There’s this thing happening right now where our feeds are turning into the weirdest episodes of Black Mirror. One day, you’re scrolling, and America’s Dad, Tom Hanks, tries to sell you a dental plan. A week later, it’s MrBeast offering a free iPhone. Both are deepfakes. Verified. And each time you see one, your brain adds another entry to its growing database of digital forgeries.

We’re all developing a healthy layer of digital skepticism. But there are side effects. Our brains have been training so hard to spot fakes that they’re starting to get jumpy.

You scroll again. A “Get Ready With Me” video from an influencer you like appears. But something feels off.

The room’s spotless, the morning light hits too right, her gestures are too smooth. Nothing screams “AI,” yet your brain, fresh off the Tom Hanks dental heist, sounds the alarm. It feels rendered.

Your mind searches for a

© Psychology Today