Deepfake nudes are “synthetic media creations (e.g., images, videos, audio) that depict real people in sexually suggestive or explicit situations or activities.” Often these are AI generated, and when the subject is a minor, it is considered child sexual abuse material. New research from Thorn tells us more about this online trend:
- 1 in 17 respondents (boys and girls ages 13-20) reported having deepfake nudes created of them, either by peers or by users they did not know personally online.
- It is more common among 13-17 year old boys with 1 in 10 reporting having the experience.
In reality, teens are less likely to seek help than they assume. Before experiencing deepfake nudes, 72% said they would tell a trusted adult, but only 48% actually did once it happened to them. Adults can help by bringing up the topic of deepfake nudes proactively.
When a teen comes to you for help, assure them they have your support and explore next steps. Do they want to report the media to NCMEC? Do they want to block or report the user using the platform tools? Do they want adult help, or would they rather take the actions themselves?
Build awareness by informing the teens you care for so they know what deepfake nudes are.
Let the teens you care about know that you will be there for them if they need help for themselves or a friend.