From Deepfakes to Real Feelings: How Artificial Media Impacts Teen Trust

“I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

That’s a sentence I’ve heard more than once from teens in my therapy office. Sometimes it’s about a video that turned out to be fake. Other times it’s about a friend who used an AI filter so convincing it felt like deception. What these moments reveal is deeper than confusion about technology—it’s about trust.

Teens today are growing up in a world where the line between what’s real and what’s manufactured is thinner than ever. As a therapist, I’ve watched this uncertainty affect not just how young people see media, but how they experience relationships, self-image, and even truth itself.

The Issue: When “Seeing Is Believing” No Longer Holds

Artificial intelligence now makes it possible to create incredibly realistic photos, voices, and videos that never actually happened. A smiling celebrity endorsement, a friend’s “vacation photo,” or a tearful apology from a public figure might all be AI-generated.

For adults, this might feel unsettling. For teens, whose brains are still developing the ability to assess credibility and manage emotional reactions, it can be downright confusing.

The Pew Research Center reports that most Americans struggle to tell whether images or videos are AI-manipulated, and young people are no exception. When they realize they’ve been misled, even unintentionally, it can spark feelings of embarrassment, anxiety, or cynicism.

In therapy, I’ve seen this play out in small but telling ways.

• A high school student felt betrayed when a close friend used an AI “beauty filter” and posted the image as real, saying, “If she doesn’t even look like that, what’s the point of trying?”

  
  

• Another teen became suspicious of online news after learning that a shocking “war video” was fake. “If everything can be edited,” he asked, “how do you trust anything?”

These are composite examples drawn from common clinical experiences, but they illustrate a growing truth: artificial media can erode both interpersonal trust and self-trust.

Why It Matters: Trust Is the Foundation of Mental Health

Adolescence is already a time when young people are figuring out who and what to believe. They’re learning to trust peers, authority figures, and themselves. When they can’t rely on the information in front of them, that developmental process becomes more complicated.

The American Psychological Association warns that constant exposure to manipulated media can contribute to skepticism, social comparison, and emotional fatigue. Teens may start questioning not only what’s real online but also whether their own perceptions can be trusted.

That erosion of trust can lead to isolation (“Why bother talking if everyone’s fake online?”) or hypervigilance (“I have to double-check everything and everyone”). Both patterns increase stress and anxiety.

How Digital Literacy Restores Confidence

Fortunately, there’s a solution, and it’s one parents and educators can start teaching right now. Digital literacy, especially around AI and manipulated media, helps rebuild the critical thinking skills that nurture both emotional and relational trust.

Here are a few ways to begin:

1. Name the Technology. Explain what deepfakes and AI-generated images are, and why they’re designed to look convincing. Simply knowing that this technology exists helps teens feel informed rather than tricked.

2. Practice “Source Sleuthing.” Encourage students to verify media using reverse image searches or trusted fact-checking sites like Snopes or Reuters Fact Check. Turning this into a game or class activity makes it engaging and empowering.

3. Talk About Emotional Reactions. If a teen feels anxious or disoriented after seeing something questionable online, validate those feelings. Ask, “What about that made you uncomfortable?” This shifts focus from fear to understanding.

4. Model Transparency. Adults can set the tone by being open about their own uncertainty. Try saying, “I’m not sure if that’s real. Let’s find out together.” This models both curiosity and humility, key components of digital trust.

5. Encourage Media Breaks. When digital content starts to feel overwhelming or untrustworthy, stepping away helps reset emotional balance. Replace scrolling with something grounding like journaling, outdoor time, or creative projects.

Encouragement and Resources

While the digital landscape may be full of artificial media, the solution doesn’t lie in fear. It lies in education, empathy, and connection. When teens learn to spot deepfakes and AI manipulation, they not only become savvier media consumers but also more confident thinkers and communicators.

They begin to see that trust doesn’t come from perfect information; it comes from thoughtful reflection, honest dialogue, and shared curiosity about the world around them.

For lessons, conversation starters, and free resources on AI, digital literacy, and emotional well-being, visit Cyber Civics and Cyberwise.

Because when we teach kids to question what’s real, we’re really teaching them to trust themselves.

About The Author:

Connor joined the Cyber Civics team in 2023 with experience in both social work and marketing. In 2020 he earned his LMSW in Texas where he worked as a therapist in a private practice. He made the switch from direct practice to marketing and worked with therapists to help market the profession and practice. Connor now works for Cyber Civics and Cyberwise. After earning his Bachelors in English, Political Science and Counseling from the University of North Texas, he went on to receive his Masters in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Continuing his studies, he earned a certificate in Digital Marketing from the University of Texas in 2022. He resides in Houston, TX with his fiancee and dog Leia. Connor feels that his role at Cyberwise and Cybercivics is the perfect place to make the much needed changes that help promote the mission of increasing digital literacy and online safety.