A report by the online safety charity Internet Matters finds that more than a quarter of children who consume online news have believed a fake or AI‑generated story. The figure stands at 27%. Vulnerable children — including those who have SEN support or an EHCP, or who have a physical or mental health condition — are more prone to being fooled. About 43% of vulnerable children believed a fake or AI‑generated story, compared with 23% of non‑vulnerable children.

One 17-year-old girl told researchers: “Today I’ve seen about three videos of natural disasters like hurricanes and floods and they’ve all been fake but I believed every single one of them, the AI fooled me.” The finding underscores how AI‑generated content can mislead young users and complicate the process of verifying information.

Researchers note that AI-generated content and deepfakes are increasing the risk of mis‑ and disinformation, and that many children encounter news via algorithmic recommendations rather than by following news‑focused accounts. The study also reports that 76% of children consume news weekly, with 68% obtaining it from social media. About 41% get information from news outlets’ social media accounts, while 40% rely on influencers or content creators. A further 40% do not actively follow news accounts, often encountering material through suggested posts. The report highlights the emotional impact of distressing news, with 61% seeing a story that worried or upset them in the past month and 41% saying they felt overwhelmed. Labour MP Jess Asato called for stronger media literacy in education, while a Government spokesperson said the Online Safety Act will lead to safer algorithms as platforms comply with rules.