• by Ray Schultz , October 15, 2025

Consumers are worried about the effects of artificial intelligence and there are signs that they are tired of technology in general, according to a study by iHeartMedia.

Of the consumers surveyed, 82% worry about the societal impact of AI. And 90% want to know that the media they access was created by a human being. 

Yet 70% are using AI despite lingering distrust. And 97% know what it is.  

Still, 75% do not want Ai anywhere near their media and entertainment. Worse, 66% believe AI could go to war with humans some day and the same percentage fears loss of jobs due to AI.  

Gen Z and lower-income consumers are the most worried about AI-driven job loss.  

Meanwhile, 42% are tired of their smartphones and sometimes wish they had a “dumbphone” or a flip phone. Interest in the latter has grown by 15,000% YoY. High-income consumers are particularly prone to weariness with smartphones. 

Social media are used by 92% of consumers, but 66% say social makes them feel worse and more disconnected than they were previously. And 86% admit they argue on social media in ways they would never utilize in-person. 

The study also reflects that children lack independence. While three out of four kids simply want to hang out together in person, parents are increasingly cautious about letting them do so.

In fact, 61% of those from ages eight to 12 have never made plans with a friend, and 45% have never walked one aisle away from their parents in a store. In addition, 71% have never used a sharp knife. 

But they have their own private lives—70% stay up after bedtime, using a tablet, phone or game console. Moreover, 33% have chatted with an AI bot and 25% have exchanged messages with a stranger online. 

On a separate topic, 86% of adults are seeing more ads in feeds, often at the expense of posts from friends and family. Higher-income households fear that ads are replacing the family. 

“In a world of digital saturation and AI acceleration, this study reveals that consumers are not just looking for convenience—they’re searching for meaning," says Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “Sports, Radio, live media and human-led storytelling offer a rare sanctuary of trust, empathy and shared experience Sports, Radio, live media and human-led storytelling offer a rare sanctuary of trust, empathy and shared experience."

As for non-marketing related topics, 78% feel the Epstein files should be released. The remainder believe there is nothing in the files. 

And, 43% believe that ICE aids are necessary for public safety. But 57% say they reflect government overreach. 

Critical Mass Media surveyed 2,007 consumers for iHeartMedia from August 8-13.