8 in 10 Korean social media users want AI content labels, citing distrust

An overwhelming majority of social media users in South Korea are calling for artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content and advertisements to be clearly labeled, according to a recent survey. Conducted by research firm Opensurvey, the poll found that 85.6 percent of 900 respondents from YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok platforms believe social media should disclose whether content was created using AI technology.

Notably, 54.1 percent of the respondents stated that such labeling is "absolutely necessary" to ensure transparency and trust. The demand for disclosure was widespread across all three platforms, with 88 percent of YouTube users, 85.3 percent of Instagram users, and 83.3 percent of TikTok users expressing support for the practice.

The survey revealed that a significant portion of users find AI-generated content artificial or awkward, with 49.9 percent of respondents agreeing with this sentiment. Moreover, 39 percent of respondents questioned the factual accuracy of the information presented in AI-generated content, while 33.8 percent felt deceived by undisclosed AI usage.

The skepticism towards AI content extended to advertising as well. Only 11.4 percent of respondents described AI-generated ads as creative, while 10.4 percent found them interesting and 9.6 percent said they felt new. This indicates a growing distrust among Korean social media users regarding AI-generated content and its potential to mislead or deceive.