Caliber Group, Inc.

Gen Z distrusts AI-generated content. They also use AI more than any other generation.

Most Gen Z-ers hold negative views toward AI content. 39% view AI ads negatively, and half say they have unfollowed social media accounts that felt like "AI slop."

And yet, 74% of Gen Z has used an AI tool in the past month.

This contradictory behavior means that Gen Z can spot AI-generated content faster than any other generation, and they will turn away from brands for using AI. They can pick up on AI's tell-tale language patterns, visual styles, video movement, punctuation or tone in a heartbeat.

For brands targeting younger audiences, always exercise caution when using AI. Gen Z will notice if AI is behind a brand's content, and they aren't inclined to give out second chances.

Shoutout to Arizona Basketball for a record-breaking season. 🐻⬇️ As a team made up of proud Wildcat supporters and several University of Arizona alumni, we've enjoyed watching these student-athletes represent Tucson on a national stage. Bear down!

Hell of a ride. Thank you Wildcat Nation.

Welcome to Trend Tracker, your bi-weekly briefing on the shifts shaping modern marketing.

This week's download: Brands beware, because juries just handed down landmark verdicts that could reshape how we use social media forever.

📈 What happened: Last week, tech giants Meta and Google lost lawsuits in California and New Mexico claiming they were liable for building intentionally addictive platforms for young users.

💭 Why it matters for marketers: This is the first of more than 1,500 similar cases to go to trial, and repeated losses could force platforms to fundamentally change how they operate. Platform design changes, age restrictions and new regulatory guardrails could significantly impact views, targeting capabilities and ad inventory in the future.

💡 How to respond: Watch this litigation closely to see its domino effect, and be prepared to adapt your social media and your brand reputation strategy quickly. The platforms aren't going anywhere tomorrow, but the rules of the road are changing fast.

Read about the cases here: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html