For over a decade, the conversation around online safety for young people has been dominated by a single topic: cyberbullying. But as we move into 2025, the digital landscape has shifted dramatically.

A new, more insidious reality has taken hold. Today, scams and misinformation rank as the top online fears for teenagers. From sophisticated phishing links and fake marketplaces to manipulative wellness content, digital natives are facing a daily barrage of threats designed to exploit their trust and impulsive nature.

The Trust Gap: A Striking Disconnect

Recent research reveals a striking disconnect between how teens and parents perceive online risk. While teenagers see these threats as part of everyday life, parents are often focused on older risks and remain unsure if their children are truly prepared for what’s next.

The Reality for Teens: 41% of teens say they’ve almost fallen for a scam, and 16% have already fallen victim to one.

The Psychological “Perfect Storm”: Because the adolescent “braking system”—the prefrontal cortex—isn’t fully developed until age 25, teens are uniquely vulnerable to content engineered to create compulsion loops and exploit impulsive decisions.

The Parent Perspective: Only 7% of parents feel “very confident” their teen can recognize a scam, yet they often underestimate how frequently fraud and misinformation intersect.

The implications go far beyond safety. They are central to the future of customer experience (CX). When a teenager feels deceived on a platform, the experience leaves a lasting mark, and once that trust is broken, it is nearly impossible to win back.

In the world of digital loyalty, trust is the new retention strategy. Losing a teen user today often means losing them for life. Brands that ignore this shift risk alienating an entire generation that no longer separates “safety” from “satisfaction.”

What’s Inside the Report?

Drawing on insights from global experts, fraud survivors, and trust & safety leaders, the new e-book, “What Happens When Teens Stop Trusting the Internet?”, charts a path forward where safety is a defining feature of the customer journey.

In this document, you will explore:

• The “Flex Culture” Trap: How social pressure and the lure of “quick money” fuel financial exploitation on social media.
• The Victim-Offender Continuum: Why some teens are being groomed into becoming “money mules” for criminal networks.
• Friction with Purpose: How platforms can use “invisible defenses” and smarter UX design to protect users without slowing them down.
• Digital Literacy as Empowerment: Lessons from wellness platforms on equipping teens with the tools to spot misinformation and “glow-up” scams.

Fill out the form below to access the report and learn how your platform can lead the way in building a safer, more resilient digital future.