Gen Z's AI Adoption Fuels Surge in Scams, Eroding Digital Trust — Malwarebytes Inc.

Event summary

70% of Gen Z (ages 18-22) experienced AI-related scams in the past year, vs. 50% of general population.
44% encountered false/misleading AI-generated content, up from 30% in broader population.
19% fell victim to deepfake or virtual kidnapping scams, more than double the general rate (8%).
Malwarebytes launched free Student Protection Program offering two years of Premium Security for U.S. students.
Research based on March 2026 survey of 1,500 respondents across five countries.

The big picture

Malwarebytes' research highlights the dual-edged sword of Gen Z's rapid AI adoption, creating both new opportunities and significant security vulnerabilities. As digital natives embrace AI tools faster than any previous generation, they're disproportionately exposed to next-gen scams that exploit personal data from social media. This trend underscends broader industry challenges around balancing innovation with digital trust preservation, particularly as educational institutions become prime targets for identity fraud.

What we're watching

Trust Erosion Dynamics: How Gen Z's declining trust in digital content will impact platform engagement and ad revenue models.
Regulatory Response: Whether governments will mandate stricter AI content labeling or scam prevention measures.
Security Arms Race: The pace at which cybersecurity firms can develop detection for increasingly sophisticated AI-powered attacks.