A landmark report released by the youth information charity Young Scot has revealed that deepfakes and AI-generated content have become an inescapable reality for Scotland’s younger generation. Surveying more than 2,600 individuals aged 11 to 25, the study found that over 80% of young people encounter misinformation online regularly. As sophisticated digital manipulation tools become more accessible, the boundary between reality and fabrication has blurred, leaving a significant majority of respondents—nearly 70%—expressing profound anxiety regarding the accuracy of the content they consume on a daily basis.
The psychological toll of this digital landscape is becoming increasingly evident, with six in ten survey participants admitting they struggle to discern verified facts from AI-generated falsehoods. Many young people described an exhausting cycle of perpetual suspicion, noting that the ability to trust online information has been severely eroded. One respondent highlighted that deepfakes are now “just a part of daily life,” while others expressed frustration at having to approach every piece of digital media with extreme skepticism, fearing that the proliferation of synthetic content will eventually make the truth impossible to identify.
Finlay Anderson, a 20-year-old trustee at Young Scot, underscored the gravity of these findings, noting that while the digital world remains central to youth life, it is now defined by a “growing sense that you have to question almost everything you see.” This persistent uncertainty is not merely a technical inconvenience; it is a source of genuine distress that can affect a young person’s overall wellbeing and their participation in society. Mr. Anderson emphasized that the constant need to verify information is not only mentally exhausting but can lead to long-term cynicism regarding the reliability of information sources generally.
In response to these challenges, the survey participants were vocal in their demands for systemic reform, repeatedly calling for stricter regulation of artificial intelligence and more robust accountability for social media platforms. John Loughton, chief executive of Young Scot, characterized the current digital environment as a “tidal wave of misinformation” that leaves users feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. He argued that young people are not asking to retreat from the online world, but rather to be provided with the necessary protections and sophisticated critical thinking tools required to navigate the digital space with confidence.
Beyond their technical concerns, the report highlights that the digital struggle is exacerbated by a broader anxiety surrounding the state of the nation. When asked about their wider concerns, young people pointed to the persistent issues of child poverty, with 85% identifying it as a serious national problem, and the widespread impact of violence on their peers. The desire for a more stable and truthful information environment is intrinsically linked to their broader demands for a better future, including improvements to the NHS and a concerted effort from policymakers to tackle societal inequality.
Ultimately, the findings serve as a stark warning about the impact of the AI revolution on the next generation of citizens. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the gap between the speed of innovation and the implementation of safeguards is leaving young people to shoulder the burden of digital literacy alone. By calling for stronger protections and better educational support, Scotland’s youth are demanding that the digital future be built on a foundation of transparency, ensuring that access to trustworthy information remains a fundamental right rather than a constant, exhausting struggle.