So, the whiz kids over at Common Sense Media dropped a report, and guess what? The young’uns are onto the game. They’re mainlining TikTok and Insta like there’s no tomorrow, but they’re starting to side-eye the puppet masters pulling the strings. Yeah, the very same digital overlords that made their parents believe their phones were listening to them.
Turns out, only a handful of these digital natives think these tech behemoths give a damn about their well-being. And almost half of them are sweating bullets about AI. They see it as a shiny new toy that could either teach them calculus or turn them into the stars of the next deepfake scandal.
Here’s the real gut punch, though, it’s not the tech itself that’s got them spooked, it’s the lack of honesty from the folks peddling it. 60% of these kids are questioning every damn thing they see online. You’d think with the amount of time they spend glued to screens, they’d be easy marks, right? Nope. These little geniuses are catching on, and they want transparency on when AI is pulling the wool over their eyes. 70% of them, to be precise. I’d say that’s a pretty big deal. It’s like asking for nutrition facts on a box of cereal, except the cereal might be trying to brainwash you.
And don’t even get me started on the creativity angle. These kids are cranking out art and music with AI like it’s going out of style, but they’re also wondering who owns the damn stuff. The Copyright Office already said AI-generated art is like a ghost – it doesn’t exist in the eyes of the law. So, these kids are pouring their hearts out, only to find out their masterpieces are legally worth less than a used napkin.
But it’s not just about art and fake news. It’s about privacy, or the lack thereof. Only 15% of these digital cherubs trust social media with their data. 15%! That’s less than the percentage of people who believe Elvis is still alive. So what are they doing? They’re going underground. Burner accounts, secret chats on Discord, anything to avoid the prying eyes of the algorithm. They’re like digital ninjas, slipping through the cracks, trying to keep their souls intact in a world that wants to sell them for ad revenue.
And here’s the kicker – they’re not just running scared. They’re adapting. They’re learning the ropes. They’re becoming the most tech-savvy generation in history, not because they love the tech, but because they have to be. It’s like they’re training for a digital apocalypse, where the only way to survive is to know the enemy better than they know themselves. As one of these bright young minds said to the researchers: “We all use social media, but we also kind of hate it. You never know what’s real.”
Now, I’ve seen my share of crazy in this world. I’ve stared into the abyss of a bottle of whiskey and seen things that would make your hair curl. But this? This is a whole new level of messed up. We’re raising a generation that’s being forced to become digital detectives just to navigate their daily lives. They’re not just using technology; they’re dissecting it, trying to understand its guts, its motives, its very soul.
And you know what? I’m kind of proud of them. They’re not taking this crap lying down. They’re fighting back, not with pitchforks and torches, but with knowledge and skepticism. They’re the digital rebels, the ones who refuse to be fooled, the ones who see through the smoke and mirrors. I wish I could have a drink with them.
They’re the ones who are going to change the world, not because they trust the system, but because they don’t. So, pour one out for the kids. They’re not just alright, they’re the future. And the future looks a hell of a lot more interesting than I thought it would.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s Friday. And I hear a bottle of bourbon calling my name. I need to go consult with my own AI – Artificial Intoxication. Cheers.
Source: Teens Are Losing Faith In Big Tech – And The Numbers Are Shocking