Updated
Updated · Futurism · Jul 21
Common Sense Media Finds 48% of Teens Saw AI Sex Content, Driving 40% to Lock Down Accounts
Updated
Updated · Futurism · Jul 21

Common Sense Media Finds 48% of Teens Saw AI Sex Content, Driving 40% to Lock Down Accounts

3 articles · Updated · Futurism · Jul 21

Summary

  • A survey of 1,314 teens aged 13 to 17 found nearly half had seen AI-generated sexual content, usually by accident on social media rather than through deliberate searches.
  • Among teens who saw it, 24% said the material depicted themselves or someone they knew, while 8% reported creating AI sexual content and 13% knew someone who had.
  • Fear is already changing behavior: 67% said they worry about being targeted by deepfakes, and nearly 40% have privatized, limited, or deleted social media accounts.
  • Common Sense Media said easy-to-use nudify apps and general-purpose chatbots are helping fuel school deepfake scandals, some of which have led to arrests and lawsuits.
  • Only 1 in 5 teens said they had discussed the issue with a trusted adult, though about a third want to, underscoring calls for parents, schools, policymakers and tech platforms to intervene.

Insights

Beyond protecting victims, what drives teens to create AI-generated explicit images of people they know?
As AI tools merge with search and social media, can they ever be made truly safe for children?
Federal laws now ban deepfakes, so why are AI 'nudification' apps still thriving on major platforms?