Majority says AI video can shatter trust, pull people away from stories and keep them off major social media platforms
New national survey finds Americans oppose AI-generated videos on social media
Majority says AI video can shatter trust, pull people away from stories and keep them off major social media platforms
A new national survey released today by Story Radius finds that most Americans aren't excited about the rapid proliferation of AI-generated videos on social media, with many saying it's actively undermining their trust, emotional engagement, and desire to stay on major platforms.
Marketing Technology News: MarTech Interview with Nicholas Kontopoulous, Vice President of Marketing, Asia Pacific and Japan @ Twilio
The study, based on a survey of 512 U.S. adults, reveals widespread skepticism toward AI-generated video content, even as technology and entertainment companies accelerate investment in generative AI tools.
The survey results show that more than 8 in 10 respondents say AI-generated videos take them out of the story at least sometimes, with nearly half saying this happens very often or almost always. Almost half also report that they would use social media less or not at all if most of the videos in their feed were generated by AI.
“These findings suggest we are facing not just a technology gap, but a trust gap,” said Brad Cooper, founder and CEO of Story Radius. “AI video may be technologically advanced, but emotionally and experientially, most viewers say we’re not there yet and are often actively turning it off.”
The report says that while a small group of AI video enthusiasts remains open to the technology, they are outnumbered by detractors by roughly two to one. However, even among enthusiasts, many still report that their immersion is frequently interrupted by unnatural facial expressions, inconsistent characters, and other creepy elements.
Marketing Technology News: Disrupt or be disrupted: AI’s wake-up call for B2B marketers
“What's surprising is that this isn't just resistance from an older audience or technophobes,” Cooper said. “Skepticism crosses generations, including Gen Z, with even many of the most receptive viewers saying AI video still disconnects them from the story.”
The study also highlights the potential impact on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. Almost half of respondents said the increase in AI-generated video will reduce their usage of the platform, raising concerns about long-term engagement and retention if AI content continues to grow without stronger audience buy-in.
Respondents make a clear distinction between AI as a tool and AI as a replacement for human creativity. While many express conditional tolerance for AI in planning, experimentation, and the use of environments and special effects in video production, they broadly reject AI-generated acting, scripts, and emotionally-driven storytelling.
“For years, the assumption was that audiences would just adapt,” Cooper says. “This data suggests the opposite: People are adapting by disengaging, including skipping videos, questioning authenticity, and in some cases rethinking their relationship with the platform entirely.”
The full report, “Americans' Views on AI-Generated Video and Social Media Trust,” includes detailed survey results, demographic analysis, and open-ended comments exploring how AI-generated video is reshaping viewer trust and behavior.
