The more people we speak to, the more we hear how often people cringe when seeing AI-generated content as a business's primary marketing material on social media.
According to estimates from the Europol Innovation Lab, approximately 52% of overall social media content is AI-generated or AI-assisted, while an analysis by Originality.ai found that 53.7% of long-form posts on LinkedIn are likely AI-generated. With these figures in mind, we need to ask the questions: how are audiences responding to AI content, and to what degree do they trust posts published by businesses?
- 50% of Gen Z have unfollowed, muted, or blocked accounts because they suspect the content is AI-generated (Sprout Social Q1 2026 Pulse Survey).
- 88% of consumers say AI video tools have decreased their trust in social media news.
- 50% of US adults are more concerned than excited about AI's growing presence in daily life, with only 10% feeling more excited than concerned (Pew Research Center, March 2026).
These figures demonstrate that users are identifying AI-generated content more quickly and easily, and unfollowing accounts as a result. This points directly to a trust and authenticity issue and serves as an early signal of where the broader consumer market is heading. Gen Z, as the most digitally literate generation, is leading this shift; their rejection of synthetic content reflects a heightened ability to detect it (Source: AI Business Weekly).
But now the fight is on…
LinkedIn has brought in a new button allowing consumers to flag posts that appear to have been overly AI generated. The button is called “Seems like AI slop” and is for all the visual imagery we all seem to cringe looking at. You can find it by clicking on the three dots at the top right side of a post.
As Jay Manciocchi puts it: “This isn't just another platform moderation feature. It's one of the strongest signals yet that social networking apps are entering a new era where quality, originality, and expertise matter much more than publishing frequency.”
So how can you help in the fight against AI content:
- Tell real stories, lived experiences and personal lessons
- Use AI to explore ideas, research and proofreading
- Support creative agencies and people using their creative skill
- Keep flagging AI content and unfollowing business profiles that make use of AI as their primary form of communication
At CRT Digital, we value real human stories, relationships and creative content that is born from people's own imagination. If you feel the same way, reach out to us for all your website, graphic design and social media requirements.