Americans are fed up with artificial intelligence taking over their media and are craving genuine human connection. That is the key takeaway from iHeartMedia’s latest study, “The Human Consumer,” unveiled at AudioCon 2025 in New York. The report shows that 82 percent of people worry about AI’s impact on society, while 9 in 10 say it matters to them that what they read, watch, or listen to is made by a real person.
The findings paint a picture of a nation exhausted by screens and algorithms. Nearly everyone uses social media, yet most say it makes them feel worse. Many even dream of tossing their smartphones for simpler “dumbphones.” Lainie Fertick, iHeartMedia’s President of Insights, says consumers are “emotionally driven, digitally fatigued, and yearning for authenticity in an increasingly algorithmic world.”
ALSO READ: Sora 2 AI is making disturbing Martin Luther King Jr. videos and it needs to stop
Children are caught in the same trap. Three out of four just want to hang out in person, but seven in ten stay up late glued to screens, and one in three have already chatted with AI bots. Parents’ caution and digital dependence are shrinking kids’ independence, with many never even walking an aisle away from mom or dad. The result is a generation learning to connect more easily with technology than with people, even though they crave human interaction most of all.
The study also finds Americans losing trust in the information they see online. Two-thirds admit algorithms now dictate what they believe. Yet despite knowing this, most still scroll endlessly through feeds that reinforce their existing opinions. Eighty-six percent say they now see more ads than posts from friends or family. Even higher-income households, who were once the most connected, now report feeling isolated and overexposed to targeted marketing.
The distrust extends far beyond social media. According to the study, 70 percent of respondents already use AI in some form, but three out of four say they do not want AI touching their entertainment or media. Many even believe that AI could one day go to war with humans. Those numbers show that while people may appreciate AI’s convenience, they do not want it replacing the human element that gives content meaning.
Bob Pittman, iHeartMedia’s CEO, says the data shows Americans want more than convenience. “In a world of digital saturation and AI acceleration, consumers are not just looking for convenience. They’re searching for meaning. Sports, radio, and live human-led storytelling offer a rare sanctuary of trust, empathy, and shared experience,” he said.
ALSO READ: Microsoft unveils MAI-Image-1, its first in-house image generator
That perspective makes sense coming from iHeartMedia, the largest audio company in America and the top global podcast publisher. Unlike algorithm-driven platforms, traditional audio still relies on human voices, conversations, and real-time emotion. Listeners form bonds with hosts that feel personal, even if they’ve never met. That human connection is something few digital tools can recreate.
For advertisers and creators, the message is clear. Consumers are begging for authenticity. They are tired of content that feels machine-generated or artificially polished. The study suggests that brands embracing real voices and relatable experiences will stand out in an era where everything feels automated. Radio, live podcasts, and community-driven media may see renewed value simply because they remind people that a human being is still on the other end.
At its core, iHeartMedia’s Human Consumer study isn’t just about media habits. It’s about what people are missing in their daily lives. Connection, empathy, and shared experience have become rare commodities in a world designed for clicks and engagement metrics. The irony is that the more connected we become digitally, the lonelier many people feel.
The good news is that people are waking up to it. Whether that means unplugging for a while, seeking out real-world experiences, or simply preferring human-made stories over AI summaries, Americans seem ready to reclaim something genuine. In a world overflowing with synthetic voices and algorithmic noise, authenticity is becoming the new luxury.
