Teens Are Losing Faith In Big Tech—And The Numbers Are Shocking

Forbes - Jan 31st, 2025
Open on Forbes

A new report by Common Sense Media highlights the growing distrust among American teenagers towards big tech companies, despite heavy use of platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. The report indicates that fewer than one in ten teens believe tech companies prioritize their well-being, and nearly half express little to no trust in these companies' ability to make responsible decisions about artificial intelligence (AI). Teens are particularly concerned about AI's role in misinformation, with examples of deepfakes and disinformation campaigns increasing their skepticism about online information. Additionally, 70% of teens demand transparency regarding AI usage in content.

Beyond AI, the report underscores teens' concerns about how companies handle their personal information, with only 15% trusting social media companies to safeguard their data. This has led to a shift in behavior, with many teens adopting defensive strategies like using burner accounts and peer-to-peer messaging apps to protect their privacy. The findings reflect a broader skepticism among Gen Z towards technology, posing significant implications for tech companies. If major platforms fail to address these concerns, they risk losing a key demographic market share.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.4
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a well-researched and timely examination of teenagers' eroding trust in big tech companies, drawing primarily from a reputable source, Common Sense Media. Its strengths lie in its accurate portrayal of key findings and its relevance to current debates on technology and ethics. However, the article could benefit from greater balance by including diverse perspectives, particularly from tech industry representatives and independent experts. While the story is clear and engaging, transparency about the research methodology would enhance its credibility. Overall, the article effectively highlights important issues that resonate with a broad audience, contributing meaningfully to public discourse on technology and its impact on young people.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story accurately reflects the findings of the Common Sense Media report, particularly in highlighting the erosion of trust among teens toward big tech companies. Specific claims, such as fewer than one in ten teens believing tech companies prioritize their well-being and nearly half expressing little trust in tech companies' AI decisions, align with the report's findings. However, some statistics, like the 60% of teens questioning online information accuracy, are not directly verified in the story, which slightly affects precision. Overall, the story is truthful and well-supported by the report, though it would benefit from more precise sourcing for some figures.

7
Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of American teenagers and their skepticism toward big tech companies. While this focus is appropriate given the report's subject, the story could be more balanced by including viewpoints from tech companies or experts in technology ethics. The lack of these perspectives may lead to a one-sided narrative that emphasizes distrust without exploring potential counterarguments or solutions proposed by the tech industry. Including a broader range of viewpoints would enhance the article's balance.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the main points. The language is straightforward and accessible, making the complex topic of technology trust and AI understandable to a general audience. However, the inclusion of unrelated headlines (e.g., 'Bitcoin And Crypto Are Braced For A Huge Fed Price Shock') disrupts the narrative flow and may confuse readers about the article's focus. Removing these extraneous elements would improve clarity.

8
Source quality

The primary source for the article is a report from Common Sense Media, a reputable organization known for its research on media and technology's impact on children and families. This source lends credibility to the article's claims. However, the story does not cite additional sources, such as tech industry representatives or independent experts, which could provide a more comprehensive view. The reliance on a single source limits the depth of source variety, though the authority of the primary source is strong.

6
Transparency

The article effectively communicates the main findings of the Common Sense Media report but lacks transparency regarding the methodology of the report itself. Details about how the data was collected, the sample size, and the demographics of the surveyed teens are not provided, which could impact readers' understanding of the context and reliability of the findings. Greater transparency about these aspects would enhance the article's credibility and allow readers to better assess the validity of the claims.

Sources

  1. https://csa-research.com
  2. https://www.instagram.com/commonsenseorg/p/DFazcjkyHZ2/
  3. https://www.instagram.com/techcrunch/p/DFd0zZssS0k/
  4. https://www.instagram.com/commonsenseorg/reel/DFdRUSIqajH/
  5. https://www.lcps.org/o/brm/page/digital-citizenship