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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Kari Paul in San Francisco

Teens much more likely to believe online conspiracy claims than adults – US study

Recent data from Google found that 40% of Gen Z now prefers platforms like TikTok and Instagram to traditional search engines.
Recent data from Google found that 40% of Gen Z now prefers platforms like TikTok and Instagram to traditional search engines. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Teenagers are significantly more likely to believe online conspiracy theories than older generations, a new study has shown, underscoring the broad impacts of gen Z’s relationship with social media.

Findings from Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a non-profit that fights misinformation, showed that 60% of 13-17-year-old Americans surveyed agreed with four or more harmful conspiracy statements – compared with just 49% of adults. For teens who spend four or more hours a day on any single social media platform, the figure was as high as 69%.

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