Navigating the Digital Mirage: The Impact of Deepfakes and AI on Older Adults' Ability to Discern Authentic Content

Ansh Mittal

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.59035

Navigating the Digital Mirage: The Impact of Deepfakes and AI on Older Adults' Ability to Discern Authentic Content

Author(s)	Mr. Ansh Mittal
Country	India
Abstract	The proliferation of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology has redefined digital authenticity, creating profound implications for older adults who increasingly engage online for communication, information, and entertainment. This study, “Navigating the Digital Mirage: The Impact of Deepfakes and AI on Older Adults’ Ability to Discern Authentic Content”, investigates how cognitive ageing, technological literacy gaps, and socio-emotional factors collectively shape seniors’ susceptibility to AI-generated misinformation. Drawing upon literature across cognitive psychology, communication studies, and AI ethics, the paper identifies key vulnerabilities including diminished information processing speed, reliance on heuristic trust, and social isolation that amplify exposure to deepfake-based scams and misinformation. Findings reveal that current interventions, such as fact-checking tools and AI literacy programs, often overlook generational, linguistic, and cultural nuances, rendering them ineffective for older users. The research further highlights the dual role of AI as both the source of deception and a potential solution through automated detection and accessible alert systems. The discussion underscores ethical concerns surrounding privacy, consent, and the paternalism inherent in digital protection frameworks. Recommendations emphasise age-inclusive digital literacy initiatives, co-created verification tools, and partnerships between governments, community organisations, and technology firms to design empathetic, culturally adapted solutions. Ultimately, the study argues that empowering older adults through accessible education, community engagement, and ethically governed AI tools is critical to fostering digital resilience, protecting dignity, and ensuring inclusive participation in the increasingly AI-mediated information ecosystem.
Keywords	Deepfakes, Artificial Intelligence, Older Adults, Digital Literacy, Media Misinformation, Public Policy, Cognitive Vulnerability, Technological Literacy Gap, AI Ethics, Fact-Checking, Digital Trust, Information Security
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2025
Published On	2025-10-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.59035

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Navigating the Digital Mirage: The Impact of Deepfakes and AI on Older Adults' Ability to Discern Authentic Content

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