AI is changing online safety

June is Internet Safety Month, and for many families, the online safety conversation is changing in real time. AI is already part of how people search for information, compare products, write emails, finish schoolwork, create images, summarize news and get everyday answers.

That creates enormous opportunities and new risks. AI-generated information can be useful, but it can also be incomplete, misleading, or wrong. Because information, images, reviews, messages, and voices can now be AI-generated or manipulated in seconds, families need to know when to pause and verify.

According to Cox Mobile's Online Safety Survey, 53% of seniors say they use AI, and 32% report experiencing online misinformation or disinformation in the past 12 months. Among the “sandwich generation,” 87% use AI, and nearly a third have faced misinformation or disinformation. Unsurprisingly, 91% of teens report using AI, adding to parents’ concerns.

How to Spot AI Misinformation

One important element of AI literacy is learning to ask, “How do I know this is true?” People do not always realize when they are interacting with AI. It can appear in a search summary explaining a medical term, a chatbot comparing products, an online review, a customer-service message, a social post, an email, a text or even a phone call that sounds like someone they know.

Avoid relying on an AI-generated answer alone, especially when it involves health, money, legal issues, safety or personal data. If AI says a medication is safe, a benefit has changed or a new rule applies, check a trusted source such as a government agency, university, hospital, established news outlet or official company website. If it cites a study, organization or expert, make sure the source is real and supports the claim.

Warning signs should make all of us slow down: overly certain answers about complicated topics, vague sources, missing details such as date or location, or emotional language pushing quick action. AI can sound confident even when it is missing context or simply wrong.

That same polish can make scams harder to spot. A fake shopping site can use realistic product photos, AI-written descriptions and polished reviews. A phishing email from a supposed bank, delivery company or internet provider can sound more professional than older scams. A caller can even sound like a grandchild or loved one claiming to be in jail, in an accident or in danger, using panic and secrecy to pressure someone into sending money.

Verification is the safest habit. Go directly to the official website, app or phone number for banks, doctors, retailers, utilities, government agencies or internet providers. Do not use the link or phone number in a suspicious message. If a voice sounds like a family member but asks for money, secrecy or immediate action, hang up and call that person directly. Families may also want a simple safe word.

How Cox Supports Safer Digital Experiences

As a provider of trusted connectivity, Cox believes digital safety must evolve alongside the technologies people use every day, including AI literacy as an extension of online safety.

No one should feel left behind as technology changes. By educating not just how to use AI, but when to question it, we’re supporting independence while reinforcing smart digital safety habits.

To learn more about digital safety resources and ongoing research, visit www.cox.com/mobilesafety.