Gen Z and the Crisis of Trust: Linguistic Manipulation in AI-generated Fake News
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2025
Abstract
This study fills a research gap in the field of experimental investigations on the impact of linguistic manipulation on the assimilation of fake news among members of Generation Z. It aims to examine the extent to which members of Gen Z display susceptibility to media manipulation, with a particular focus on the linguistic markers of deception (LMDs) in media coverages. The research investigates whether the inclusion of credibility factors (CFs) in a text layer influence the perceived veracity of information. Specifically, the study seeks to determine whether the strategic use of CFs can lead individuals to perceive fabricated news as true. By analyzing the correlation between CFs and the perceived veracity of media coverage, the study explores the mechanisms behind text-based persuasion. A pilot study was conducted using a convenience sample of 47 undergraduate students from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. As part of the study procedure, the participants were asked to evaluate the veracity of eight media messages by completing a survey. After listening to pre-recorded video news segments, the participants assessed the credibility of each item using a five-point Likert scale, indicating the extent to which they believed the information to be true or false. This research contributes to the analysis of manipulation within text linguistics, providing insights into the role of LMDs in shaping media perception. This paper presents the initial analysis of research findings obtained within the project Communicative Competence in the Global Village: Gen Z Facing the Truth, the Post-Truth, and Fake News in Social Media, conducted as part of the NCN Miniatura 5 grant.
Publication
Scripta Neophilologica Posnaniensia
Publisher
Adam Mickiewicz University
City/State
Poznań, Poland
Volume
25
Pages
197-212
Department
College of Communication and Design
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Peer Reviewed
1
Recommended Citation
Urbaniak, A., Grodzki, E., & Phillips, M. J. (2025, December). Gen Z and the crisis of trust: Linguistic manipulation in AI-generated fake news. Scripta Neophilologica Posnaniensia, 25, 197-212. https://doi.org/10.14746/snp.2025.25.13
