigating Trust in Online Content," examines how generative AI affects the trust that young people aged 13 to 18 place in the information they see online. The study is based on a nationally representative survey of 1,045 teenagers and their parents conducted from March to May 2024. Authors including Angela Calvin, Amanda Lenhart, Alexa Hasse, Supreet Mann, and Michael Robb emphasize that, at a time when AI is embedded in everyday tools, inauthentic visual content is spreading rapidly, raising questions about trust.
The research shows that around two in five teenagers (41%) are aware that they have seen images or videos that were real but misleading. More than a third (35%) of teenagers admit that they have been deceived by fake content online. Approximately one in five (22%) shared content that they later discovered was fake. In addition, a quarter (28%) of teenagers have wondered whether they were talking to a chatbot or a human. These experiences are not isolated—the study reveals that many young people face challenges in distinguishing truth from manipulation, which may lead to an erosion of trust in online platforms.
The Impact of Generative AI on Trust in Information
Generative AI presents new challenges because it makes it possible to create content quickly and easily. According to the report, one-third of teenagers believe that these systems will make it harder to trust the accuracy of the information they see online. For example, 19% of teenagers have encountered a social media account that was taken over by a chatbot, and 8% have experienced their voice or image being used without consent to create fake content. These experiences are not merely unpleasant—they lead to real changes in behavior. Around seven in ten teenagers (72%) who have seen misleading images or videos say that these experiences changed how they assess the accuracy of online content.
Additional related research shows that nearly three-quarters of American teenagers have used AI companions (chatbots that simulate conversations), with half doing so regularly. Younger teenagers aged 13–14 tend to trust advice from these AI systems more than older teenagers aged 15–17, but overall, half of teenagers express distrust of such advice. Despite this, two-thirds of teenagers find conversations with AI less satisfying than conversations with people, and 80% spend more time with real friends than with AI companions.
Problems with AI Accuracy and Trust in Tech Companies
The study reveals that generative AI faces major credibility challenges. Among teenagers who have used AI for school assignments, nearly two in five (39%) found problems or inaccuracies in AI-generated output. Another 36% did not notice any problems, while a quarter (25%) were unsure. This underscores the need to improve AI reliability and teach teenagers to critically evaluate such content, especially in an educational context.
Trust in major technology companies is low. Around six in ten teenagers (64%) say that companies such as Google, Apple, Meta, TikTok, or Microsoft cannot be trusted to care about their mental health and well-being. Similarly, 62% doubt that these companies will prioritize people's safety over profits. More than half (53%) have little confidence in these companies' ethical decision-making, 52% in their protection of personal data, and 51% in their inclusivity and fairness toward different users. When it comes to AI, nearly half (47%) of teenagers have little or no confidence that tech companies will make responsible decisions about the use of AI in their products.
Support for Safeguards and the Risks of AI Companions
Teenagers strongly support measures to protect against the risks of AI. Three-quarters (74%) consider privacy protection and transparency important. The same proportion (74%) want generative AI platforms to discourage the sharing of personal information. Seventy-three percent support labeling or watermarking AI-generated content, and 61% believe that content creators should be compensated for data used to train AI systems. These preferences indicate a desire for comprehensive AI oversight.
Other risks identified in related research include the finding that one-third of teenagers would rather talk to an AI companion about serious problems than to a person, and one-quarter have shared personal information with these platforms. The risks include dangerous advice, role-playing involving sexual scenarios, and unhealthy emotional dependence. Common Sense Media is calling for no one under the age of 18 to use AI companions until stronger protections are introduced. The organization is actively advocating for legislation in states such as California and New York that would restrict interactions between minors and AI chatbots, and emphasizes the need for better AI literacy—the ability to understand and use AI responsibly—among teenagers.
The Path to Greater Trust
The study shows that a substantial proportion of teenagers are cautious about visual content online, especially on social media. Against the backdrop of declining trust in the authenticity of content, 35% of teenagers believe that generative AI will make it harder to trust online information. At a time of rapid AI development, it is crucial to equip young people with the skills to "investigate, not doubt" information. The easy spread of unreliable claims and inauthentic media may deepen low levels of trust in institutions such as the media or government. Teenagers emphasize the importance of visible warnings about accuracy and bias in AI-generated output, designs that discourage the sharing of personal data, watermarking to identify AI content, and compensation for creators. The future requires cooperation among policymakers, tech companies, the media, educators, parents, and young people themselves to foster a culture of critical thinking in a rapidly changing digital world. Common Sense Media, which is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through trusted information, plans to expand its AI literacy resources in the coming years.
