Third‐Person Perception of Deepfake Harms: Comparing Seniors and Young Adults

The potential for harm caused by deepfakes has been widely recognized, with concern over its psychological, social, and political consequences. This study investigates how individuals from different age groups perceive the harms that deepfakes could bring through the lens of the third‐person perception (TPP). An online survey was conducted with 132 young adults and 152 seniors on perceptions of physical, emotional, financial, societal, and relational harm. The findings reveal significant TPP across all harm types, with seniors exhibiting a stronger TPP effect than young adults. Our findings extend TPP research into the examination of deepfake harms, as well as calling for tailored and age‐sensitive media literacy interventions and risk communication strategies.