Written by In a more digitized world, fact and fiction have been blurred perilously. From the feeds of social media to news websites, we now inhabit a world where believing is no longer seeing. The twin menaces of misinformation and deepfakes are not hypothetical—they are redefining our views, cheating institutions, and eroding democratic confidence worldwide. The term deepfake refers to hyper-realistic synthetic audio, images, or video created using generative AI. What began as a niche tech curiosity has turned into an omnipresent threat. According to a recent global survey, 60% of people were exposed to at least one deepfake video in the past year, and over 95% of these videos were generated using open-source tools like DeepFaceLab. At the same time, the economic toll is astronomical: global fraud losses attributed to deepfakes already amount to tens of billions, with estimates projecting $40 billion in losses by 2027. These fakes are not raw make-believe. A TIME probe into technology such as Google’s Veo 3 found that deepfake videos can show riots, political speeches, election tampering, and more—with sound, realistic movement, and situational realism so intense that they’re virtually indistinguishable from real life . Why deepfakes are dangerous ? Political deepfakes pose a danger to democracy itself. Threats during the 2024 European and American elections highlighted potential interference. Although a Financial Times analysis subsequently discovered only 27 viral AI election deepfakes in the UK, France, and EU, and just 6% of U.S. election disinformation used generative AI—the danger is still foreboding . Deepfake scams are flourishing. Frauds increasingly use celebrity faces and voices to deceive innocent victims—resulting in huge amounts of money lost. The FBI found that almost 40% of scam victims in 2023 were presented with deepfake material, and deepfakes-related fraud in Asia‑Pacific alone grew by 1,530% in one year. 2. Non-consensual exploitation For others, the danger is highly intimate. People—particularly women and adolescents—are becoming victims of “nudify” apps, sextortion, and unwanted deepfakes. There are rampant cases in Australia and South Korea that have prompted immediate legislative and educational action . Humans are not immune. Research indicates that individuals accurately detect only 24–62% of deepfakes, depending on the medium, and tend to overestimate their ability to do so. Add generative AI words and audio into the equation, and we’re immersed in a whirlpool of manipulative content. Deepfakes flourish where virality is designed. X, Meta, and TikTok are such hotspots: recent Indian data indicates 77% of disinformation begins on social media, with Twitter and Facebook at the forefront. Volatile, algorithmic content goes further and faster than rational facts, so disinformation is difficult to contain . Tech-driven detection AI detection software is competing to stay ahead. Initiatives such as Texas State University’s model registered 96.4% detection rate in 2023, and Chinese initiatives reported more than 90% accuracy. India’s very own Deepfakes Analysis Unit employs WhatsApp-based flagging to examine content before national elections. Media literacy & public awareness Experts insist that identifying pixel-level errors is not sufficient. The AI model creations these days are too sophisticated. Users should, instead, raise questions of source credibility, take motive into account, and crosscheck through credible journalism. Countries such as Australia are implementing deepfake teaching in schools as part of wider digital literacy initiatives . Regulatory action Governments across the globe are stepping up. The U.S. has just passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act (May 19, 2025), requiring platforms to quickly take down non-consensual intimate deepfakes. The AI Act is implementing risk-based regulation in Europe. India is weighing targeted reform under its draft Digital India Act . The battle against deepfakes and disinformation requires a multi-fronted approach: Only by swift, concerted action can society preserve truth and trust. The age of deepfake isn’t arriving—it’s already arrived. Real-world effects—from subverting elections to destroying lives—are already playing out. Yet there’s also reason for hopeful restraint: human beings are waking up, technologies are improving, and laws are adapting. By equipping ourselves with understanding, technologies, and cooperation, we can reclaim fact-driven discourse before fiction seeps too deeply into everyday life. Keep reading Foramz for your daily dose of moral support.
Written by Grace
The world is changing faster than ever, but not everyone is able to keep up. Among those left behind are senior citizens, struggling to navigate a digital landscape that often feels cold, complex, and isolating. The Challenge of Online Banking Technology was meant to make life easier, but for many elderly individuals, it has created a new kind of hardship. Online banking, once hailed as a convenience, has turned into a daunting challenge. Simple tasks like checking balances, transferring money, or paying bills now require navigating complicated websites and remembering multiple passwords, an almost insurmountable obstacle for those who grew up with pen and paper. Many fear making a mistake, falling for online scams, or losing their savings in a system they barely understand. Social Media: A Barrier Instead of a Bridge Social media, designed to bring people closer, often has the opposite effect on the elderly. While younger generations stay connected with a tap on their smartphones, seniors struggle to set up accounts. They watch their children and grandchildren immersed in WhatsApp conversations, Instagram stories, and TikTok trends, yet they are left out. The warmth of family gatherings has been replaced with text messages they can’t decipher, leaving them feeling more alone than ever. Struggles with Digital Healthcare Healthcare has also moved online, adding another layer of difficulty. Booking a simple doctor’s appointment now requires navigating through apps, receiving confirmation codes via email, and waiting in virtual queues. Gone are the days of walking into a clinic and speaking to a friendly receptionist. Instead, seniors face frustrating loops of automated responses and chatbots that fail to understand their needs. Many, in desperation, delay seeking medical help simply because they cannot figure out the digital process. E-Commerce: A Complicated Marketplace E-commerce, another supposed blessing, is equally challenging. While younger generations browse and buy with ease, seniors find themselves lost in a maze of product listings, delivery options, and online payment methods. The joy of shopping, once a social and interactive experience, has turned into an intimidating task that often leads to abandoned carts and unfulfilled needs. The Heartbreaking Impact on Family Relationships Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this digital transformation is the impact on family relationships. Letters and phone calls have been replaced by texts and emails, modes of communication that many seniors struggle to use. Birthdays are now celebrated with a Facebook post rather than a warm hug. Grandparents miss out on their grandchildren’s lives, not because they don’t care, but because they are unable to engage in the digital dialogue. The silence in their homes is deafening, a reminder of a world that has moved on without them. A Call for Inclusion For a generation that once built the foundations of today’s society, being left behind in the digital age is a cruel irony. They are not resistant to change; they simply need patience, guidance, and a system that accommodates their pace. The world must remember that progress should include everyone, not just those who can keep up with it. After all, technology should unite not isolate. Keep reading Foramz for your daily dose of moral support.