{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"100565","rtpr_id":"nPnbWS5tTa","ticker":"GEN","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["GEN"],"title":"Norton Study Reveals Emerging Risks for Kids Online, Prompting Parents to Have a New Kind of \"The Talk\"","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-07-28T13:00:39.303Z","article_body":"Norton Study Reveals Emerging Risks for Kids Online, Prompting Parents to Have a New Kind of \"The Talk\"\n\nPR Newswire\n\nTEMPE, Ariz., July 28, 2026\n\nNew findings from the Norton Insights Report reveal parents are navigating a\nworld of AI-generated images, digital impersonation, and online relationships\nas childhood enters a new digital era.\n\nTEMPE, Ariz., July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents are entering a new era of\ndigital parenting, and it necessitates a new version of \"the talk.\" According\nto the Norton Insights Report: Connected Kids, a new study from Norton, a Gen\nbrand, 85% of parents of children under 18 say they feel comfortable talking\nto their children about online risks, yet 32% are not confident their child\ncan distinguish AI-generated content from real content. And while the\nmajority (58%) have already taken steps to reduce AI-related risks by\nrestricting apps, monitoring online activity, or talking to their children\nspecifically about AI, two-thirds still worry AI could be used to create fake\nimages or conversations involving their child.\n\n\"Parents have spent years teaching children how to recognize strangers online,\nbut AI changes the nature of what 'danger' online looks like,\" said Leyla\nBilge, Global Head of Scam Research at Norton. \"From the misuse and alteration\nof posted or shared photos to AI bots acting as cyberbullies or impersonating\ntrusted sources, there are entirely new risks at play, and that means parents\nneed to update how they talk about online safety.\"\n\nAI's Impact on Kids Online Experience\nParents know AI is already impacting the way their kids interact with the\nworld and creating new concerns. Among parents of children under 18:\n\n * 32% are not confident their child can distinguish AI-generated content from\nreal content\n * Among parents whose child has experienced cyberbullying, 16% say the\nperpetrator was an AI-generated account or bot, and 29% say the perpetrator\nwas someone using a fake profile or impersonating another person\n * 67% worry AI could be used to create fake images or conversations involving\ntheir child\nAnd when it comes to images, the risk is growing. Criminals increasingly use\nAI-generated photos or fake identities to gain a young person's trust – or\nmanipulate them into sharing real images – which are then used for financial\nsextortion. Last year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited\nChildren received more than 100 reports every day\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=1650806860&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.missingkids.org%2Fblog%2F2026%2Fncmec-releases-new-sextortion-data-2025&a=100+reports+every+day)\n of financial sextortion targeting children and teens. Victims are\noverwhelmingly teenage boys, and many cases begin on social media, gaming\nplatforms, or messaging apps.\n\nThe concern also extends beyond images. While most AI-generated content is\nharmless, over 3% of all AI-generated videos are scams, according to research\nfrom Gen\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=3106201611&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gendigital.com%2Fblog%2Finsights%2Freports%2Fthreat-report-h1-2026%23ai&a=research+from+Gen)\n. The scale of synthetic media means even a small percentage of malicious\ncontent can translate into a significant number of attempts to deceive people\nthrough fake news clips, celebrity endorsements, testimonials and other\nconvincing videos.\n\nThe Hidden Risks of Gaming\nParents identify TikTok (21%) as their top platform concern, with Facebook\nsecond at 13%. Online gaming ranks fourth at 10%, behind YouTube. But the\nbehaviors children report inside gaming environments tell a different story\nabout where risk is accumulating. Among the 64% of parents whose child under\n18 plays chat-enabled online games:\n\n * 64% say their child has chatted with a stranger via voice or text chat\n * 36% say their child has received inappropriate or offensive messages\n * 38% say their child has been encouraged to leave the game and continue a\nconversation on a different platform\n\"The chat layer on top of gaming is often where the real exposure happens, and\nit tends to be less visible to parents than social media use,\" Bilge said.\n\"When a child moves from a game platform to a private messaging app because\nsomeone asked them to, that escalation can be hard to detect, and kids may not\nrecognize it as something worth mentioning.\"\n\nHigh Confidence, Real Exposure\nThe study surfaces a consistent tension between parental confidence and the\nbehaviors children are actually engaging in. Eighty-five percent of parents\nsay they feel comfortable talking to their kids about online risks, but at the\nsame time:\n\n * 40% report their kids go on their device past their bedtime or certain\ndesignated hour\n * 23% report their children watching explicit content\n * 22% report their children have accessed a social media platform or website\nthey thought they had blocked them from visiting\n * 20% report their child sharing private information or personal details with a\nstranger\nThe gap between reported parental comfort and these behaviors does not mean\nconversations aren't happening, but it does suggest that having the talk is\nonly part of the picture.\n\nIntroducing The Bots & The Bees\nThe research points to a broader shift in parenting. Conversations that once\nfocused on strangers, passwords and screen time are expanding to include\nAI-generated images, digital impersonation, online relationships and critical\nthinking in a world where seeing is no longer believing. To help families\nnavigate these conversations, Norton is introducing The Bots & The Bees, a\nnew educational resource that provides expert guidance, practical advice and\nresources.\n\nThe Norton Insights Report: Connected Kids includes additional findings on\nsocial media age requirements, platform-specific concerns, and guidance for\nfamilies navigating AI-related risks. Norton 360 provides families with tools\nto monitor online activity, set screen time limits, filter content, and\nprotect personal information across devices. To read the full report and to\naccess The Bots & The Bees resources, visit\nhttp://us.norton.com/blog/research/connected-kids-insights-report-2026\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=3945728649&u=http%3A%2F%2Fus.norton.com%2Fblog%2Fresearch%2Fconnected-kids-insights-report-2026&a=http%3A%2F%2Fus.norton.com%2Fblog%2Fresearch%2Fconnected-kids-insights-report-2026)\n \n\nAbout the Norton Insights Report\nThe study was conducted online within the United States from May 22, 2026 to\nJune 9, 2026, among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older. Data are weighted where\nnecessary by age, gender, and region to be nationally representative. Within\nthis report, mentions of parents refer to parents with children younger than\n18 years old.\n\nAbout Norton\nNorton is a leader in Cyber Safety, and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global\ncompany dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted\nconsumer brands. Norton empowers millions of individuals and families with\naward-winning protection for their devices, online privacy, and identity.\nNorton products and services are certified by independent testing\norganizations including AV-TEST, AV Comparatives, and SE Labs. Norton is a\nfounding member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware. Learn more at\nhttps://us.norton.com (https://us.norton.com) .\n\nMedia Contact\nBrittany Posey\nGen\nPress@GenDigital.com\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norton-study-reveals-emerging-risks-for-kids-online-prompting-parents-to-have-a-new-kind-of-the-talk-302835711.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norton-study-reveals-emerging-risks-for-kids-online-prompting-parents-to-have-a-new-kind-of-the-talk-302835711.html)\n\nSOURCE Norton\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1959177/Norton-Insights-Report-Connected-Kids.jpg?id=OA2795897\nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1307125/NortonFull-Horizontal-Light-RGB-Web-1-Logo.jpg?id=OA2795883\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPnbWS5tTa","title":"Norton Study Reveals Emerging Risks for Kids Online, Prompting Parents to Have a New Kind of \"The Talk\"","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"GEN","created":"2026-07-28T13:00:39.303Z","tickers":["GEN"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Norton Study Reveals Emerging Risks for Kids Online, Prompting Parents to Have a New Kind of \"The Talk\"\n\nPR Newswire\n\nTEMPE, Ariz., July 28, 2026\n\nNew findings from the Norton Insights Report reveal parents are navigating a\nworld of AI-generated images, digital impersonation, and online relationships\nas childhood enters a new digital era.\n\nTEMPE, Ariz., July 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents are entering a new era of\ndigital parenting, and it necessitates a new version of \"the talk.\" According\nto the Norton Insights Report: Connected Kids, a new study from Norton, a Gen\nbrand, 85% of parents of children under 18 say they feel comfortable talking\nto their children about online risks, yet 32% are not confident their child\ncan distinguish AI-generated content from real content. And while the\nmajority (58%) have already taken steps to reduce AI-related risks by\nrestricting apps, monitoring online activity, or talking to their children\nspecifically about AI, two-thirds still worry AI could be used to create fake\nimages or conversations involving their child.\n\n\"Parents have spent years teaching children how to recognize strangers online,\nbut AI changes the nature of what 'danger' online looks like,\" said Leyla\nBilge, Global Head of Scam Research at Norton. \"From the misuse and alteration\nof posted or shared photos to AI bots acting as cyberbullies or impersonating\ntrusted sources, there are entirely new risks at play, and that means parents\nneed to update how they talk about online safety.\"\n\nAI's Impact on Kids Online Experience\nParents know AI is already impacting the way their kids interact with the\nworld and creating new concerns. Among parents of children under 18:\n\n * 32% are not confident their child can distinguish AI-generated content from\nreal content\n * Among parents whose child has experienced cyberbullying, 16% say the\nperpetrator was an AI-generated account or bot, and 29% say the perpetrator\nwas someone using a fake profile or impersonating another person\n * 67% worry AI could be used to create fake images or conversations involving\ntheir child\nAnd when it comes to images, the risk is growing. Criminals increasingly use\nAI-generated photos or fake identities to gain a young person's trust – or\nmanipulate them into sharing real images – which are then used for financial\nsextortion. Last year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited\nChildren received more than 100 reports every day\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=1650806860&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.missingkids.org%2Fblog%2F2026%2Fncmec-releases-new-sextortion-data-2025&a=100+reports+every+day)\n of financial sextortion targeting children and teens. Victims are\noverwhelmingly teenage boys, and many cases begin on social media, gaming\nplatforms, or messaging apps.\n\nThe concern also extends beyond images. While most AI-generated content is\nharmless, over 3% of all AI-generated videos are scams, according to research\nfrom Gen\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=3106201611&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gendigital.com%2Fblog%2Finsights%2Freports%2Fthreat-report-h1-2026%23ai&a=research+from+Gen)\n. The scale of synthetic media means even a small percentage of malicious\ncontent can translate into a significant number of attempts to deceive people\nthrough fake news clips, celebrity endorsements, testimonials and other\nconvincing videos.\n\nThe Hidden Risks of Gaming\nParents identify TikTok (21%) as their top platform concern, with Facebook\nsecond at 13%. Online gaming ranks fourth at 10%, behind YouTube. But the\nbehaviors children report inside gaming environments tell a different story\nabout where risk is accumulating. Among the 64% of parents whose child under\n18 plays chat-enabled online games:\n\n * 64% say their child has chatted with a stranger via voice or text chat\n * 36% say their child has received inappropriate or offensive messages\n * 38% say their child has been encouraged to leave the game and continue a\nconversation on a different platform\n\"The chat layer on top of gaming is often where the real exposure happens, and\nit tends to be less visible to parents than social media use,\" Bilge said.\n\"When a child moves from a game platform to a private messaging app because\nsomeone asked them to, that escalation can be hard to detect, and kids may not\nrecognize it as something worth mentioning.\"\n\nHigh Confidence, Real Exposure\nThe study surfaces a consistent tension between parental confidence and the\nbehaviors children are actually engaging in. Eighty-five percent of parents\nsay they feel comfortable talking to their kids about online risks, but at the\nsame time:\n\n * 40% report their kids go on their device past their bedtime or certain\ndesignated hour\n * 23% report their children watching explicit content\n * 22% report their children have accessed a social media platform or website\nthey thought they had blocked them from visiting\n * 20% report their child sharing private information or personal details with a\nstranger\nThe gap between reported parental comfort and these behaviors does not mean\nconversations aren't happening, but it does suggest that having the talk is\nonly part of the picture.\n\nIntroducing The Bots & The Bees\nThe research points to a broader shift in parenting. Conversations that once\nfocused on strangers, passwords and screen time are expanding to include\nAI-generated images, digital impersonation, online relationships and critical\nthinking in a world where seeing is no longer believing. To help families\nnavigate these conversations, Norton is introducing The Bots & The Bees, a\nnew educational resource that provides expert guidance, practical advice and\nresources.\n\nThe Norton Insights Report: Connected Kids includes additional findings on\nsocial media age requirements, platform-specific concerns, and guidance for\nfamilies navigating AI-related risks. Norton 360 provides families with tools\nto monitor online activity, set screen time limits, filter content, and\nprotect personal information across devices. To read the full report and to\naccess The Bots & The Bees resources, visit\nhttp://us.norton.com/blog/research/connected-kids-insights-report-2026\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4739671-1&h=3945728649&u=http%3A%2F%2Fus.norton.com%2Fblog%2Fresearch%2Fconnected-kids-insights-report-2026&a=http%3A%2F%2Fus.norton.com%2Fblog%2Fresearch%2Fconnected-kids-insights-report-2026)\n \n\nAbout the Norton Insights Report\nThe study was conducted online within the United States from May 22, 2026 to\nJune 9, 2026, among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older. Data are weighted where\nnecessary by age, gender, and region to be nationally representative. Within\nthis report, mentions of parents refer to parents with children younger than\n18 years old.\n\nAbout Norton\nNorton is a leader in Cyber Safety, and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), a global\ncompany dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted\nconsumer brands. Norton empowers millions of individuals and families with\naward-winning protection for their devices, online privacy, and identity.\nNorton products and services are certified by independent testing\norganizations including AV-TEST, AV Comparatives, and SE Labs. Norton is a\nfounding member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware. Learn more at\nhttps://us.norton.com (https://us.norton.com) .\n\nMedia Contact\nBrittany Posey\nGen\nPress@GenDigital.com\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norton-study-reveals-emerging-risks-for-kids-online-prompting-parents-to-have-a-new-kind-of-the-talk-302835711.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norton-study-reveals-emerging-risks-for-kids-online-prompting-parents-to-have-a-new-kind-of-the-talk-302835711.html)\n\nSOURCE Norton\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1959177/Norton-Insights-Report-Connected-Kids.jpg?id=OA2795897\nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS1307125/NortonFull-Horizontal-Light-RGB-Web-1-Logo.jpg?id=OA2795883\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-07-28T13:00:39.369200093Z","server_sent_at_ms":1785243639369},"received_at":"2026-07-28T13:00:39.419Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norton-study-reveals-emerging-risks-for-kids-online-prompting-parents-to-have-a-new-kind-of-the-talk-302835711.html"},"analysis":{"id":"89608","press_release_id":"100565","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Software","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"Norton released the 'Connected Kids' report indicating that while 85% of parents are comfortable discussing online safety, 32% doubt their children can distinguish AI-generated content from reality.\n\nThe study highlights emerging risks such as financial sextortion and AI impersonation, citing over 100 daily reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.\n\nNorton introduced 'The Bots & The Bees' as a new educational resource for families to navigate these digital risks, while promoting its Norton 360 protection tools.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Survey highlights AI risks for kids; no material business impact."},"keyFigures":null,"quotedText":"Parents have spent years teaching children how to recognize strangers online, but AI changes the nature of what 'danger' online looks like","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Leyla Bilge","role":"Global Head of Scam Research at Norton"},{"name":"Brittany Posey","role":"Media Contact"}],"products":["The Bots & The Bees","Norton 360","Norton Insights Report"],"companies":[{"name":"Norton","ticker":"GEN"},{"name":"Gen","ticker":"GEN"},{"name":"National Center for Missing & Exploited Children","relationship":"mentioned"},{"name":"AV-TEST","relationship":"certifier"},{"name":"AV Comparatives","relationship":"certifier"},{"name":"SE Labs","relationship":"certifier"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Routine brand awareness press release announcing a study and a free educational resource. No financial metrics, product milestones, or material business impact disclosed."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"GEN"},"globalImportance":15,"audienceRelevance":25,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"survey_release","financialImpact":"none"}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Norton released the 'Connected Kids' report indicating that while 85% of parents are comfortable discussing online safety, 32% doubt their children can distinguish AI-generated content from reality.\n\nThe study highlights emerging risks such as financial sextortion and AI impersonation, citing over 100 daily reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.\n\nNorton introduced 'The Bots & The Bees' as a new educational resource for families to navigate these digital risks, while promoting its Norton 360 protection tools.","key_figures":null,"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Leyla Bilge","role":"Global Head of Scam Research at Norton"},{"name":"Brittany Posey","role":"Media Contact"}],"products":["The Bots & The Bees","Norton 360","Norton Insights Report"],"companies":[{"name":"Norton","ticker":"GEN"},{"name":"Gen","ticker":"GEN"},{"name":"National Center for Missing & Exploited Children","relationship":"mentioned"},{"name":"AV-TEST","relationship":"certifier"},{"name":"AV Comparatives","relationship":"certifier"},{"name":"SE Labs","relationship":"certifier"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-07-28T18:53:13.953Z","global_importance":15,"audience_relevance":25,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mid-cap","eventGravity":"survey_release","financialImpact":"none"}},"durationMs":299330,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}