The Crisis of Digital Authenticity in the Age of AI-Generated Content and New Media

Abstract

The widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has reduced the technical barriers to producing fabricated images, videos, and voice recordings. The prioritization of high-engagement content by recommendation algorithms on major new media platforms allows AI-generated content to receive greater exposure within digital information systems. Simultaneously, the mere existence of AI has weakened public trust in authentic content, as genuine news photographs and videos can increasingly be dismissed as "AI-generated." This phenomenon, known as the "liar's dividend," weakens trust in digital evidence. This study analyzes the generative mechanisms and social consequences of this authenticity crisis through three dimensions: technological barriers, platform amplification, and public trust. Using literature analysis and case-based evidence, it examines the broader implications of AI-generated content for journalism and public trust systems. Therefore, the results reveal that AI-generated content has transformed perceptions of digital authenticity, creating challenges for public trust and news credibility in the new media era.