As the use of artificial intelligence continues to become more prevalent, AI-generated sexual content is already having an impact on teens.
Nearly 75% of teens have viewed online pornography, and more than half have encountered this type of content by the age of 12, according to a new study from Common Sense Media.
A survey of more than 1,300 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 found that nearly half of teens reported viewing sexual content that appeared to be generated by AI.
Content created with Generative AI (Gen AI) tools may include fake nude images and videos. deep fake. Stripping tools and app content allow users to generate fake images of people without their clothes on.
While findings on teens and exposure to sexual content have been relatively consistent since Common Sense Media’s 2023 report, teens’ access to content has changed significantly over the past three years.
“That’s really what I think makes this stand out,” said Dr. Supreet Mann, lead author of the study and director of research at Common Sense Media. “We’re not talking about ‘commercial or selective pornography.’ We’re talking about removing agency and stripping people of their ability to control their own image.”
AI makes it easier to access sexual content
Teens often encounter AI-generated sexualized images of celebrities, but now nudification tools are exposing teens to sexualized content from their peers.
Almost 20% of survey participants Have you ever created AI-generated sexual content yourself, or know someone who has? According to the group’s researchers, half of the respondents said the picture depicted someone they knew.
“What we’re seeing here is the emergence of a very specific, increasingly frictionless space that allows young people to access and explore in largely unfiltered and unregulated ways,” Mann said.
Nude verification apps are easy to use with the click of a button.
Of the 44% of teens who viewed sexual content that appeared to be AI-generated, 15% said they encountered the content through an AI app that created or modified a photo or video.
Liana Pfefferkorn, a policy researcher at Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, said that while regulations apply to what is allowed in app stores, these apps can sometimes get by by not advertising the full range of their capabilities.
“There’s a lot of research showing that the ‘whack-a-mole’ job that app stores and social media platforms are doing isn’t actually doing enough to keep up,” said Pfefferkorn, who was not involved in the new study.
How is this affecting teens?
Mann said many teens are rethinking how they present themselves on social media.
Almost 70% of teens were worried about becoming victims of sexual content generated by AI without their consent. These teens also found themselves taking actions to protect themselves, such as being careful about what they posted, making their social media private, or deleting their accounts altogether.
Mann said it’s good that teens understand the importance of monitoring social media, but noted that it seems to be increasing victim blaming.
“Why does it burden young people to change their own behavior out of fear of what others will do?” she said.
The frequency and accessibility of this type of content is also distorting teens’ perceptions about sex, consent, and body image.
Almost 70% of teens believe that AI-generated sexual content has influenced their view of what their bodies should look like. Mann said this is especially concerning given that teenagers’ bodies are at a time of constant and rapid change.
“It’s influencing the way young people think about the really important fundamentals of the teenage experience, like consent and romantic relationships,” she added.
More than just teenage problems
More than a third of teens say they want to talk to an adult about AI-generated sexual content but don’t know where to start.
For families, this can feel like entering a strange land. How do you start a conversation about something you don’t fully understand?
Common Sense Media advises parents and guardians to have supportive conversations with their children, starting with consent, health, and sexual identity. This will give you a solid foundation to work from before committing to any technology.
Younger teens were more likely to feel uncomfortable talking to their parents than older teens. Research results He also proposed. Starting these conversations early may be a good way to raise awareness about AI-generated sexual content later.
Mann says parents and guardians should have open, ongoing conversations rather than one big conversation. You can also feel safe asking your kids about AI-enabled apps and other questions about the apps on their devices.
Teens often experience the negative effects of AI-generated images of themselves and others. At school.
Multiple schools are at the center of a case in which teenagers face legal liability for producing explicit fake images of their classmates. Because of this, there is growing concern that teenagers may feel almost as comfortable talking to AI chatbots compared to school counselors and teachers. According to a new study.
Educators need to take action These scenarios do not involve situations that technically occur off campus. However, Pfefferkorn noted that when two students interact with each other, it does imply some degree of institutional responsibility.
“Schools, talking to parents and family members, even other friends, platforms and policy makers also have a role to play,” Pfefferkorn said. “This is actually a social issue, and it’s not something that kids should be dealing with on their own.”
